nia2311 Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 Hi all We are new to this forum and have been keeping two chickens since May. They are about 13-14 weeks old and have been happily munching growers pellets. We now need to buy more food and wondered when we could start them on layers pellets? I don't want to buy another big bag of growers only to then need layers straight after. Thanks in advance for all replies! Nia and Steven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 16, 2010 Share Posted July 16, 2010 My breeder said when they begin to lay but I was stuck when they were introduced to others and not laying so I changed mine over at 24 and 28 weeks. In my books it says at 16-18 weeks. Think you please yourself. Some pet shops sell small amounts and I've just bought a 5Kg bag of fancy feed growers pellets from my feed merchant for £3.25 so you can get it in smaller amounts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooker Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 This is a question that is pressing in our house too! We have two 13week old black rocks and a 9week old light sussex, all successfully weaned onto growers pellets, thing is the fence between them and our older hens isnt that high and one of the younger ones( who has been laying for about 1 month), ruth, is always jumping over the fence and spending the day with the chicks. They get on well, but I worry about ruth eating the growers pellets because she is laying eggs!...is this harmful or her?? It will be much simpler when I can just give them all the same feed and not worry about fishing ruth out of the chick run all the time! Rachel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Hi, welcome to the forum. Ideally you want to change them over gradually, so it would be worthwhile you buying a 5kg bag of Growers pellets, and a big bag of layers pellets. Normally you'd start introducing them to Layers pellets at about 16 weeks, but you can do it later. (Table birds can be fed on growers to the end, irrespective of age). When I do it, I put about a quarter Layers and 3/4 growers. Then next time I fill up the feeders, I increase the proportion of layers. I do the change over 1 or 2 weeks, depending on how much Growers pellets I have left. Although you move them on to Layers at that time, they won't start to lay until much later (My record was a Welsummer who was 40 weeks old when she laid her first egg. But she was a strange bird). A breeder once told me I could start my newly acquired 12 week old on Layers pellets straightaway. I happened to see my chicken-specialist Vet around that time, and I asked him about it and his opinion was completely different: Layers pellets have stuff in them which is desgined to ensure good shell quality (Calcium) and good yolk quality for eating. Growers pellets have the right nutrition for a growing bird. Too much calcium too early will affect the bone developement. At 14 weeks, it probably doesn't matter....but as it's still best to gradually transfer them over then (speaking personally), I'd get a 5kg bag of Growers and do it that way. You could continue to include a small amount of Growers in their feed ration until the Growers is used up, so it doesn't have to be wasted. Hope that helps, and good luck with whatever you decide to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nia2311 Posted July 17, 2010 Author Share Posted July 17, 2010 Hi all Thank you for all the replies - we will be getting another 5kg bag of growers and the big layers bag and will be gradually start introducing the layers pellets in another 2-3 weeks I think. Thanks again for all the replies! Nia & Steven Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jill the potter Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Hi, Have just returned from a breeder where I have ordered two new chicks, and she said as others have said, to give layers pellets at 16 weeks. Although when I asked should it be done gradually she said there was no need to do that - I suppose everyone has a slightly different view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted July 17, 2010 Share Posted July 17, 2010 Just to say there is another school of thought on this (of course, we are talking chickens!!) Feeding layers too soon can encourage early laying, which in turn can lead to other problems, prolapse being one of them. POL is one recommendation, as is when they have actually started laying. I tend to do the latter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nia2311 Posted July 18, 2010 Author Share Posted July 18, 2010 Well we bought a 5kg bag of growers and a big bag of layers and will be continuing just with the growers for now. I think we will gradually introduce the layers from about 20-22 weeks, as that seems to be the general consenus! Thanks again for all the advice, I'm sure we will be back in the not-too-distant future asking more chicken-based questions! Ta, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
