Switching from grower feed to layer feed

[The Chicken Fan]

Chickens are tough. I think they'll be fine. Whatever you feel comfortable with.

 

[Mikeychix]

So its kinda off topic but can roosters eat the layer feed? I've seen some posts about this but I'm not sure.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Non layers and layers can eat layer. Cockerels and cock birds. What happens to all the non laying birds is over time it destroys the organs. If you don't want your cock bird to live 5 years or more then go right ahead and let them feed on layer.

The added calcium in young pullets can set the pelvic bones too early when they are still narrow. This will lead to egg laying problems and death if egg bound. Is being on layer feed for a month when a bird is not laying going to kill it? No. Is that short of time on layer harmful? Not really, it's not good for them but not going to hurt them. Most birds are culled by the end of three years so you'd only see damage in the organs and most people don't cook those anymore.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Most roosters eat layer, mine seem to have a shorter life on layer, living 3-5 years, as opposed to those who don't get it living longer, by 2-4 years, just an observation of mine, not any scientific study done, so don't quote me.

 

[Mikeychix]

How could I separate my rooster so it doesn't eat the layer feed? I have scratch grain I can feed him would that be nutritional enough? It has wheat, lavender, corn, and some other grains I don't know about.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

it is easier to feed a grower or all flock, and provide oyster shells or other form of calcium on the side

 

[DrTacosMD]

Honestly, you can just feed a standard low calcium <1% calcium feed to the whole flock, hens, roosters, etc, and add a little cup or can of oyster shell on the side ( not in feed). Laying hens will crave calcium sources. I often see my hen eating out of their oyster shell cup right before roosting. Works for me perfectly, no rubber shells or bone problems.

 

[vweers]

Okay, I am nearly at the end of my bag of grower feed and my chickens are still not laying but I am pretty sure it is soon. They range from 20 wks to 23 wks. I hate to buy another bag of growers but I will since none are laying yet. I have oyster shells since nearly all are squatting. My hope is that they are laying in the next week or so, would a couple of weeks of layers hurt? I have one who isn't quite there too, she is one of the 20 weeks but her comb and wattle are still pretty pale. So I would hate to hurt her if she is later in laying. I guess I might have convinced myself to just get growers and continue to give calcium for now. Any other input would be nice too.

 

[Mikeychix]

If you have a rooster then stick to the grower and supplement them with oyster shells. Hens that need calcium will eat the oyster shells easily. The rooster won't though. The calcium can kill a roo. Anyways, I would stick to that even if I had all hens, because they aren't forced with calcium. Even if its a hen, if its not laying, then it can be bad for them to eat the calcium.

 

[DrTacosMD]

Okay, I am nearly at the end of my bag of grower feed and my chickens are still not laying but I am pretty sure it is soon.   They range from 20 wks to 23 wks.   I hate to buy another bag of growers but I will since none are laying yet.   I have oyster shells since nearly all are squatting.   My hope is that they are laying in the next week or so, would a couple of weeks of layers hurt?   I have one who isn't quite there too, she is one of the 20 weeks but her comb and wattle are still pretty pale.  So I would hate to hurt her if she is later in laying.   I guess I might have convinced myself to just get growers and continue to give calcium for now.   Any other input would be nice too.

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.