[Nicki85]

Hello!

The chooks are now 16 weeks old and have been on growers pellets supplied by the breeder.  I need to buy some more but not sure if I should move them onto layers in preperation for eggs or keep them on growers till we get eggs 

But if I get another bag of growers and they start to lay do I then need to chuck the growers and get layers 

Arggghhhh   

[Kenilworth]

I would just go with the growers and if you can buy layers at the same time.

If they start laying whilst you still have growers you can just stick with the growers till finished or mix it with the layers feed, or switch to layers and keep the growers till winter. I always switch to growers during the winter to give them a boost, and see no real difference in egg production. Make sure you have a ready supply of grit and oyster shell and away you go .

[Nicki85]

Sounds like a plan, I do not want to hamper their growth so will get some growers and layers and mix the two when they start laying.  They can stay on the growers till then!  I have some mixed grit for when they come into lay. The breeder gave me some plain flint grit to start with as he said they were unable to cope with that much calcium at a young age.  Gosh, this chicken keeping buisness is stressful! 

[Beano]

Provided that the growers you are using is not medicated you can mix the two.
I made the mistake of buying growers that was medicated against cocciosis (wrong spelling) and ended up throwing it when they were integrated with the layers and started laying themselves. You can't eat the eggs if they are on medicated feed.

[Lindeggs]

I had the same problem, Beano.  I couldn't find growers feed without medication so I ended up buying the medicated stuff.  Now my pullets are very close to laying so I've switched them to Layers' feed, and now I'm stuck with several kilos of medicated feed. 

I'm going to advertise it on my local Freecycle and give it away to another new chicken keeper.    At least it won't be wasted.

[joyfull]

organic feed is without ACS 

[Nicki85]

Ohhh I am going to have to check this.  I assume it says somewhere on the packet?  Never mind as Lindeggs says I can always give it away on free cycle... Here's hoping they don't lay for a little while!

Why can't we eat the medicated eggs?

[Sassy]

If it is medicated it will say ACS

[Squibbs]

We use Fancy feeds growers - its not medicated.