When to switch feed from grower to layer?

[FrostRanger]

I feed my flock of layers flock maker + oyster shell and they do great on it
I do agree about starting oyster shell now though, I personally like to have that out by 15 weeks just in case of a very early layer. Doesn't hurt anything as anyone who doesn't need it won't eat it and those that do will have it. There's no telling when your birds will start laying so I wouldn't switch to layer feed until everyone is laying if you switch at all

 

[TooCheep]

Most commercial brands of chick starter and their all flock feed are almost exactly the same.
I randomly chose brands to show you:
View attachment 3956084

Thanks for the additional detail @Kiki. Those two are the only feeds I use these days.

 

[RSpeeps]

I don't feed layer either, I don't like the forced amount of extra calcium. I usually have a mixed flock of laying and non-laying chickens (too young, too old, molting, sick, winter, etc.) so the flat ratio of extra calcium doesn't make sense for my flock. I feed everybody Purina Flock Raiser, which is a healthy 20% protein, and good for any age or gender of chicken, regardless of laying status. I provide an unlimited supply of calcium on the side (crushed eggshell) for whoever needs it, and that's it. I have chicks every year and don't have to think about who's eating what, they all eat the same and are doing great.

What do you put the extra calcium on the side in so that it is eaten and not just spilled and spread around with scratching?

 

[TooCheep]

What do you put the extra calcium on the side in so that it is eaten and not just spilled and spread around with scratching?

I use "cage cups" for both grit and calcium. They hook onto the hardware cloth nicely to keep from spilling. You can find them on Amazon or Ebay.

 

[RSpeeps]

I use "cage cups" for both grit and calcium. They hook onto the hardware cloth nicely to keep from spilling. You can find them on Amazon or Ebay.

Thank you!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

A lot of what I've read has said not to switch the chickens over until they're actually laying.

Yes that's what I have been doing

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm also in the "All Flock" all the time camp, free choice oyster shell. I have mixed flock mutts. Boys and girls, from several weeks old, to several years old. Some which lay very well, some which... don't. and a lot of them molting right now.

Going with a feed that provides enough calcium for prime commercial layers at their peak doesn't make sense for me. That's not the sort of flock I have.

and I use a section of plastic gutter to hold the oyster shell. It was cheap (on hand) holds a far amount, and holds up to the FL weather.

 

[K0k0shka]

What do you put the extra calcium on the side in so that it is eaten and not just spilled and spread around with scratching?

I put mine in a flower pot (5-ish inch diameter), and only fill it halfway. That way they can't scratch it out or rake it out with their beaks. It's wedged against a wall and between a couple of bricks so they can't knock it over either. The calcium (eggshell) pot is inside the coop where it can stay dry. Both eggshell and oyster shell can smell really bad if they get wet. My grit is in the run, in a similar pot. And because the pot has a drainage hole, the water drains out if the grit gets rained on, so it doesn't turn into rock soup. And because it's just rocks, it doesn't care if it gets wet.

 

[PimsGarden]

I just feed 20% protein All Flock Feed and give calcium on the side, that way you don't have to worry about when to switch. You can also have a rooster added if you want because they can't have layer feed. I've had better results with my birds with egg production doing this over layer feed, but this is my experience.

 

[pdnarus10]

I don't feed layer either, I don't like the forced amount of extra calcium. I usually have a mixed flock of laying and non-laying chickens (too young, too old, molting, sick, winter, etc.) so the flat ratio of extra calcium doesn't make sense for my flock. I feed everybody Purina Flock Raiser, which is a healthy 20% protein, and good for any age or gender of chicken, regardless of laying status. I provide an unlimited supply of calcium on the side (crushed eggshell) for whoever needs it, and that's it. I have chicks every year and don't have to think about who's eating what, they all eat the same and are doing great.

Do you also have grit on the side? My problem is they keep knocking the bowl over w the grit. I ordered a feeder to put grit in. I hope that will solve the problem Can I add it to the shells or should they both be separate?