When to switch food and other not laying yet questions

[Jenilynchickmom]

Hi!! First time overwhelmed chicken mommy!

I have:
1 light Brahma
1 golden laced polish
1 speckled Sussex
1 black sexlink
1 isa brown
1 silver laced Wyandotte
All were bought may 9th and we’re told to be under a week old. So they are around 9 weeks

1. When do I switch from medicated chick feed and do I switch right to layer crumbles?

2. when do I start offering calcium supplements? (I have been baking egg shells)

3. when do I put the laying boxes in? I know they shouldn’t be in there now as they will sleep in them

Thank you for all of your help!!

 

[GC-Raptor]

I feed a Medicated Start and Grow feed for 10 weeks.
Then when bag is empty I switch to a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower. But they need to be outside at least 2 weeks before switching to a Non-Medicated feed.
You can feed Medicated up to 18 weeks old.
You could switch to a Layers feed after 18 weeks, but
I wouldn't switch to a Layers feed till all breeds are laying.
You can switch from Medicated straight to Layers, but I like to mix feeds 50/50 for a week or so.

I put out a container of Oyster Shells/egg shells at 16 weeks old.

I open/install nest boxes at 15 weeks.

My ISA Browns 10 weeks old.

My Barred Rocks 22 months old.

GC

 

[Mamatomany123]

Since I have 7 18 week olds (1 laying) and 4 3 week olds I feed all flock. The babies like to think they're big girls and eat out of their feed dish now. I provide oyster shells on the side for my layer and other big girls if they every decide to help their sister out and give me some eggs.

 

[rosemarythyme]

1. At 9 weeks they really shouldn't need medicated feed any longer, however if you want to stick with it you can (I don't use it at all). If you're planning to feed layer eventually, best to switch over once they all/almost all of them start laying - OR - you can follow the suggested ages on the bags, but as pullets all start laying at different ages I'd rather do the former. Or you can continue with an all flock or grower feed, with calcium on the side.

2. Same time that you switch to layer, or would switch to layer.

3. Are your birds roosting reliably right now? If so, might not be a bad idea to put them in soon, to a) give them a chance to explore the boxes beforehand and b) it'll let you see if you have any birds that are inclined to sleep in nests, so you can deal with it before they start needing the boxes.

 

[The Backyard Bantams]

I have four bantam girls of different crosses. I got them at 8 weeks, the one in my profile pic was a couple weeks younger. I immediately put them on a grower crumble even though that one was a little bit young. They are 26 weeks now, and not laying, but they look almost ready. I ordered some layer pellets and have started mixing them in with their food. My girls think that the pellets are treats! They love them! I will give them some shell grit soon. I think that giving them some pellets now won’t hurt them, they are close to laying. Feeding chicks and pullets layer feed can be harmful because of the excess calcium that laying hens need for strong eggshells.

 

[The Backyard Bantams]

Hi!! First time overwhelmed chicken mommy!

I have:
1 light Brahma
1 golden laced polish
1 speckled Sussex
1 black sexlink
1 isa brown
1 silver laced Wyandotte
All were bought may 9th and we’re told to be under a week old. So they are around 9 weeks

1. When do I switch from medicated chick feed and do I switch right to layer crumbles?

2. when do I start offering calcium supplements? (I have been baking egg shells)

3. when do I put the laying boxes in? I know they shouldn’t be in there now as they will sleep in them

Thank you for all of your help!!

As for the nest boxes, I would put them in when you start to see signs of laying, or a few weeks earlier. You can put a fake egg in to encourage them to lay there. A golf ball also works. Make sure they can’t get up on the boxes .org they will poop all over them. Also make sure they are not too high. Chicken strips prefer to lay in low, dark quiet spots, and sleep up high.

 

[TK421]

If that’s all the chickens you have, I recommend switching to non medicated chick starter or starter/grower as soon as your current bag of feed runs out. If you can find starter pellets rather than crumbles then do it( I never can). Then plan to switch to layer pellets (not crumbles) at the first egg laid, or around 20-24 weeks (Sep 20-mid/late oct). You can start a little early if you need to prevent having a whole bag of chick starter unused. By the time they’re this old (now-July), they should be able to eat pellets, which is less wasteful than crumbles.

you don’t have to supplement calcium because all commercial layer pellets are “complete rations.” It won’t hurt, but you don’t have to. if you do, provide it to them when they all start laying.