Yet another age and layer feed question...

[jennyf]

I have six chickens who are 32 weeks old. Two have been laying for a month, one more is possibly laying, and three I suspect not. Days are so short now. I bought a bag of New Country Organics layer when I got my first egg about a month ago, and they're about 2/3 way through it. Will finishing out the bag of layer hurt the three chickens that aren't laying? I'm going to buy a bag of Grower next (have oyster shell on the side and I scatter it around the run every so often too), but would like to use up the rest of the bag of layer first if possible.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You could add lighting to get the others to start laying too. It doesn't take much, a low watt led and a timer to supplement light so totals 12 or more hours a day. Liek have it turn on in AM and off soon after you let them out of coop each day so total daylight is 12-14 hours. The non layers will start laying in a month after the additional light.

A bag of layer wont hurt them. It's constant overload of calcium that does and is definitely horrible for chicks. The problem with pre-lay overload of calcium is it sets the pelvic bones before they widen causing laying issues. That's starting birds on calcium overload at 15 weeks of age type thing. I don't believe that's a problem at this age, they are old enough/ mature enough to lay just are caught in darker days so didn't can't start. Seriously think about supplementing daylight.

 

[azygous]

Totally agree. Go ahead and finish out the layer feed. I think you'll discover that your chickens will be more enthusiastic over the all flock feed. My hens informed me they hate the taste of layer. I've been feeding Flock Raiser for years, and it's so convenient not to have to juggle different feeds in a mixed flock Everyone eats the same thing, even new chicks.

Have you heard of rope lights? I just recently discovered them. I like them for the low wattage, safety (no exposed bulb to break) and they aren't florescent. They take up zero space, too, and plug into a timer just the same as any light.

I have pullets around the same age as yours and I've been trying to get them to start laying. They were upset over the light coming on while it was still dark the first couple nights, but then they adjusted and now they keep sleeping. They don't need to be awake for the light to be effective.