How & When to Switch Chickens to Layer Feed

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Baby chicks grow at alarming rates, especially in the first 8 weeks.  By now, they are mature, fully feathered, and look like adult chickens known as pullets and cockerels.

They have outgrown the brooder and graduated to the coop. And you are still making feed available 24/7. They are still on chick starter, but when should they transition to layer feed?

So how long do they need to be on chick starter? How long should you continue to offer food 24/7?  When should you switch them to layer feed, and how do you do it? What’s the best layer feed for them? How much and how often do adult chickens need to be fed?

Getting the answers to these questions can seem overwhelming when baby chicks begin to transition into adult chickens. But this comprehensive guide will help you to learn how to switch young chicks to layer feed with ease.

You’ll learn how to easily transition your chickens from starter feed to adult layer feed with ease while keeping your flock happy and healthy. 

Chicks Need Starter Feed (Crumbles)

From day-old chicks until they are 8 weeks old, chicks will remain on chick starter, free choice. Their food and water should be available to them 24/7 when they are hungry.

But once they turn 8 weeks and are old enough to go outside, their food availability is no longer offered around the clock. Beginning at 8 weeks until they are 18 weeks old, food can be made available from sunrise until dusk, with neither food nor water available to them at night.

Often called crumbles, chick starter feeds are tiny pieces small enough for fuzzy chicks to consume. It is high in protein, usually 18%, to help support their bodies as they rapidly grow and change during the first 18 weeks of age.

But it’s at 18 weeks that baby chicks are no longer babies and are officially adults and will begin laying soon. Therefore, at this age they should begin the transition to layer feed.

Why Make the Switch to Layer Feed?

As baby chicks age, their health needs change, and it’s critical that their needs are met so they continue to grow healthy and happy.  

As chicks, they needed high protein to support healthy growth, bones, and muscles. But now, as they have become adults, their need changes to a high calcium need to help support egg production.

When to Make the Switch

Most chicken breeds will start laying eggs around 20-24 weeks. Therefore, roughly 2 weeks before this age, they will need to start with additional calcium support. 

An adult laying hen will need 4-5 grams of calcium daily to meet what her body needs and make strong eggshells. But this build-up needs to begin shortly before she begins laying.  

Unfortunately, many chicken keepers wait until they see the first egg and then move them to layer feed. But the best time to move into the changeover from chick starter/grower to layer feed is at about 18 weeks, just before they begin laying. 

The whole transition should take about 2 weeks. So starting at 18 weeks to move them over to layer feed is perfect timing.

Best Way to Make the Transition to Layer Feed

As I just mentioned, the transition time should be over 2-3 weeks. Chickens like routines just as we do. And the move from chick scratch should be done slowly.

Switching to layer feed abruptly can cause gastric upset, diarrhea, and even molting. The slower progression gives their system time to adjust to their new layer feed.

To make the transition smooth, once my chicks turn 18 weeks, I begin to add a small amount of layer feed. About ¾ cup to their regular starter/grower feed. Then gradually increase it daily in small amounts until they are entirely on layer feed.

By this time, they are 20-21 weeks old and are ready to begin laying at any time. 

Signs of Layer Feed Transition Problems

Moving over to the layer feed should be smooth and easy, but on occasion, there can be issues. There are some signs to watch for when transitioning them. If you see any of these, you’ll need to back off and slow down on the change.

Digestive Upset

Sometimes, a pullet’s digestive system can be sensitive. It’s rare, but it does happen.  Signs things are not going smoothly:

• Changes in manure color – If a pullet is having trouble with the change, you’ll see the signs in their droppings. It could be lighter or darker in color. 
• Changes in manure consistency – Firmer or harder or runny with diarrhea.

Not Eating

Again, the transition needs to be slow.  If you change out the food all at once, they will notice the difference in appearance and can stop eating altogether. Chickens are picky that way.

Lethargy & Decline in Health

Birds that don’t like the transition of food can fail to thrive. A hen that is not feeling well will stand off to herself, she will have an odd disposition in her stand, and just not look her happy self. 

You’ll want all your hens to be happy and healthy through all their stages of life. Otherwise, egg production can be delayed.

What Should You Feed Your Laying Hens

Depending on your layer chickens are free-range or in a coop will determine what you should feed them.

For Layers In A Coop:

When choosing a new feed for layers, you’ll want to choose a layer feed and not a broiler feed. Broiler feed is designed for meat birds to put weight fast for meat production. It has a lot of protein in it and is low in calcium since meat birds don’t lay eggs.

A good layer feed will contain 16-18% protein and vitamins A, D, and E, as well as other nutrients in addition to the extra calcium. Most premium brands on the market meet these requirements since calcium is necessary for strong bones and egg production.

