What to feed?

[domromer]

My girls are all living together now, in the same chicken tractor. They are 14 weeks old and 20 weeks old. Right now they are all eating pullet feed. The older girls are about to lay. Should I be switching them to a high calcium feed? Is it ok for the younger ones to eat that as well? They live together so I can't feed them different food.

Also, should I be giving them a calcium supplement? A calcium block or oyster shells? Or will the new food cover that need?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

I don't know what you mean by pullet feed?....A starter/grower feed should be used until pullets reach egg laying age at usually 19 to 20 weeks...then switched over to a egg laying mash/crumbles or pellets....They will also need at that age oyster shell left out in a feedpan to feed on when they feel the need for extra calcium...24/7

I've never kept my younger pullets with the older girls til they reach egg laying age because of feeding....young pullets need all the protein they can get from their starter growth...laying mash has too much calcium for them....

 

[silkiechicken]

You can always just feed the grower feed and make sure you have a dispenser of oyster shell. That way the hens will get the calcium they need when they know they need it and you won't be over calcifying the younger ones. Grower has more protein too which is usually what seems to be lacking in layer feed.