Switching 8 week olds to layer feed... yes, no???

[canesisters]

I was just wondering this too. Mine are 8 weeks old and I'm almost to the bottom of the bag of medicated starter - maybe another 3 or 4 days left. What should I get next?
It's just the 6 of them so I'm not worried about feeding a flock of mixed ages.

 

[Contrary]

I was just wondering this too. Mine are 8 weeks old and I'm almost to the bottom of the bag of medicated starter - maybe another 3 or 4 days left. What should I get next?
It's just the 6 of them so I'm not worried about feeding a flock of mixed ages.

Truth be told I run my six week old pullets with my production hens out on pasture together. Have been doing this for several years now. Layer feed is all they get. I haven't noticed any adverse effects.

 

[Chris09]

Truth be told I run my six week old pullets with my production hens out on pasture together. Have been doing this for several years now. Layer feed is all they get. I haven't noticed any adverse effects.

And you wont until the dead and you check there ureter, and check for kidney impaction or the get gout.

There is a reason they call it layer feed, it is meant for laying birds/ hens that are in production.

Chris

 

[Contrary]

And you wont until the dead and you check there ureter, and check for kidney impaction or the get gout.

There is a reason they call it layer feed, it is meant for laying birds/ hens that are in production.

Chris

They don't make it past two years of age anyway. I "retire" them to soup and dog food.

 

[Chris09]

They don't make it past two years of age anyway. I "retire" them to soup and dog food.

Then you really cant say you haven't had any adverse effects because you never checked for them.

Chris

 

[canesisters]

Um... so 8 week old chickes, almost out of latest bag of medicated starter, continue or switch to "grower"?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Um... so 8 week old chickes, almost out of latest bag of medicated starter, continue or switch to "grower"?

Here, there is only a combination Starter/Grower. You could do either, but Grower typically has a bit less protein than Starter. I assume you can buy Starter with Amprollium?

 

[Contrary]

Then you really cant say you haven't had any adverse effects because you never checked for them.

Chris

I clearly said I haven't noticed any adverse effects. Please don't misquote me.

 

[Chris09]

I clearly said I haven't noticed any adverse effects. Please don't misquote me.

I didn't misquote you, I in fact quoted your exact words.
What I did do is misinterpreted what you meant. A better way of saying what you meant/said would be;

Truth be told I run my six week old pullets with my production hens out on pasture together. Have been doing this for several years now. Layer feed is all they get. I haven't noticed any adverse effects but I haven't looked either.

When you leave the [but I haven't looked either] part out that bakes people think that you have been watching for the signs of Calcium Toxicity when you havent.

Chris

 

[1muttsfan]

I see contrary is well-named!

Cane, you can switch them to a non-medicated grower ration.

IMO, 14 weeks is still too young for layer. Kidney damage can cause a decrease in productivity over the life of the bird which may only be seen as fewer eggs layed - hard to tell apart from a hen that is just not a great layer. The damage may be hard to quantify, but we know it is there.

After I add young birds to layers, I switch the whole group to Flock Raiser until the youngest are at point-of-lay - around 4 1/2 months.