Layers/meat??

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Seachickens13

Seachickens13

In the Brooder
Apr 2, 2015
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I am getting a bit bewildered about this!
We have some RIRs and are planning to incubate more eggs as we have a cockerel, and I would like to have them as layers, but also for meat. I have looked around but nowhere seems to mention how to feed dual purpose birds. Do you feed them a mix of grower and layers pellets or is there a dual-purpose poultry feed I have completely missed out on? Please help! Thanks,
Seachickens13:)
 
When I hatch eggs, I switch my whole flock over to chick starter (if I can get unmedicated). If that's not available, I put them on Multi-flock starter/grower, and offer oyster shell on the side for the layers. Some people keep their flocks on Multi-flock all the time, b/c it is easier to give the whole flock one feed. The only reason I ever buy layer is b/c it is less expensive than the Multi-flock. I also don't stress if my teens eat layer pellets. IMO the whole calcium issue is over rated. Chickens who free range get lots of calcium from greens and insects. While I respect the whole calcium/kidney issue, I doubt that it's as critical as we are led to believe.
 
I feed everyone all-in-one, similar to flock raiser. Some folks like to finish their cockerels on some corn to add a nice pad of fat. I've never done that as we skin our birds and I'd probably lose it anyway.
 
I'm currently using flock raiser with free choice oyster shells. Our hens will be processed before they reach one year old, so maybe its not all that important. I'm thinking about using a higher protien feed as recommended for dual purpose birds by the Livestock Conservancy:

"Chicken Care and Keeping

What do chickens eat? (Download .pdf)
Heritage breeds of chicken (especially heavy or dual purpose breeds) require a more nutritionally complete feed ration than their commercial counterparts, in order to fully achieve their potential size and productivity. Many of the common rations found in feed stores are formulated for commercial hybrid birds which are selected to grow well with less protein in their diets. Often producers can find appropriate levels of protein for Heritage chicks in game bird or turkey starter and grower diets.

To best manage the nutritional requirements of Heritage chickens the following feeding schedule is recommended:

Hatch to 8 weeks of age: approximately 26-28% protein content game bird starter ration.

8 weeks of age to 12 weeks of age: approximately 22-24% protein content game bird grower ration.

12 weeks to until point of lay (24 weeks): approximately 18-20% protein content layer/broiler grower ration.

Point of lay (24 weeks) to end of laying cycle: approximately 16-18% protein content layer ration. A little higher protein content keeps the bird healthier in times of heat/cold stress, and better maintains condition of the heavier bodied heritage laying hens. The layer ration has a higher calcium percentage than the grower ration at a max of 8% and a minimum of 5%."
 
Last edited:
Ok, thanks guys! Where can I get Multi flock/all-in-one? I am in Northern Ireland, so Can I get it online or something?
 

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