When Is It Time To Add Calcium Supplement?

[hen-thusiast]

Here's the backstory:

We have 8 ladies around 18 weeks of age. About a week ago we started observing very red combs and squatting from 2 of them. Started slowing mixing in Purina Layena. During that time we witnessed one of the squatters eating two feathers. It could have been a coincidence, but I've never seen any of them eat a feather before that. We scrambled and egg for her after seeing that and she gobbled it up and haven't seen her eat a feather since. Two days ago, we got our first egg. Yesterday we got another egg, but different size and shape from the first. So we are pretty sure we've got two laying and based on behavior, a couple more will be laying any day now.

Here's my question, at what point to we start putting out an oyster shell supplementation? We do not plan on mixing it directly into the feed. They still have not made the complete switch over to laying feed. The lady at the feed store told us that 18 weeks is too young, that it will "burn their gizzard". She also said that they don't even need it.

No idea what to do.

Hopefully someone with more experience can advise. Thanks!

 

[Judy]

First, don't listen to the lady at the feed store any more.

Now is the time to offer oyster shell. You are doing fine to switch them to layer now, and do it gradually, using up the last of your other feed.

Burning a gizzard? If she had had some king of a gizzard problem it may be because she was not offering grit. Are you? My feed store doesn't even carry it and did not know what I was talking about; I have to drive 30 miles to buy it. They need both, offered separately from the feed, so they can pick and choose what they need.

Generally feather picking and eating indicate protein deficiency, if they indicate a problem (not sure I would get excited about two feathers.) In my case, the switch from grower to layer was also a switch from 19% protein to 16%. That bothered me a bit so I try to give protein treats. Then recently I read on here there is such a thing as layer that is 20% protein. It's not available around here, so I'm paying even more attention now to the protein content of treats.

There is such a lot of information on this site. You will find what you need to know now!

 

[hen-thusiast]

Thank you ddawn! I was hoping you would answer.

I didn't believe the lady at the feed store, got mad, walked out and took my business to another feed store. My husband thought I was overreacting, but she was rude, offered unsolicited advice and told me she's an "expert". I KNEW she was wrong after all the info I've read here on BYC, so thanks for confirming my hunch.

Yes, they do have access to grit and now they'll also have access to oyster shell. I feel that the two feathers she ate were just coincidence since they were kind of blowing around and caught her attention.

From here on out, if she gives me more of her "expert" advice I will tell her where to go. BYC does have so much info here, I don't know what I would do without it. Just another reason why I

BYC and everyone on here! Thanks again

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Me? I'm just a BYC addict with rather limited experience. The info is here; a little of it has seeped into this brain.

I don't know why feed store employees tend to be like that. They are helpful and friendly here -- but I don't ask them anything, since they did not know what I was talking about when I asked where the grit was. Guess I'm lucky not to have encountered one who thinks they know it all. Have to go out of town for both grit and pine shavings. They don't sell any kind of litter locally. I think the locals just use dirt -- around here, chickens live in open sided sheds and usually are true free range, or in a large fenced yard that only keeps them in.

I have known the fellow who works where I buy chicks for years; they carry some feed, but it is more a plumbing and hardware store (small town.) He has helped me many times with plumbing fixes. A few weeks ago I offered to show him how to tell Barred Rock females from males, when it came up in conversation that the hatchery hadn't marked them, or something like that. He was delighted. (He is an employee there and does not have chickens.)

But then, I don't do rude, either.

PM me any time you want to hear this slant on things; fine with me.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
Thanks, I will.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Thanks, I will.

That's an open offer for anyone. I really do only know so much, but will be glad to help anytime I can.

 

[elmo]

Feather eating is pretty normal behavior, I understand. Think of it as chicken protein recycling.