when to start layer pellets?

[sheeshshe]

my chickens are 14 weeks old... I have 2 that are 10 weeks old..

when do I need to start with the layer pellets and the oyster shells?

I have 14w cinnamon queens (red sex links) and 14 w and 10w Buff orpingtons.

 

[gumpsgirl]

They don't need any layer food or oyster shell until they start laying. When the first egg shows up, then add the layer feed.

 

[mstricer]

The bag of chick starter should tell you. I only use the purnia brand and tells you to switch over at 17 weeks.

 

[Choco Maran]

I use chick starter on my chicks untill they are 8 weeks and then change to grower untill the are around 5 to 6 months and switch to lay then. I have raise chickens for years and never had a problem. I will also start giveing them melon rhines at about 3-4 weeks if it is summer.

 

[Eggie and Me]

This is a good question...

If you research long enough you'll find dozens of differing opinions............. We're still giving our gals only started mash, but we allow them to free range a couple times a day, usually for a couple of hours. We also give them TONS of fresh veggies, fruits and lots of leftovers............. Don't know which is right??

Our gals are are a couple days short of 18 weeks........... From what everyone at our feed store tells me, they all wait until that first egg. AND, apparently they only thing the layer feed gives is that extra calcium for their eggs................???

 

[Katy_didnot]

Mine are 17 weeks and not laying yet and I just started them on layer. Mostly because with only 5 pullets it takes quite awhile to go through a bag of feed. If I buy another bag of chick feed now I won't use it up for about 4 or 5 weeks (at least). If they start laying during that time I'll still have all that feed to use up. I figure layer feed can't hurt them.
Anyway that's my logic.

 

[Indiana hens]

Mine hate layer pellets!

 

[Katy_didnot]

Mine hate layer pellets!

Who would have thought that the chickens themselves would weigh in on the question!​

 

[Eggie and Me]

Quote:
Who would have thought that the chickens themselves would weigh in on the question!

Guess it's best to go to the horses mouth, or in this case the chickens beak..

No seriously, I've heard and read that quite a few have difficulty in transitioning from starter to layer pellets. Also read that mixing the 2 together helps with this transition??

 

[sheeshshe]

is there much difference between the grower and the layer pellets?


I didn't know if starting them on the layer pellets would give them the calcium to begin with to start laying. but if I don't need it until I see the first egg then I guess I'll wait, I still have some grower pellety things left to last another month probably. they eat a lot of bugs and such so it takes them a while to go through a bag!