Egg binding can be from soft eggs as well as those that are too big to pass.
I think managing their calcium/phosphorus/D3 intake is critical. Those things have to be in balance.
I never start layer feed unless the bulk of a flock are laying. I usually have a rooster and sometimes young birds with layers so rather than feed layer, I give a grower and provide oyster shell in a separate container. It works great, just don't let them run out of OS.
Many recommend starting layer at 18 weeks but I have a problem with that for the following reason.
Commercial flocks, especially in black out housing are on a strict lighting program with flocks of early maturing birds all the same age. With this, they can predict that all the birds will be laying within a week or two of each other. They also keep only leghorn based or other high producing hybrids.
Not all breeds that many small holders keep mature as early as egg hybrids. Backyard and small holders, don't have strict lighting programs, have various amounts of light entering the coop and get their birds out at different times in the morning possibly limiting light reaching the pineal gland. Additionally, birds reaching laying age in the fall or winter may not start laying till they're 26-30 weeks or even longer.
My thought is that starting them on 4% calcium for birds that may not lay for months could be premature.
I think managing their calcium/phosphorus/D3 intake is critical. Those things have to be in balance.
I never start layer feed unless the bulk of a flock are laying. I usually have a rooster and sometimes young birds with layers so rather than feed layer, I give a grower and provide oyster shell in a separate container. It works great, just don't let them run out of OS.
Many recommend starting layer at 18 weeks but I have a problem with that for the following reason.
Commercial flocks, especially in black out housing are on a strict lighting program with flocks of early maturing birds all the same age. With this, they can predict that all the birds will be laying within a week or two of each other. They also keep only leghorn based or other high producing hybrids.
Not all breeds that many small holders keep mature as early as egg hybrids. Backyard and small holders, don't have strict lighting programs, have various amounts of light entering the coop and get their birds out at different times in the morning possibly limiting light reaching the pineal gland. Additionally, birds reaching laying age in the fall or winter may not start laying till they're 26-30 weeks or even longer.
My thought is that starting them on 4% calcium for birds that may not lay for months could be premature.
