What age do you switch to a layer feed?

[Melky]

I know the feed bag has an age range on it but I want to know what people in the real world prefer My local TSC doesn't sell "All Flock" so right now I have my one laying hen and 7 pullets on Grower with some oyster shell on the side. I'd like to get them in to a layer feed soon but don't want to create any health issues.
Babies are almost 13 weeks old and I'll be picking up more feed this Friday. I'm thinking I should do one more bag of grower and then switch over. One bag lasts about two weeks for us.

Stay on grower till after 17 plus weeks. Offer poultry grit and you can start oyster shell at 15 weeks. This is what is most recommended by hatcheries and poultry experts. Stay the course!

 

[RollTideChicken]

Hi, I am a little confused! It was recommended to me on BYC when I asked the Question" when should I switch to Layers?" that I do it around 18 weeks, which I did. My 2 pullets are still not laying and they are now 24 weeks old. So my question now is, have I retarted their growth and that is why they are not laying and should I now switch back to growers? (I can't get All Flock in Northern Portugal). The only other option for feed here is feed for producing birds for eating. Or can I continue with layers and supplement what they are missing with anything else?

No you have not hurt them, nor could you. I have kept birds on starter/grower for as long as 24 weeks. I usually don't change them over until I see an egg or at 24 weeks. Every hen is different and will lay when she is ready. I have a breed that usually doesn't start laying until close to 9 months. The only reason for layer feed is if you don't provide supplemental calcium on the side. They need calcium once they start laying because laying eggs pulls calcium out of them. Long and the short of it is....they are fine.