When should i feed layer?

[SterlingSilver]

My chickens are 13 weeks old (born on the 39 of may) I am currently feeding grower/finisher for my chickens and im getting eager for the first egg! i have a rooster also and i was wondering if i could feed him layer when my hens are laying. What week should i switch to layer? Sorry if this is a little confusing about the questions but this weekend i have to buy their food and i dont want to waste money on a bag of feed they wont even use a quarter of.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

When they start laying. Layer feed has too much calcium for younger chickens.

Better yet, get an all flock feed that is good for all including the cockerel for now and when they begin laying.

 

[rjohns39]

My chickens are 13 weeks old (born on the 39 of may) I am currently feeding grower/finisher for my chickens and im getting eager for the first egg! i have a rooster also and i was wondering if i could feed him layer when my hens are laying. What week should i switch to layer? Sorry if this is a little confusing about the questions but this weekend i have to buy their food and i dont want to waste money on a bag of feed they wont even use a quarter of.

I move mine to layer, when they start laying, which is about 24 weeks. Many switch at 18 weeks. I give mine grit and oyster shell free choice from birth. Hens are pretty good about knowing when they need calcium.

Edited to add: Don't worry about wasting grower, when you move to layer or all flock you can mix the grow with it in the beginning.

 

[GC-Raptor]

With the shortening daylight, I would wait till their combs are red and swollen and they squat when you put your hand over their backs.
Buy a 25# bag of unmedicated Start & Grow 18/20% Protein. At 16 weeks offer them Oyster shell in a separate container near the feed.
When they start to lay you can mix in layers feed 50/50 to finish the Start & Grow. If you are switching to pellets, toss a small amount of pellets on DRY ground as a treat, to get them interested. GC

 

[SterlingSilver]

With the shortening daylight, I would wait till their combs are red and swollen and they squat when you put your hand over their backs.
Buy a 25# bag of unmedicated Start & Grow 18/20% Protein. At 16 weeks offer them Oyster shell in a separate containerView attachment 1119301 near the feed.
When they start to lay you can mix in layers feed 50/50 to finish the Start & Grow. If you are switching to pellets, toss a small amount of pellets on DRY ground as a treat, to get them interested. GC

With the shortening daylight, I would wait till their combs are red and swollen and they squat when you put your hand over their backs.
Buy a 25# bag of unmedicated Start & Grow 18/20% Protein. At 16 weeks offer them Oyster shell in a separate containerView attachment 1119301 near the feed.
When they start to lay you can mix in layers feed 50/50 to finish the Start & Grow. If you are switching to pellets, toss a small amount of pellets on DRY ground as a treat, to get them interested. GC

Is that a golden comet? Thats the breed of chicken i have! thanks for the tip!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Is that a golden comet? Thats the breed of chicken i have! thanks for the tip!

Yes, I have 5 Golden Comets. That's Raggedy Ann. She was attacked by a Coopers Hawk last November. She's one tough gal. My girls are 16 months old. GC

 

[Egghead_Jr]

In reality you never need to switch to layer feed. If your not raising chicks and don't habitually have a multi aged flock then layer pellets are a bit easier to use than offering oyster shell on the side or tossed on the ground once a week. But then again, tossing a handful of oyster shell once a week is pretty easy too. It's up to you. Offer oyster or layer when the birds are actively laying or point of lay and ready to lay anyday.

We have dual purpose birds and they require a bit more protein than layer birds (Leghorn, etc). Layers do quite well with the low 16% protein offered in most layer feed blends. Dual purpose really should have more than that. With all that said I provide a 20% grower ration until the youngest birds are 10-12 weeks of age and able to handle pellets then the entire flock moves over to 20% turkey/gamebird finisher because it's in pellet form and there is less waste with pellets. All year round I toss a handful of oyster on the ground once a week or being forgetful two handfuls biweekly or even more forgetful few handfuls when we notice the eggshells getting thin.

 

[lazy gardener]

While standard reply is: not till they are laying, or laying is imminent, I switch my whole flock to layer any time after the chicks get their cluck. There are some studies that implicate high calcium levels with renal failure/gout. But, those studies also implicate high protein levels. Many folks keep their roos on layer for their entire lives, and those roos almost always live to a very long life unless they meet a predator or crock pot.

Do your homework, then choose: put them on layer, keep them on a multi flock/grower or starter (aim for 16 - 20% protein). Above else, I strongly advocate fermented feed.