Should I open my nesting boxes?

[blacklab]

I've also see that there is layer feed with oyster shell already in it. Will that be enough oyster shell? Also, my roosters will eat it too and maybe the oyster shell is not so good for roosters. Will the roosters not eat it if I put it on the side, away from the regular layer feed?

 

[drinkoj]

I wouldn't switch to layer feed. I'd keep them on a complete feed that offers 18-20% protein such as Flock Raiser or All Flock and put out a container or two of oyster shell for free choice feeding.

Someone MAY start laying this year but the shortening day length (not the dropping temps) may prevent them from starting to lay until early spring.

You can open the nest boxes and put some fake eggs in them and see what the girls do. If they start sleeping in them, close them off again. They may fart around in them out of curiosity or to just check them out.

I with @DobieLover , Flock Raiser, free choice oyster shell, and open the nests with golf balls inside.

Don't Buff orpington take a while to lay, like 6 months? Just asking this as never had any and just thought I read that here a while back.

 

[black_cat]

I've also see that there is layer feed with oyster shell already in it. Will that be enough oyster shell? Also, my roosters will eat it too and maybe the oyster shell is not so good for roosters. Will the roosters not eat it if I put it on the side, away from the regular layer feed?

Layer feed has extra calcium in it to help hens have strong eggshells. If you have a rooster, I would not feed layer feed. Over time, all that extra calcium can cause organ damage. What I would do for your flock is have ALL of them on a grower or all flock feed, with oyster shell offered on the side. The roosters won't take any more oyster shell than they need, which is probably none. However, they do know when they need the extra calcium.

 

[black_cat]

I with @DobieLover , Flock Raiser, free choice oyster shell, and open the nests with golf balls inside.

Don't Buff orpington take a while to lay, like 6 months? Just asking this as never had any and just thought I read that here a while back.

I thought so as well.

 

[drinkoj]

I've also see that there is layer feed with oyster shell already in it. Will that be enough oyster shell? Also, my roosters will eat it too and maybe the oyster shell is not so good for roosters. Will the roosters not eat it if I put it on the side, away from the regular layer feed?

@black_cat is correct, and don't feed the rooster layer feed it might hurt him and roosters will eat anything, you cannot separate the food. HUGE arguments about if it will hurt them or not but I would choose not to risk it and simply use an All Flock/Flock Raiser with oyster shell in a bucket/planter for free choice, that way everyone is happy, happy, happy.

 

[SulkyBantam]

From what I've been taught, the protein in the grower will help them keep growing at a healthy rate, and they don't need the extra calcium that layer feed has yet

Lots of people seem to think that...
but if you give them calcium (oyster shell) separately, trust me they would never eat it...

I with @DobieLover , Flock Raiser, free choice oyster shell, and open the nests with golf balls inside.

Don't Buff orpington take a while to lay, like 6 months? Just asking this as never had any and just thought I read that here a while back.

It really depends on your opinion. I would give it a couple of weeks and turn them to layers, open the eggboxes and keep an eye out!

I've also see that there is layer feed with oyster shell already in it. Will that be enough oyster shell? Also, my roosters will eat it too and maybe the oyster shell is not so good for roosters. Will the roosters not eat it if I put it on the side, away from the regular layer feed?

I don't think it is bad for cockerels, ours eat layers and are healthy and happy with no problems at all! But they don't need oyster really if they are eating layers.

I thought so as well.

Orpingtons really vary in laying age, most online people say they take 5-7 months but others have told me they can lay fairly early. You'll just have to see!

 

[DobieLover]

I've also see that there is layer feed with oyster shell already in it. Will that be enough oyster shell? Also, my roosters will eat it too and maybe the oyster shell is not so good for roosters. Will the roosters not eat it if I put it on the side, away from the regular layer feed?

Your rooster (cockerel?) should not be eating all that extra calcium that only active layers require. It causes strain on the kidneys to process it.
For those who feed layer level calcium to their roosters, I would like to know their age. It is a cumulative effect so younger birds will show no ill effect. That doesn't mean damage isn't occurring.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Your rooster (cockerel?) should not be eating all that extra calcium that only active layers require. It causes strain on the kidneys to process it.
For those who feed layer level calcium to their roosters, I would like to know their age. It is a cumulative effect so younger birds will show no ill effect. That doesn't mean damage isn't occurring.

You don't really need to tell me that, so many people think it and have said so!

But we've fed cockerels before on this (they are both cockerels not roos, actually).

Don't think we don't love them and want to give them the best care possible. We wouldn't ever do this if we thought it would really hurt them.
as Drinkoj says there is a lot of controversy on the subject, but I have never seen evidence to support this or/and kidney damage in our cockerels.

But so many people feel differently, though it seems I am the only one here to take this angle on the subject!

I'd be curious to hear if anyone has actually had a kidney-damaged rooster because of this, there seems to be kind of a lack of evidence to me..

Don't want to argue though, we all have our different opinions and methods!

 

[rumbleBee_STi]

I agree with the other posters. Before mine started laying, I kept them on their original feed but opened the nest boxes up just in case. My leghorns were the first to lay, but something I noticed from all my girls, is that they became very vocal & talkative before laying their first egg. My girls are around 22 weeks old now & I didn’t think they would start laying until next year. But all 12 have been laying for weeks/months now. I feel like this warmer weather has helped play a part in that ( I’m from NC, too). But, we also have a rooster who has been a very busy boy... so

 

[blacklab]

Sooo, what I think I'm hearing is that if I start my Orpingtons on layer feed, to NOT get the kind that has oyster shell already in it, for fear the rooster may eat it too. But to give the oyster shell on the side, as the roosters won't be as likely to eat it.