Switching from grower to layer feed

[cytorath]

I have 17 hens. The oldest are now 15 weeks. Yesterday I found two eggs in myy nesting boxes. My question is, is it too early to switch over to laying mash? Everything I've read says to stay on grower until 18 weeks.

 

[lclough1998]

I would switch them all over to layer at this point but I am curious to see what everyone else thinks?

 

[cytorath]

My thought line now is to finish off the bag of grower that I have and then maybe do a 50/50 mix of grower/layer, if not switch outright to layer. Thanks for the input. I'm curious to see what everyone else says as well.

 

[lclough1998]

That sounds like a good plan. Definitely use up what they are eating. I have oyster shell in a bowl in the coop for them to eat, even tho they eat layer feed, they apparently know how much they need and will eat it. The 50/50 sounds like a good plan.

 

[lclough1998]

oh, wait. Just re read your original post. The oldest are now 15 weeks. How old are the youngest? Depending how old the youngers are, you may want to just keep feeding the raiser and supply the oyster shell. Don't get sucked into buying the little bag, you will go through a big bag, it stores easy and will save you money in the long run.

 

[Den in Penn]

If you have younger chicks hold off on the layer, grower will do till everyone is older. What breeds do you have? 15 weeks seems a little young to start laying for most breeds.

 

[cytorath]

I believe they are sexlings. I got them from tractor supply and they were marked red pullets. The youngest are only two weeks behind the rest of the flock.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Fifteen weeks is early but don't get hung up on theory versus reality. If they are laying eggs, they need the extra calcium but the young ones do not. The very simple solution is the oyster shell on the side. Don't mix it with the feed but just offer it on the side.

I have 11 week olds in with my laying flock right now. They all eat Grower and I have oyster shell on the side.