When To Switch Chickens To Layer Feed
Inside: Learn how to transition your chickens to adult layer feed with this simple process to ensure your chickens remain healthy and happy.
Your baby chicks are growing bigger every day. They are starting to look like adult chickens. You’ve moved them from the brooder to the coop.
But when is the right time to switch chickens to adult chicken feed?
And what kind of feed should you choose? There is chick starter feed, grower feed, laying pellets, crumble layer feed, and organic vs. non-organic feed. Enough different types of feed to make your head spin.
Learn how to transition your chickens to adult feed with this simple process to ensure your chickens remain healthy and happy.
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What Should I Feed My Chickens?
Before we talk about when to make the transition to layer feed, let’s first discuss WHAT to feed your chickens when you do make the switch.
When choosing feed to give to your laying hens, be sure to choose a quality layer feed, not broiler feed. Broiler feed is for meat birds and is designed to put weight on the chickens quickly.
It contains too much protein and not enough calcium for laying hens. Using broiler feed can lead to all kinds of health problems for laying hens and roosters in your flock.
Your layer feed should contain 16 percent protein for optimal health. Chick starter usually contains higher protein (18 – 20%) that growing birds need.
Most premium brands of chicken feed for laying hens contain the appropriate protein content and other vital nutrients your chickens need. Most layer feed formulas also include the correct levels of key vitamins such as Vitamin A, D, and E to ensure a healthy diet for your flock.
Even if you free range your flock, you need to provide a complete feed at all times to ensure your flock receives the essential nutrients they need.
Pellets vs. Crumbles
So now that you know to choose layer feed, you should be aware that it comes in two forms – pellets and crumbles. Crumbles are small pieces of food that are similar in size to what chick starter looks like.
Pellets, on the other hand, are basically compressed chicken feed in the shape of a pellet. I prefer pellets as they tend to be less wasteful since the chickens will usually eat them off the floor of the coop if they knock them out of the feeder.
However, the type of food you choose is a personal decision and there isn’t a right or wrong choice. Just pick a type that is available at your local feed store and stick with it.
Fermented Food
Another alternative is to ferment your chicken feed. You can ferment pellets or crumbles. Fermented food is typically more nutritious, but more work for the chicken keeper.
You soak the feed to release nutrients that make it easier for your chickens to digest. (This is similar to how a sourdough starter works.) Fermenting your feed also tends to be cheaper because your flock will eat less.
For more information on fermenting your chicken feed, see this post from The Cape Coop.
Want to learn more about raising backyard chicks? Get my free Quick-Start Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens with all the things you need to know to raise baby chicks (and none of the stuff you don’t!).
What Is Grit & Should I Be Feeding It to My Chickens?
Chickens also need grit to digest their food. Purchased grit is basically small crushed rocks or stones that a chicken eats. The grit passes to the chicken’s gizzard where it grinds up the food.
If your chickens eat only commercial layer feed (no table scraps or scratch) there is probably no need for grit. Your birds can usually digest commercial feed without it. However, if you do feed your chickens table scraps or your chickens free-range, you should offer grit.
While chickens that free-range will get some grit on their own, to ensure they have plenty it is wise to offer it free choice to your chickens.
Have a separate container with grit in it to ensure your birds have access to it at all times. Do not mix it with their feed. They may eat too much grit and not enough food.
How to Switch Chickens to Layer Feed
Now that you know WHAT to feed your chickens, you may be wondering HOW to go about switching chickens to layer feed.
Transitioning young chickens to layer feed is best done as a process. If you abruptly change feed on your flock, it can cause gastric upset and diarrhea.
It is easiest if you allow a two-week span to switch your pullets to the layer feed. Start by mixing a small amount of layer feed in with their regular feed. Gradually increase the amount of layer food and decrease the amount of chick starter/grower over the course of a couple of weeks.
At around 16 weeks of age, I start mixing a small amount of layer feed in with the chick starter, gradually increasing the amount of layer feed until the chickens are entirely on layer feed by 18 to 20 weeks old.
This gives them time to get used to the new feed without upsetting their digestive system. Switching feed too abruptly can trigger a molt, even in young chickens. And if they molt now, it may delay their egg production by up to 6 months.
When to Switch Chickens to Layer Feed
Many people try to switch chickens to layer feed too early. The ideal time to make the change is just before they start laying eggs.
Most breeds will lay their first egg around 18 to 20 weeks of age, although some will take longer and it is possible to get a few eggs earlier.
Making the switch too early (before 16 weeks) can cause liver and kidney damage as well as growth problems in your flock.
Want to learn more about raising backyard chicks? Get my free Quick-Start Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens with all the things you need to know to raise baby chicks (and none of the stuff you don’t!).
Do My Chickens Need Extra Calcium?
Most egg-laying hens will benefit from providing oyster shell in a separate container. The oyster shell is made of calcium carbonate and provides additional calcium beyond what is in the complete layer feed.
Oyster shell helps to provide the extra calcium hens need to make strong egg shells. Offering it in a container by itself once your hens start laying will allow the hens to eat only what they need. And typically if you have roosters in your flock they won’t even bother it.
Switching Brands of Chicken Feed
If for some reason, you need to switch brands of chicken food, it’s a good idea to do the same process – mixing the old and the new food for about 10 days to 2 weeks so your flock has time to adjust. Making the feed switch gradually as opposed to all at once helps avoid digestive upset in your chickens.
Related Posts
- What to do about soft shelled eggs.
- When should you move chickens to the coop?
- How to keep chickens cool in the heat of the summer.
Meet Julie
I’m a farm girl born and bred in North Carolina. I’ve been growing a vegetable garden for over 20 years (and helping my Mom grow hers even longer). I’ve been raising chickens in my bathtub and backyard for 12+ years. I believe that homegrown food can be made simple. Let’s get started.
Hi. I am not a chicken owner YET, but in reading this post it occurred to me that keeping back at least one bag of feed would be practical in case that brand was abruptly not available and you had to switch out brands…if you don’t keep one back, you won’t have any of the old to mix with the new.
Just a thought.
That’s a great plan. Thankfully we don’t wait until we run out to buy more, so we always have some to mix in if necessary.