I switched from start & grow 18% to a layers feed, when my pullets Combs were bright red and swollen and they squatted when I put my hand over them. For my Golden Comets that was just after 15 weeks.
I mixed the start and grow 50/50 with the layers feed, at 16 weeks for 2 weeks. The layers feed I bought was pellets. Chickens don't like change, so I scattered a small amount of pellets on dry ground daily for the 2 weeks and they gobbled it up. I also offered oyster shell in a separate container.
At 18 weeks I only added pellets to the feeder. The leftover start and grow I mixed 50/50 with scratch grains and scattered on dry ground till it was gone.
I still offer oyster shell because they eat less pellets in the summer, I give them a treat of scratch grains daily and I let them out to free range 2 hours before sunset daily, weather permitting. So they also eat grass, clover, dandelion greens and bugs. A 5# bag of oyster shell lasted my 5 girls 11 months on the last bag.
GC (I forgot to mention my pullets started to lay between 16 1/2 to 19 weeks.)
I mixed the start and grow 50/50 with the layers feed, at 16 weeks for 2 weeks. The layers feed I bought was pellets. Chickens don't like change, so I scattered a small amount of pellets on dry ground daily for the 2 weeks and they gobbled it up. I also offered oyster shell in a separate container.
At 18 weeks I only added pellets to the feeder. The leftover start and grow I mixed 50/50 with scratch grains and scattered on dry ground till it was gone.
I still offer oyster shell because they eat less pellets in the summer, I give them a treat of scratch grains daily and I let them out to free range 2 hours before sunset daily, weather permitting. So they also eat grass, clover, dandelion greens and bugs. A 5# bag of oyster shell lasted my 5 girls 11 months on the last bag.
GC (I forgot to mention my pullets started to lay between 16 1/2 to 19 weeks.)
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