Started layer fed way too soon

[Lilion]

I was given some 9 or 10 week old pullets. The neighbor had run out of feed and had been feeding them wild bird seed! No idea how long that had gone on. I only had layer pellets, which the girls eagerly gobbled down. Now I realize my mistake. I'll but some grower today, but was two weeks long enough to do too much damage?

 

[nuthatched]

They'll be fine.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I was given some 9 or 10 week old pullets. The neighbor had run out of feed and had been feeding them wild bird seed! No idea how long that had gone on. I only had layer pellets, which the girls eagerly gobbled down. Now I realize my mistake. I'll but some grower today, but was two weeks long enough to do too much damage?

They should be all right as long as you get them on proper nutrition. It is amazing how truly resilient chickens are.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It's the bird seed that would cause harm/nutritional deficiency before anything a bit of calcium would do. Glad you're changing it up!

 

[Lilion]

The layer feed is far better than the wild bird seed, but please get them on either grower feed or all-flock feed ASAP. Those will have higher protein which is important during this development stage and the proper amount of calcium.

Layer feed has far too much calcium right now (necessary for producing eggs), but short term use shouldn't be a problem.

I'll hit tractor supply today. The local feed store pretty much has nothing but layer feed. My older hens have oyster shell, so they'll be fine on grower for a couple months.

 

[TooCheep]

I'll hit tractor supply today. The local feed store pretty much has nothing but layer feed. My older hens have oyster shell, so they'll be fine on grower for a couple months.

Excellent. Sorry, I missed that you were already moving to grower. Either grower or all-flock will work. They are very, very similar. Sounds like you are on the right path now.

 

[Altairsky]

There is nothing wrong about feeding chickens seeds (other than the high price), as long as they have enough protein and vitamin supplements from fruit and vegetables. The only time my chickens health was ugly, was when I fed them industrial processed feed (as advised on this forum). After 2 months on feed, they got watery egg whites with thin shell and pale yolk, and rough feathers. I quickly switched back to their usual seeds, vegetables and minced meat, and now they feel much better.

 

[TooCheep]

There is nothing wrong about feeding chickens seeds (other than the high price), as long as they have enough protein and vitamin supplements from fruit and vegetables. The only time my chickens health was ugly, was when I fed them industrial processed feed (as advised on this forum). After 2 months on feed, they got watery egg whites with thin shell and pale yolk, and rough feathers. I quickly switched back to their usual seeds, vegetables and minced meat, and now they feel much better.

Sorry your feed is so poor there. We really don't have much of a problem with that in the US.

 

[Altairsky]

Sorry your feed is so poor there. We really don't have much of a problem with that in the US.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...eat-tears-a-calculator-or-deep-pockets.78655/