when to start laying mash ?

[FogHornLegHornWV]

when do you start to feed laying mash and oyster shells at what age ? what brand of feed purina,dumor or sorthern states? thanks for the info.

 

[ginormous chicken]

They say after twenty weeks. I started earlier. You don't need the oyster shells until they start laying. You do need grit if you use layena pellets instead of layena crumble. Personally, I like the pellets because I think there is less waste.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I don't feed any layer type feed or oyster shells till I get there first egg. Different breeds will mature sooner than others so it is really hard to put a date on it.

Chris

 

[Jedalamoma]

I start mine on laying mash at about 16-18 weeks. No problems so far!

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
I don't like any of those brands, personally. Purina and Southern States are both vegetarian feeds and I haven't heard much good about Dumor. I feed Tucker Milling, ADM Alliance Pen Pals or Faithway Feeds, but usually Tucker Milling, which still contains animal protein for better feathering.

 

[Judy]

I definitely agree with using a feed with animal protein, particularly if they aren't free range and finding a lot of their own bugs. I have switched from layer to a nonmedicated grower with oyster shell on the side, though. More protein this way.

 

[speckledhen]

I did forget to say that anytime from 18 weeks till the first egg is laid is usually fine to switch to layer. I've occasionally switched a couple weeks earlier when I had teenagers being integrated into the main flock, but generally, it's not a great idea to switch till they are on the verge of laying or already laying.

 

[lizakn]

I kind of have the same question about when to start them on laying mash. The bag I bought says 20 weeks....and the info I have read says anywhere between 17 - 20 weeks. But I have also read {mostly on this site} that you can usually tell a hen will begin laying when their comb starts to turn red. Well my hens are almost 13 weeks...their combs are big & red! Of course they haven't started laying yet because they are only 13 weeks {they are RIR's}

 

[Den in Penn]

Thirteen weeks is to young to start them on layer. Even if they are laying at sixteen weeks personally I would wait till they were closer to eighteen weeks. Most only lay a few eggs in the first couple of weeks of laying, and the calcium they need for those is available in most feeds they eat. There is also the rest of the flock, who may not be laying yet, to think about.

 

[becca13]

so i have rir and i think silkys they are white and chunky older than my rir when can i give then laying mesh not sure how old the silkys are but i know you can now tell one is a rooster