It's been awhile, and you didn't get an answer so I thought I'd post. My chickens all started laying in copious amounts when I let them free range. With the bugs and weeds and everything else, they're getting a wonderful diet and laying up a storm. I get 11 eggs per day, on average. I have enough for my family of six to eat and we sell them for $2 a dozen, and still give some away to the neighbors. I also give them a laying mesh in their pen, and they eat that as well. We had them cooped up for a long time, and we had one or two layers. But once we let them free range, they all went to town!

I'm not sure if that helps in your situation, but it worked for us. We live in the country and have a few acres, so they can run around all they want. Plus, I have a large yard light at night, and in the morning there are all kinds of bugs around there. The chickens go there first, and cluck up a storm while they feast lol. I wish I'd let them out before the grasshoppers destroyed my garden!

I generally offer a variety of things and let the chickens decide what they want or need. Pullet grower is higher in protein while laying pellets are higher in calcium, but either will do just fine (especially if there is a container of oyster shells and another of grit for them to access).

Specialty mixes are designed for small-scale commercial use, with pullet-grower to get body weight up faster for economic purposes. If you are just keeping a few hens for your mutual pleasures, I wouldn't worry too much if they don't start laying until the spring. It is probably the increasing light cycle which matters rather than micronutrients. If the light is wrong, you could be feeding them filet mignon and it wouldn't matter.

All in good time.

Thanks so much for all your advice! The pullets are all on pullet grower for now, as none are laying yet and I bought a 20kg bag!

The pullets are about 5 months old, so I'm glad to know they are past the 12 week age where laying rations would be a problem. I expect I'll change over to laying rations in the spring, or when I start to see any eggs, whichever comes first.

We are not in the country, and can't free-range them, but we are using a portable chicken tractor that gets moved every day to fresh grass or garden areas.

Thanks everyone!