Switching from grower feed to layer feed

[chynasparks]

I communicated with a rep from Nutrena. She said that they recommend starting layer feed 16-18 weeks. Mine are 20 weeks. Many pros and cons as to when to start layer feed but after checking with Nutrena, I'm now feeling my girls layer feed. Oh, and some cold seedless watermelon in the middle of the day during the 100 degree weather here in Texas. They run to it like hungry puppies around a food bowel. They're so cute even my husband likes to come outside in the heat and watch them go after the watermelon

 

[vweers]

If you don't have a rooster, you could get layer feed and do a half/half mix of layer/grower until they start laying then switch to layer. This is basically what egg farms do; when hen are 18-22 weeks they give a special prelay feed which is 2.5% calcium.

You could also just get another grower and oyster shell on the side. Either works really.

The irony, I bought grower's just to be safe and I have oyster shell but of course I hear the egg song today. No eggs yet but soon. No big deal since I have oyster shells but it cracks me up, I should have waited until I was nearly out to see if they started laying. I am pretty sure at least 3 of my 6 girls will be laying very soon. Possibly 4 or 5. My 6th one's comb is still pale and smallish so not sure she is quite ready.

 

[DrTacosMD]

The irony, I bought grower's just to be safe and I have oyster shell but of course I hear the egg song today.   No eggs yet but soon.   No big deal since I have oyster shells but it cracks me up, I should have waited until I was nearly out to see if they started laying.    I am pretty sure at least 3 of my 6 girls will be laying very soon.  Possibly 4 or 5.  My 6th one's comb is still pale and smallish so not sure she is quite ready.

Lol!
Your chicken are messing with you.
I hear the egg song all the time and no eggs, but when they lay eggs no song... Lol

 

[vweers]

Lol!
Your chicken are messing with you.
I hear the egg song all the time and no eggs, but when they lay eggs no song... Lol

The irony, I just went back out and sure enough a small green egg was in the box. The top was cracked a little, like it had been stepped on. Just a slight crack - nothing coming out. Should I use it or just wait for another one. The funny part was the neighbors chickens were squawking loudly and all 6 were squawking back like they were sympathizing. Then the one I am pretty sure laid it was jumping into the coop through their side door I keep open in hot weather.

 

[DrTacosMD]

The irony, I just went back out and sure enough a small green egg was in the box.   The top was cracked a little, like it had been stepped on.  Just a slight crack - nothing coming out.   Should I use it or just wait for another one.   The funny part was the neighbors chickens were squawking loudly and all 6 were squawking back like they were sympathizing.   Then the one I am pretty sure laid it was jumping into the coop through their side door I keep open in hot weather.    

Nice! Congrats! I wouldn't eat it since it's cracked but I guess if you cooked it extra it should be fine.

 

[DixieLW]

New chicken mom here,,,I didn't know not to feed my roo layer feed. I have 8 hens and him, and they are on their 2nd 50lb bag of layer. How do I feed him differently? Now I'm worried something will happen to him...he is my favorite! Suggestion?

 

[momchick4]

I have 6 grown hens on layer and 5 pullets on grower. 4 of the pullets have started laying over the last 2 weeks.

We have one big coop and run that was separated inside by fencing. This has allowed them to see but not touch each other for the last 6 weeks. It also allowed the pullets to be on grower and the big girls to have laying feed. Over the weekend we opened the gate between them to mingle in each others coop/run. They are getting along great since they have seen each other for about 6 weeks. At night they are in each others coops.

My question....the yolks on the pullet eggs are not the dark yellow like the bigger girls. Is it because of age or is it the grower does not have marigold to help darken the yolks?

I have half a bag of grower. I was considering mixing the grower with the layer to finish off the bag.

 

[The Chicken Fan]

I have 6 grown hens on layer and 5 pullets on grower. 4 of the pullets have started laying over the last 2 weeks.

We have one big coop and run that was separated inside by fencing. This has allowed them to see but not touch each other for the last 6 weeks. It also allowed the pullets to be on grower and the big girls to have laying feed. Over the weekend we opened the gate between them to mingle in each others coop/run. They are getting along great since they have seen each other for about 6 weeks. At night they are in each others coops.

My question....the yolks on the pullet eggs are not the dark yellow like the bigger girls. Is it because of age or is it the grower does not have marigold to help darken the yolks?

I have half a bag of grower. I was considering mixing the grower with the layer to finish off the bag.

I have pullets who started laying about 2 weeks ago. We opened up an egg and it was a light yellow. When they start eating the layer feed, you could see if their yolks are getting darker. An experiment, I guess.

 

[momchick4]

Yes our pullet egg yolks are light yellow too. Almost like the ones from the grocery store.

A few of the big girls look like they are starting to do a soft molt and have stopped laying eggs over the last week or two. Feathers are everywhere in the coop, although they don't look featherless

I think I will mix the two feeds together. The extra protein in the grower should help the big girls with the molting. I always offer free choice oyster shell, so calcium won't be a problem.
Before we opened the coop to them all, they have been free ranging in the garden to help clean up the weeds. It was a two fold plan, clean the garden for us and let the big girls and pullets have first contact without being threatened.

Hope the free ranging will help darken the yolks too.

 

[The Chicken Fan]

Yes our pullet egg yolks are light yellow too. Almost like the ones from the grocery store.

A few of the big girls look like they are starting to do a soft molt and have stopped laying eggs over the last week or two. Feathers are everywhere in the coop, although they don't look featherless

I think I will mix the two feeds together. The extra protein in the grower should help the big girls with the molting. I always offer free choice oyster shell, so calcium won't be a problem.
Before we opened the coop to them all, they have been free ranging in the garden to help clean up the weeds. It was a two fold plan, clean the garden for us and let the big girls and pullets have first contact without being threatened.

Hope the free ranging will help darken the yolks too.

I like the garden plan.
Do you know the age when chickens will molt? Does it depend on the breed?
On of my girls (don't know who yet) laid a XL egg for me today! I compared it to the ones I had left over from the grocery store, and mine was a lot bigger