Fed Layer Feed Too Soon

[Chickenmumma7]

Hello everyone,

Silly story here. When we got our 4 orpingtons, they were about 5 months old and were told by the seller that they have been seeing pellets (tiny immature eggs). Not asking for further clarification I began feeding them layer feed right away. We found a pellet in our nest the next day so I felt confident that's what they should be eating.

The chicken that layed the pellet soon died I believe because we have not received an egg since and this was back in early August. I figured the issue was because i fed layer feed too early which messed with their systems so I switched them back to grower feed 5 weeks ago and still nothing, though their wattles are growing in now.

Is it possible I've permanently ruined their systems by feeding layer feed too early? They were on it for 6 weeks. I've read it can take up to 8 months for orpingtons to lay so I guess we're still on schedule but its getting around that time...just wanted some clarification on the Matter.

Also not sure if they are sister's or were just hatched together, assuming similar generic would make them lay at the same time. They are down to two now due to another respiratory illness. I had them on Tylan for 10 days and now they have healed. I believe the grower feed theyre eating is 20%. And there are two dogs at our neighbors that always bark, but my bf had chickens before and that didnt effect them. Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks.

 

[TooCheep]

Sorry you've had such difficulties. No, you haven't done permanent damage.

I'm a little confused what you mean by "pellets (tiny immature eggs)". That doesn't sound right at all. Do you have any pictures? What size were the pellets?

Let me suggest a simpler option: Don't use layer feed at all. Too many people have questions as they can cause confusion. Layer feed for layers sounds logical, right? You can avoid problems on timing (too young, when they stop laying in winter, when they get older and lay fewer eggs, etc). Instead, graduate them from grower crumbles to all-flock pellets. It is basically the same thing for adults. You can simply give them the same feed for the rest of their lives.

Then offer oyster shell (and possibly crushed egg shells) strictly on the side. They'll eat as much as they need. No need to switch back and forth between feeds depending on if they are laying. Let them regulate their own calcium intake.

 

[Chickenmumma7]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion. Makes sense. I'm always for what's easier and more convenient
My understanding of pellets are the first few eggs a chicken lays, they are just tiny. The inside looked the same and my goodness did it smell amazing! I fed it to the chickens with regret as I have yet to taste a farm fresh egg lol it's my first time having chickens. Quite the joy I might offer

 

[SilverBirds]

Thanks a lot for the suggestion. Makes sense. I'm always for what's easier and more convenient
My understanding of pellets are the first few eggs a chicken lays, they are just tiny. The inside looked the same and my goodness did it smell amazing! I fed it to the chickens with regret as I have yet to taste a farm fresh egg lol it's my first time having chickens. Quite the joy I might offer

I've never heard first eggs described as pellets before. They are usually just called pullet eggs. Autocorrect does like to correct to pullets to pellets which is where the confusion may come from. Pellets is a shape that commercial feed comes in.

I agree with the above poster to switching from layer to an all flock type feed and adding oysters on the side for extra calcium.

 

[TooCheep]

OK. Maybe you mean "pullet eggs". Pullets (young hens) initially lay smaller eggs and they grow over time to full-sized eggs. When you said tiny, I was thinking maybe they were actually a fraction of an inch and a possible sign of parasites.

As long as you opened them and they looked like proper eggs, then they are okay. For future reference, pullet eggs are perfectly edible and you can eat them.

 

[Chickenmumma7]

I've never heard first eggs described as pellets before. They are usually just called pullet eggs. Autocorrect does like to correct to pullets to pellets which is where the confusion may come from. Pellets is a shape that commercial feed comes in.

I agree with the above poster to switching from layer to an all flock type feed and adding oysters on the side for extra calcium.

Love the idea of an all flock feed. So pullet eggs are the first eggs that are usually small? I think I misheard the seller. Not trying to invent a new word here though it could work.. haha

 

[Chickenmumma7]

OK. Maybe you mean "pullet eggs". Pullets (young hens) initially lay smaller eggs and they grow over time to full-sized eggs. When you said tiny, I was thinking maybe they were actually a fraction of an inch and a possible sign of parasites.

As long as you opened them and they looked like proper eggs, then they are okay. For future reference, pullet eggs are perfectly edible and you can eat them.

Thanks! Is there an organic corn free all flock feed you might suggest?

 

[rosemarythyme]

No you didn't "ruin" them by giving them layer at 5 months. The bird that passed could have had other issues though it's hard to diagnose after the fact.

My own preference is not to give any layer until I've confirmed half the pullets are laying, but I handle feed differently than some of the other posters (I feed both layer and grower and alter the amounts based on season).

If you would prefer to use layer feed, and have all laying age pullets/hens, that works fine for many folks. Or if you would prefer to use all flock, that's also fine. I would still have a source of calcium on the side regardless of feed choice.

If you cannot find "all flock" keep in mind it's all about labels. Grower feed, some starter feed, can be perfectly fine substitutes as well. Mainly the difference is calcium % - layer is usually around 3.5-4%, all flock/grower/starter is usually around 1%. The actual name of the feed doesn't matter, the nutritional panel does.

 

[Chickenmumma7]

Sorry you've had such difficulties. No, you haven't done permanent damage.

I'm a little confused what you mean by "pellets (tiny immature eggs)". That doesn't sound right at all. Do you have any pictures? What size were the pellets?

Let me suggest a simpler option: Don't use layer feed at all. Too many people have questions as they can cause confusion. Layer feed for layers sounds logical, right? You can avoid problems on timing (too young, when they stop laying in winter, when they get older and lay fewer eggs, etc). Instead, graduate them from grower crumbles to all-flock pellets. It is basically the same thing for adults. You can simply give them the same feed for the rest of their lives.

Then offer oyster shell (and possibly crushed egg shells) strictly on the side. They'll eat as much as they need. No need to switch back and forth between feeds depending on if they are laying. Let them regulate their own calcium intake.

I've never heard first eggs described as pellets before. They are usually just called pullet eggs. Autocorrect does like to correct to pullets to pellets which is where the confusion may come from. Pellets is a shape that commercial feed comes in.

I agree with the above poster to switching from layer to an all flock type feed and adding oysters on the side for extra calcium.

Well guys I just a orp that was laying at the farm (assuming she was eating layer) and she laid first two days at home and then stopped. I put out some oyster but she's not touching it. It's pretty obvious to find right outside of the coop near the ground. Should I place it somewhere specific?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I keep my grit and oyster shell (OS) in the coop to keep it dry. Some people seem to say it dissolves in the rain.