when should i switch to layer feed?

[chickenchalupa]

My girls are about 16 weeks old and I'm wondering when I should make the switch from grower feed to layer and when should I provide oyster shells for them? Thanks

 

[letsgobucks!]

I'm curious too. This post has some info regarding your question about the feed (nothing about the oyster shells though)....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=211942

I'm curious as to how long the transition should take. Do we switch abruptly or slowly transition? If a slow transition, perhaps someone will post a recommended transition schedule...

 

[digitS']

Oyster shell can be provided free-choice at most any age. I wouldn't put it in the brooder with that group just because they may choke on it but, chickens handle self-regulating calcium intake fairly well if given that choice.

I don't like to make sudden changes in feed. When I've switched to layer it was mixed with the grower beginning with the 1st egg from the flock. By the time they were all laying, the layer would amount to about 100% of what is in the feeder.

The newly laying chicken should have some reserves of calcium in her body. She will deplete this calcium store over time and begin to lay softshelled eggs. If the imbalance continues for long, she may develop "layer fatigue" and may even die. But, this isn't likely to be a sudden onset of the problem.

Having oyster shell available should eliminate a problem with insufficient calcium no matter what the feed.

Steve

 

[lil_chick]

Personally, I only feed layer to chickens during cold winter months when they lay less.. I don't feed it to them otherwise so they can lay their eggs naturally and they are much better that way.

 

[digitS']

Layer feed doesn't "force" a chicken to lay an egg.

It simply provides the nutrients considered necessary for a laying hen.

Steve

 

[speckledhen]

Layer feed only provides the higher calcium and proper protein content for hens laying eggs; it does nothing to force them to lay, nor could it. lil chick, what on earth do you feed them in the other months?

 

[lindabean]

When I bought chickens a few months ago, I bought 3 that were said to be less than a year and were laying eggs already, 2 that were about 8 to 12 weeks old, and 8 little fuzzy tennis balls (pullets from the feed store). They are all in the chicken yard now, with the youngest 8 being separated in a "juvie" pen do to being fed differently. My question is, at what age can I let the "Juvies" out with the big girls and start feeding all of them the same? Neither of the older 2 have started laying yet (all the eggs have been the same size & I figure 1st eggs will be smaller). Also I have 1 white egg layer, 1 brown egg layer & 1 Easter Egg layer, so I pretty much know who is laying what at this stage. So is there a magic age to put them together, or does it all depend on whether or not they are laying?

 

[speckledhen]

When I am incorporating teenagers in with the main flock, many times, I buy an interim bag or bags of something like FlockRaiser or Game Bird Grower feed and by the time they are done with that, the youngsters are older and they can go to layer feed. If they are as old as 16-18 weeks, it's not too terrible to switch them to layer. Sometimes, you can't have the absolute perfect situation. I dont like to put anyone under 12-14 weeks in with the main flock so they can run for their lives when they have to, LOL.

 

[gibsonjo]

Also, on different starter/grower feeds it gives specific times as to when to wean the chicks off. The starter/grower I used most recently said to wean them off of it at 9 weeks. At this point it recommends feeding a laying mash.

J

 

[Suziers]

My girls are 16 weeks and I have started feeding them a mix of 1/2 grower and 1/2 layer. I plan to have them on 100% layer by the time they are 5 1/2 months old.