Newbie question

Making you own feed is not cost effective. I'm not sure where you got that information but it would only be true if you grew your own and processed the grain for higher protein content and mixed to ensure a good balance of amino acids and trace nutrients. Many folks somehow think they can make something healthier because they mixed it themselves. Hey, with proper education and ingredients this may be true. For the majority of us you can't beat off the shelf feed in balanced nutrients and costs not to mention ease.

Chris09 did a great job of listing out the poultry feed types. For higher protein content or all flock feeds don't get locked into words like "chicken" feed or "Turkey" feed. Those labels make it seem there is some magical blend suited for only that type of poultry. This is not the case and I get sideways glances to outright looks of disbelief from the counter person at feed store that I don't own turkeys yet buy turkey finisher. It's not my job to educate them that it's a perfect all flock feed with higher protein and normal calcium level of 1%. With products like this you can feed multi aged birds and layers or non layers alike with one feed. Life can be that simple. Just toss oyster shell out once or twice a week for the layers calcium source they need. When growing out chicks all birds go to a crumble for ease of one feed. I don't use medicated so 20% protein chicken starter crumbles for everyone. If in the mood for more protein then a meat bird or turkey starter is used.

I agree that it's totally not necessary to 'reinvent the wheel' here. I feed Flock Raiser with oyster shell on the side, and some limited scratch and stuff. The flock ranges on the pasture and woods except when there's snow on the ground, and does fine. Fresh feed is most important, which makes buying in bulk a bad idea, whether bags of feed, or individual ingredients, and the vitamin/mineral mix. My time is better spent doing other things! Mary