When to switch feeds.

[Mountain Bear]

When I ran out of grower feed at around 5 or 6 months I switched my new chicks over to layer pellets. I figured it wouldn't be long and I didn't want to be stuck feeding laying birds grower mash. Now my RIR, phonex and buff chickens are about 7 or 8 months and no eggs.
I am no expert but they all look full grown. Should I continue with layer pellets? or can I mix in some grower with it? How important is the type of food anyway? or is it just the same suff with a different name?

 

[Ridgerunner]

The only significant difference between Layer and Grower is the percent calcium. You can look at the labels under “Analysis” to see what I mean. The extra calcium in Layer is for the egg shells.

There is nothing in Layer that will cause them to lay, just the calcium for the egg shells when they start. There is nothing in Grower that will harm them. Many of us feed Grower even to laying hens, just provide oyster shell on the side to provide extra calcium for the ones that are laying.