When and how to start layer food?

[cmom]

When I get my first egg, I switch the birds to layer. I have several different ages so as of late I have been using All Flock or Flock Raiser depending on the brand. It is usually 20% protein. I have hanging feeders in my coops. I just add the layer or all flock to their starter/grower feed. I use pellets because the birds don't seem to waste as muck. Good luck and have fun...

 

[PopoMyers]

When I get my first egg, I switch the birds to layer. I have several different ages so as of late I have been using All Flock or Flock Raiser depending on the brand. It is usually 20% protein. I have hanging feeders in my coops. I just add the layer or all flock to their starter/grower feed. I use pellets because the birds don't seem to waste as muck. Good luck and have fun...

Is the higher protein better? I have a tall PVC feeder tube. I agree, crumbles can be like powder, and is wasted often.

 

[cmom]

I like the higher protein feed but I also show my birds at poultry shows, at least until covid came. I used crumbles but too much waste so then I went to pellets, much better. I do have some birds good at wasting both so the pans on their hanglin feeders have a little higher sides, problem solved.

 

[cmom]

This is the time of year that some of the birds are still molting and since their feathers are mostly protein, I like the higher protein feed.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Is the higher protein better? I have a tall PVC feeder tube. I agree, crumbles can be like powder, and is wasted often.

I have my hens on Egg Production+ because that has a higher protein level. My flock was eating each other's feathers and BYC said that they needed more protein. I'm only going to use Egg Production+ temporary until till they get back on track with their protein levels. Then I'll be going with the regular layer pellets. This is the first flock I've used the Egg Production+ on.
As far as being wasteful, I discovered that an old Crockpot container with the cord cut off worked best with a wasteful flock. I had a flock that was extremely wasteful and when I switched from a hanging feeder to Crockpot feeder they was no longer wasteful. They like scratching through their food, so a feeder that they could do that pleased them.

 

[Jabebee13]

My ISA Brown and Welsummer girls are 14.5 weeks old. According to breed information, they don't begin laying until 22-26 weeks (January). When and how do I transition them to layer feed, and is pellet or crumble best?

Isa brown is a girl right. If your flock will be ready January and now it is November. I say wait a few weeks. Alflock is a good idea. To me. Layer feed isn't good for roosters. All females can have it. Like the difference is 2 percent to 4 percent.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Will the mixture be ok for the other girls (Welsummers) until they lay?

Yes, a 50/50 mix, just offer Oyster Shells separately. GC

 

[cmom]

My ISA Brown and Welsummer girls are 14.5 weeks old. According to breed information, they don't begin laying until 22-26 weeks (January). When and how do I transition them to layer feed, and is pellet or crumble best?

Isa brown is a girl right. If your flock will be ready January and now it is November. I say wait a few weeks. Alflock is a good idea. To me. Layer feed isn't good for roosters. All females can have it. Like the difference is 2 percent to 4 percent.

As I mentioned in a previous post, you can start your birds on All Flock or Flock Raiser at any time. I have some younger birds that I have switched them to All flock at around 12 weeks old. They recently started loosing their peeps and getting their adult voices. I feed my males the same thing the females eat even layer feed. I have had no problems. In the past I used starter/grower crumbles and at around 8 weeks switched all of the birds to grower pellets. The feed store I used to get my feed from sold and the new owners aren't carrying my preferred feed. I have found another but they don't carry it either but they carry feed I have used in the past so I order it from them. I go through around a half ton of feed monthly. Now I have been using the All Flock. Again, good luck and have fun...