We got our first egg today! Plus some questions

[Tsjschickens]

Hi, My wife and I discovered our first little brown egg today. We have 4 15 week old chickens, two are isa browns and 2 are calico princesses. We got them from tractor supply at a day or two old. They were starting to squat a few days ago so I had the nesting box ready for them and she used it perfectly. We are new to chickens so this was a happy day! I dont know which one layed the egg so should we start the laying feed now or keep on the chick feed? We also got some oyster shells to give them if this is the right time.

 

[Olivekat07]

Congratulations!!!!
You should start the layer feed, and you should start putting the oyster shells in the feed maybe once a month because they need protein to have strong egg shells.

 

[Tsjschickens]

Congratulations!!!!
You should start the layer feed, and you should start putting the oyster shells in the feed maybe once a month because they need protein to have strong egg shells.

THANKS!!

 

[Olivekat07]

THANKS!!

You’re welcome!

 

[aart]

Congrats @Tsjschickens! That very first egg is most exciting!
Tho every egg still gives me some thrill, first eggs from pullets still seem a wonder.

You should start the layer feed, and you should start putting the oyster shells in the feed maybe once a month because they need protein to have strong egg shells.

This is rather confusing. Oyster shell does not provide protein, it provides calcium...and it should not be added into the feed, but provided in a separate container to be consumed as the bird needs it.

There's really no reason to ever feed layer feed, as long as you provide a source of calcium. Learn to read the ingredient/nutrition labels on feed bags, small print on tag sewn into bottom of feed bags, protein and calcium levels are the most important.

I like to feed a flock raiser/starter/grower/finisher type crumble feed with 20% protein full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer daily. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.
Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container. I also regularly offer digestive granite grit in the appropriate size, throw it out on the ground with the scratch. http://www.jupefeeds-sa.com/documents/GraniteGrit.pdf.

Animal protein (a freshly trapped mouse, a bit of canned mackerel, mealworms, meat scraps) is provided once in while and during molting and/or if I see any feather eating.