What feed?

[Kiki]

3 are isa Browns and 3 are white leghorns.

These two breeds should be laying closer to the 20 week mark if not sooner.

 

[Momlife+chicks]

WAIT A MINUTE!!!
Are you feeding the Pen Pal S/G medicated feed or the non medicated feed?

Non medicated.

 

[Kiki]

Non medicated.

Perfect.
This feed is good until it's close to the time for them to lay.
If I were you I would feed ONLY this feed and if you have to feel treats keep them to a very minimum...like feed treats only once a week and a very small amount.
With only 6 birds I would not feed more that 1/2 cup of what ever treat once a week.

 

[Momlife+chicks]

Perfect.
This feed is good until it's close to the time for them to lay.
If I were you I would feed ONLY this feed and if you have to feel treats keep them to a very minimum...like feed treats only once a week and a very small amount.
With only 6 birds I would not feed more that 1/2 cup of what ever treat once a week.

Okay, I haven’t gave any treats yet just because I wasn’t sure what/how much to give and also didn’t know if I needed to give oyster shells if they have treats.

 

[Kiki]

Okay, I haven’t gave any treats yet just because I wasn’t sure what/how much to give and also didn’t know if I needed to give oyster shells if they have treats.

Oyster shell is for calcium...and no do not give that now.
You may choose to offer it in its own dish once they start laying egg.

You might be thinking of grit.
Grit is good to offer if you don't let them free range AND you offer anything beside a complete poultry feed.

I can't stress how important it is to keep treats to what may seem like an extreme minimum but your birds really will thank you for it in the long run.
Too many treats lowers the good levels of stuff in the complete feed.
Too many treat can make them fat.
Fat chickens die.
Read this while I call someone over to see if they can explain what I am trying to say better. (I'm sorry I am not good at explaining) @ChickenCanoe Mind helping me here.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

 

[Momlife+chicks]

Oyster shell is for calcium...and no do not give that now.
You may choose to offer it in its own dish once they start laying egg.

You might be thinking of grit.
Grit is good to offer if you don't let them free range AND you offer anything beside a complete poultry feed.

I can't stress how important it is to keep treats to what may seem like an extreme minimum but your birds really will thank you for it in the long run.
Too many treats lowers the good levels of stuff in the complete feed.
Too many treat can make them fat.
Fat chickens die.
Read this while I call someone over to see if they can explain what I am trying to say better. (I'm sorry I am not good at explaining) @ChickenCanoe Mind helping me here.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

I haven’t given any treats yet, and they seem happy. Would it be mean of me to never give them treats?

 

[Kiki]

I haven’t given any treats yet, and they seem happy. Would it be mean of me to never give them treats?

Absolutely not.
If would be fabulous!

 

[Momlife+chicks]

Absolutely not.
If would be fabulous!

Okay, then I will just stick to their normal feed if it will keep them happy and healthy!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Oyster shell is for calcium...and no do not give that now.
You may choose to offer it in its own dish once they start laying egg.

You might be thinking of grit.
Grit is good to offer if you don't let them free range AND you offer anything beside a complete poultry feed.

I can't stress how important it is to keep treats to what may seem like an extreme minimum but your birds really will thank you for it in the long run.
Too many treats lowers the good levels of stuff in the complete feed.
Too many treat can make them fat.
Fat chickens die.
Read this while I call someone over to see if they can explain what I am trying to say better. (I'm sorry I am not good at explaining) @ChickenCanoe Mind helping me here.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/69065/feeding-chickens-for-egg-production

Yes, I agree with @KikisGirls that you may be conflating the terms oyster shell and grit.

I've heard the expression "Oyster Shell Grit" all over the world. They are two different things for two different purposes. Galliformes, like many birds, need insoluble grit to aid the gizzard in grinding food. Insoluble means that it won't turn to mush when wetted with digestive juices (stomach acid). Insaoluble grit (granite, flint, quartz, etc.) of the appropriate size remains lodged in the gizzard for several weeks till the acidic environment and the grinding action of the gizzard allows it to pass, at which time it needs to be replenished.

On the contrary, oyster shell is soluble and turns to mush once mixed with digestive juices. Large particle OS stays in the upper digestive tract just long enough to make contact with calcium absorption sites in the small intestine at night when the egg is in the shell gland.

Oyster shell is only needed for birds that are actively building egg shells that need additional calcium to replace that lost in the medullary bone when shells are made.

Insoluble grit of the appropriate size is needed by all chickens to aid in digestion.

 

[featherhead007]

You mean, we have to feed these chickens? kidding