when to change feed? again...

[BBK]

I'm in a delimma. i have almost 20 week old EEs and 16 week RIRs and 12 week silkies...

I have NOT changed to laying pellets yet, b/c i keep reading don't change until someone starts laying.....I'm down to the bottom of my bag of feed. Should i just get another bag of growing pellets?

And then when one starts to lay...If i change, what will it do to all of my other birds including roos...they're certainly NOT going to lay anything...

So, is laying pellets good for them? and then what about my 12 wk old silkies? Eating laying pellets at that age, is that good for them? I think i read somewhere that it's NOT!!!

Thanks for your help.

Melinda

 

[Wynette]

Hey, Melinda. Good questions. Layer pellets are not good for chickens younger than 20 weeks...some folks say 18, but my experience is that the longer you can wait to use the layer, the better you will be in the long run. Of course, if they begin laying, they really should be put on layer.

You really ought to move the silkies. They are much younger....if you absolutely cannot, put them all on a Flock Raiser type feed - it's a "generic" feed that is fine to feed for poultry over 12 weeks of age. Again, you should really consider moving the silkies out, as it's not good for them to have that much calcium going in.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I would stick with the feed you are currently using and add some oyster shells once you start to see some eggs! This covers you with both the layers and non!

 

[BBK]

ok....well duh, on my part... Silkies are NOT with the rest of the girls.... I guess i only wanted to buy one bag of feed-not a few....

But this helps.... I'll just get the oyster shell.


AND this will take care of everything? Will the roosters eat oyster shells? I guess only if they need calcium, huh?

thanks.....i was really stressing over this....

melinda

 

[kagedgoddess]

a lady round here feeds all her birds grower rations and gives the layers oyster shells. the others shouldnt want to eat the oyster shell. the roosters wont want to for sure i imagine. and also roos can eat layer if their in the same pen. if you goto a feed store ask them if they can break the bags down smaller for ya. mine will. it just isnt cost effective to do so for most ppl.

 

[BBK]

Again, thanks to all. We're at the age... with some and not with others... I just want to be prepared.

grower for everyone...

So do I really have to buy laying pellets at all? Just make sure I offer the oyster shells...

Melinda

 

[2DogsFarm]

I used my Newbie Intuition and switched to 1/2 grower (non-medicated) 1/2 layer just a week ago because 2 of my 5 pullets were starting to show signs of getting ready to lay.

Got my first egg last night, so I'll add the oyster shell today.

The mixed feed should last me about a month, so it will have to do for everyone - all 18wk old pullets - until I need to refill. Then I'll go to layer pellets.

I figured it was like young horses (my only other livestock experience) you don't switch feed all at once, but gradually change over.