Free-Range Layers

Free-range chickens will scour around and eat worms, grubs, insects and slugs, as well as clover and grass, getting most of the nutrients they need.  In the spring, they love chickweed, dandelions and whatever else they find.  

This diet is a healthy diet for them. And they will be happy chickens. But you will also want to provide them a supplemental layer feed to help them with egg laying.

We pasture our chickens and keep and rotate them in electric netting from Premier 1, every 3-4 days.

So they are moving from paddock to paddock, getting much of the nutrients they need, but we also feed a Purina Organic Layer Feed twice a day as well as provide them with oyster shells and grit, free choice. 

Which is Better For Chickens, Crumbles or Pellets?

Neither one is better than the other. Crumbles and pellets contain grains, proteins, vitamins, and minerals that laying hens need to be healthy.

The thing that is different is that you will need to decide which one you prefer to use. Chicken keepers have their own opinions of each.

Crumbles look very much like chick starter. And pellets are the same food compressed in the shape of a pellet. I prefer to feed pellets.

I feel like they waste less using pellets. Since we feed on pasture, the chickens easily pick the pieces out of their feeder and when pieces are dropped on the ground, they see them and quickly snatch them up.

This is my opinion though and you’ll need to decide which one you prefer. But once you decide, you’ll need to stick with it since chickens like consistency.

Supplemental Calcium

In addition to chicken feed, your layers will also need supplemental calcium.  A good choice is crushed oyster shells that should be offered as a free choice in a separate dish, and not added to their feed.

All laying hens have different calcium needs, and they will consume additional amounts as they need it. All you need to do is monitor the dish and keep it full.

Some chicken owners offer crushed egg shells in addition to oyster shells. Egg shells are safe, but they are not enough as a stand calcium source, so be sure to offer oyster shells are essential.

Grit

Grit is different from oyster shells and should be offered in addition if they are not free-ranged. Grit is tiny stones and sand that chickens use for digestion since they don’t have teeth.

Chickens can digest layer feed with out grit. But if your chickens have grains, treats, food scraps, etc., they will need grit in addition to the oyster shells. Chickens that free-range or are pastured will pick up grit as needed, but those kept in a coop will need grit provided.

Grit is used to digest food since they don’t have teeth. It passes through into their gizzard where it crushes and grinds the food and allows it to continue through their system.  

Even though our chickens are pastured and have access to tiny stones and rocks, we still provide additional grit as a free choice to them. They don’t use a lot of it, if any, but it is available if anyone needs it.

Additional Tips for Feeding Chickens

These tips are what I have found helpful with our chickens.

Keep Their Food Outside The Coop

Chickens should not be fed inside the coop. It is best to have it in their run area if you has a roof. When I first began keeping chickens years ago, my first chicken run was made of recycled materials from around our homestead. I used old metal tin across the top to keep the food dry.  

Keeping their food and water inside the coop is messy and will it will attract rats and other predators to the coop.

Adult chickens will eat as long as food is available, but they need only a quarter pound daily.  So if you plan to feed twice daily, provide each one with ⅛  pound at each feeding. ⅛ pound is roughly ¼ cup of layer pellet feed.

We currently have 14 hens, and I feed them 3.5 cups of layer feed every morning at sunrise and then again 3.5 cups in the evening when gathering eggs.  (14 x .25 = 3.5 cups)  

As mentioned earlier, we feed Purina Organic Layer Pellets. If you feed another brand or style, I recommend reading the bag and following the recommendation on the label.  

Treats

Once your layers are 16-18 weeks old, it’s safe to begin giving them treats in moderation. Some safe treats to introduce them to are:

• Cucumbers
• Leafy Greens such as broccoli, lettuce, etc.
• Watermelon
• Grass clippings or clumps of weeds
• Sunflower Seeds
• Mealworms

All of these again, should be done in moderation.  The rule of thumb is 90:10. 90% should be their food and 10% treats.

At the time of writing this post, I have 14 pullets that are 15-18 weeks old. I’ve just started introducing them to mealworms as an additional protein treat.  I toss in ¾ cup to them each evening when gathering eggs.

Feeding Mixed Flock Ages

We separate our chicks, pullets and hens with the electric netting. But I realize that not everyone has the space to separate by age if you have several. 

So if you have chicks, pullets and layer hens all in once coop, the rule of thumb is to feed everyone chick starter/grower and offer additional calcium, free choice for the older birds.

Once everyone turns 18 weeks, you can switch them all over to layer feed. 

I hope this article has helped you to know how and when to switch to your chickens to  layer feed. 

If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments below and I’ll answer you asap.

More Helpful Chicken Articles:

• Setting Up a Brooder Box for Chicks
• Beginners Guide to Raising Baby Chicks
• When Can Baby Chicks Go Outside?
• 13 Best Chicken Breeds for Beginners

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