When to switch feeds

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Hello friends!

This is my first flock and the girls are 13 weeks old. Just ran out of our last bag of a medicated chick starter and the centerra co-op suggested i could start them on layer crumbles if i wanted to. I thought i read that there was too much calcium in layer feed for younger pullets. No one is laying yet so i am unsure.

Am i ok to switch from medicated chick starter to layer feed at 13 weeks?

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I would either go with a Grower feed or an All Flock feed until they start laying. If you go with All Flock just add some Oyster Shell on the side after they start laying, or you could go with either and then switch to layer when they start laying. I like the All Flock with a side of Oyster Shell because it gives them more protein, but that's just my preference.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree with Kiki. All my birds eat Flock Raiser, a 20% protein all- flock feed that's always available within one month of the mill date here. Then I have oyster shell on the side is a separate dish for the actively laying hens.
Your pullets are too young to start on a layer feed, even if you decide to feed it later. Go with an all-flock or chick feed that's available fresh where you shop.
Then, mix the two feeds in their feeder, so it's not an overnight change. Chickens hate changes!
Mary

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x Folly's place & Kiki
I used to do the feed age switch but then I found BYC & it's members Since reading (2yrs ago) about about higher protein during egg laying, I'm sold. Now my girls get Flock Raiser with their Oyster Shells in a separate dish. Shells are strong and have not had any issues. Now I start chicks of on the smallest bag of MCS then switch over to Flock Raiser, put out the extra dish of Oyster Shells when they start laying. I also ferment their feed from the start.

I always wondered how to feed a mixed (sex) flock and learned why Layer is not fed to chicks and best not for Roos either. This site & it's members are

 

[jp57]

If they free range, they will get the extra calcium they need. I was adding to my flock this year and switched my older girls to All Flock since it was easier that trying to keep the young and old bird apart. I couldn't get the older ones to touch the oyster shell, but they still were laying eggs.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My girls are 27 months old and I've been feeding them a Non-Medicated Start & Grow since Memorial day. Why you ask. Well I only have 3 hens (lost 2 earlier this year) and I can get a 25# bag. A 40 or 50# bag goes bad before its used up.
It's got 18% Protein, I can find it fresh and my girls like it.
The only downside is it doesn't come in a pellet.
I offer them Oyster Shells in a separate container, and the eggs are gorgeous. . GC

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, it's really important to find a feed that's fresh and that will be fed within six or eight weeks of the mill date. That's why it's so difficult to recommend one product over another, because it's about the size of your flock (add more chickens!) and what's out there in your location.
If there's another flock owner nearby, maybe you can share feed.
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with other posters re: age of feed being a critical factor. As for starting your girls on layer, what are their breeds? Production and sex links are likely to start laying early, while some of the heritage breeds start laying later.

I stand alone in my opinion that pullets can start on layer any time after they loose their peep and get their cluck. (voice change indicating that they are entering chickie puberty). While the argument against extra calcium being bad for non layers bears merit, I am do not get wrapped up in the calcium argument. My roos eat layer most of their adult life, and have never exhibited any of the issues associated with excess calcium intake. When I have chicks, the entire flock goes on starter (unmedicated). The flock switches back to layer when the youngest chicks enter puberty.

Do what makes the most sense to you. At their age, the only thing I'd not do is put them on a low protein feed (less than 16%) or put them on medicated feed.

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

Yes, it's really important to find a feed that's fresh and that will be fed within six or eight weeks of the mill date. That's why it's so difficult to recommend one product over another, because it's about the size of your flock (add more chickens!) and what's out there in your location.
If there's another flock owner nearby, maybe you can share feed.
Mary

I am not familiar with the concept of how recently it was milled ? Is that a question i ask at the feedstore? I usually place and pay for an order at the cash register and then drive around back and they load it in the warehouse.

Would each bag have a different milled on date like some beverages? Where would i find it?

 

[RustyBucketFarmGirl]

I agree with Kiki. All my birds eat Flock Raiser, a 20% protein all- flock feed that's always available within one month of the mill date here. Then I have oyster shell on the side is a separate dish for the actively laying hens.
Your pullets are too young to start on a layer feed, even if you decide to feed it later. Go with an all-flock or chick feed that's available fresh where you shop.
Then, mix the two feeds in their feeder, so it's not an overnight change. Chickens hate changes!
Mary

I did mix them together for a couple days with what i had left of the chick starter!