When to start my silkies on Layer's feed?

[Apomerantz]

I still have my 5 month old silkies on chick feed, but I ran out of feed and I am going to go pick some up. Should I keep them on chick feed for longer or start them on layer feed since they are 5 mo?
Thanks!
Amy

 

[pookiegoldman]

IMO, I think that would be fine. You don't want to start them any earlier because of the risk of kidney damage, but I started my chickens on layer feed right at 5 months old. They're 6 months and a week now. I've had one laying for about 8 days now.

 

[Zyla]

My silkies will be 5 months middle of December. I'm running out of food too. What about mixing layer feed with chick feed until they are 6 months or older? I read silkies may not lay eggs until 7 to 9 months, sometimes a year

 

[FrostRanger]

If you do switch to layer feed, best to wait until everyone is laying and even then, you don't have to. As long as they have access to crushed oyster shell they can eat starter or all flock indefinitely and it's actually better for them as those usually have higher protein than layer feed and there's no need to switch feeds when you get chicks or some of them take a break from laying for whatever reason. Many of us here go the all flock + oyster shell route here with good results