Chickabee Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I've got 2 growers in with my older chickens. They've all been on growers for a while now. They have access to grit and get veggies. The growers will be 17 weeks next Saturday. Is it ok to keep all the girls on growers for a bit longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 9, 2014 Share Posted November 9, 2014 I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 9, 2014 Author Share Posted November 9, 2014 Thanks. That's what I thought Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 We keep ours on growers until the first one lays Chickabee. So that could be over 30 weeks with some Pedigrees. Our new Marans are on growers and they are now 27 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 Will that be ok for the other girls Beantree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 Are you mixing laying and non-laying birds Chickabee? Laying hens need layers pellets, so even if only one is laying they all need layers. But it is detrimental (apparently) to switch pullets onto layers too soon, because they can't tolerate the excessive Calcium in the feed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 10, 2014 Author Share Posted November 10, 2014 That's the conundrum Beantree. One bird is laying at the moment. The rest are on their break. I do have another Eglu with some bantam pullets who are not yet in lay, but that would mean having 5 in a classic. They do free range all day every day though in my largish garden. Do you think I should move the growers ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 I would have the growers/ youngsters separate at the moment and have just them on growers pellets. The hens would be together and all on layers, even though only one is laying. Of course that may be rather impractical for you Chickabee, in which case I would have them all together on growers rather than risk the health of the youngsters. I would then switch them all onto layers at 21 weeks. That short 4 week period for the one layer shouldn't cause problems and she may pick up any Calcium deficiency on her own by picking out just the oyster shell from the mixed grit? If she starts laying thin shells in the meantime you will know why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 10, 2014 Share Posted November 10, 2014 If they have all been on growers for a while, I wouldn't go to the trouble of separating them and faffing about with different feeds, as you only have one laying hen at present. if they have access to grit and plenty of green stuff they i should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Most of my birds get growers pellets, or a watered down mix of pellets, seeds, grains and pulses even if they are in full lay Layers pellets were originally intended for commercial laying hens not pet birds and I feel they 'push' the bird un-necessarily. None of my lot have any problems laying good quality eggs for eating or hatching - they may well lay fewer eggs as a result but should live a longer productive life with a greatly reduced chance of complications Given your situation I would keep the birds on growers pellets at least for now, they will also support the laying hens coming in to winter and to me its a win/win situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 I would feed them all growers. If they have all settled together Chickabee I certainly would not split them up just so that the one layer can have layers. As others have said she will be fine until the new ones start to lay too. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
