Switching Chickens from Flock Raiser to Lay Pellets

[Manyfur]

Hello,
I'm a total newbie at raising hens. A local chicken keeper gave me three black silkies at the beginning of December; they had been born in June or July and were all laying. Their first three days at my place they lay five eggs between them, and then nothing. I know there could be a couple of problems—stress from the move and my roommate's puppy, and the short winter days—but I'm pretty sure the real issue is that they were being fed flock raiser before, and right now I have lay pellets in their run that they will not touch. They've only been eating scratch, which I realize isn't a very well-balanced diet. Are they too young for lay pellets? Is there some trick to getting them to recognize the pellets as food?
Also, do they still need grit if they spend a few hours free-ranging in the yard each day?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me.

 

[NonnasBabies]

If their laying already that their definetly not to young for laying pellets. Quit giving them scratch until they decide their hungry enough to start eating the pellets. It's probably the difference between the cumbles & the pellets that they don't like but they will eventually start eating it!! And sometimes it takes a couple of months after a move and if their still being stressed because of a puppy then it might be even longer!!

As far as the grit goes you can keep a bowl in the coop so they will have free choice of it. I use one of the small mineral block holder for horses. Have oyster shells on one side and grit on another.

Good luck. Hope they start laying for you soon!!