Switching from grower feed to layer feed

[The Chicken Fan]

My girls are almost to the point where I will start feeding them layer feed. Should I mix it with the grower feed to begin with? Or just switch it totally?

 

[HeritageGoose13]

You can just switch as soon as you run out of the grower feed. It won't bother them.

 

[The Chicken Fan]

Ok thank you!

 

[ConPollos]

You should wait until at least 18 weeks. If you have a rooster or young pullets in your flock, don't feed layer as it will damage their kidneys. Instead continue with the grower feed and set out a bowl of oyster shells that only your layers will be interested in eating, and only if they need it, which they will once they start laying.

 

[DavidJay]

When do you switch? I have 6 week-old chicks. They should be on Grower feed now, transitioning to layer feed when? 15 wks?

 

[ConPollos]

When do you switch? I have 6 week-old chicks. They should be on Grower feed now, transitioning to layer feed when? 15 wks?

See my post above. Technically you never have to switch as long as you set out a feeder of oyster shells for your layers to eat free choice.

 

[pdirt]

When do you switch? I have 6 week-old chicks. They should be on Grower feed now, transitioning to layer feed when? 15 wks?

See my post above. Technically you never have to switch as long as you set out a feeder of oyster shells for your layers to eat free choice.

The oyster shells mentioned here are coarsely crushed. You can buy them from most any feed store. True, long term feeding of layer feed to roosters or pullets can damage their kidneys because they are not expelling the large amounts of calcium by producing egg shells. Short term feeding of layer feed to young chicks can cause severe internal damage, even death.

 

[The Chicken Fan]

They're 15 weeks. I have layer to give them when they turn 18 weeks or later depends when my grower runs out.

 

[pdirt]

The "feed them layer after 18 weeks" thing is way too generic IMO. Some chickens don't start laying until 30 weeks or longer. If that is the case, and you won't know until they lay, then feeding them layer feed will cause internal damage. Better to keep feeding grower until they are all laying, which may or may not be at 18 weeks. Keep some oyster shell on the side until they are all laying, then switch to layer.

 

[The Chicken Fan]

The "feed them layer after 18 weeks" thing is way too generic IMO. Some chickens don't start laying until 30 weeks or longer. If that is the case, and you won't know until they lay, then feeding them layer feed will cause internal damage. Better to keep feeding grower until they are all laying, which may or may not be at 18 weeks. Keep some oyster shell on the side until they are all laying, then switch to layer.

But if they're done growing then wouldn't it be fine to feed them layer feed?