HELP aggressive chicken

[Isabel]

Not quite sure when to change - Orp is around 24 wks and may be close to laying, other two are around 18w and 14w. My guess is they could pretty much all move to layers BUT I've 2 10w olds coming to join them in a few days. They'll all be f'ranging together fairly soon so 2 different foods isn't an option ... unless they can read signs saying 'growers' and 'layers' . Should I keep them all on growers for a few more weeks (ie. another 20kg bag)? Will it do the older hens any harm as they come into lay?

 

Thanks

 

Isabel

[scarlettohara]

Hi

 

I was told on here layers at 18 weeks

[tom123]

I would keep them all on Growers until the youngest is 18 weeks +

 

[coco]

I have a 16 week old Sussex and a 13 week old Welsummer both on growers. I'll keep them on Growers until the Welsummer is 18 weeks or so them slowly intoduce layers.

[Isabel]

Thanks everyone - growers it is!

[The Dogmother]

Tom is right there's no harm in keeping them all on growers, but it's not advised to move hens onto layers feed too soon as it encourages them to lay before their bodies are mature enough.

[Jools]

I tend to keep mine on growers until just before they come into lay, usually around the five / six month mark.

 

The only word of caution is that you shouldn't feed medicated growers to potential laying hens after 16 weeks (I'd have to double check that to be sure as I forget every year!!), so I change brands of growers at that point.

[Isabel]

Thanks Clare & Jools - we're using the Smallholders Growers for now so no medication (that i know off but I'll have to go and check later!) so hopefully okay.