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OK guys... went to the coop today and they didn't have flock raiser... however, the calcium content in their layer ration is 3.9%. Thoughts?
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Why too high for non-laying birds. Calcium should not exceed 1.5%

It's a little frustrating, as all the feed stores are saying they should do fine on this and fine on that.. but it's all super high calcium or only 12% protein. Here is a site that they order from... they have the grower and said they should do fine on it but I don't agree... I am hoping they can order something in for me:
https://www.hiprofeeds.com/products/usa/poultry

My husband also just informed me that were getting a mini bag of oats and barley.. it was only $50 so we couldn't pass it up. How do I go about feeding this? Free feed?
 
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It's a little frustrating, as all the feed stores are saying they should do fine on this and fine on that.. but it's all super high calcium or only 12% protein. Here is a site that they order from... they have the grower and said they should do fine on it but I don't agree... I am hoping they can order something in for me:
https://www.hiprofeeds.com/products/usa/poultry

My husband also just informed me that were getting a mini bag of oats and barley.. it was only $50 so we couldn't pass it up. How do I go about feeding this? Free feed?
Feed it like scratch grains, sparingly. It's not a complete feed and will be missing quite a few essential nutrients.
 
The starter looks better than the grower. If that's all you can get, than use that.

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Starter is usually high in protein (at least 18%) and has a good cross balance of vitamins and nutrients.

It won't have enough calcium for layers, but you can supplement, as stated, with oyster shell or calcite grit.

I feed my brooding hens the chick start pretty much 24/7 as they are either just finishing up brooding, molting, or starting to brood again. Just a little calcite grit on the side.

LofMc
 
It's a little frustrating, as all the feed stores are saying they should do fine on this and fine on that.. but it's all super high calcium or only 12% protein. Here is a site that they order from... they have the grower and said they should do fine on it but I don't agree... I am hoping they can order something in for me:
https://www.hiprofeeds.com/products/usa/poultry

My husband also just informed me that were getting a mini bag of oats and barley.. it was only $50 so we couldn't pass it up. How do I go about feeding this? Free feed?
I can tell you fight now that I don't agree with most of what they tell me at the feed store. They just say whatever they think, usually with no personal experience. For example they told me to brood my chicks under a 250 watt white bulb. First off, It's near 70 in my house. And NO, a little tote was not sufficient for the chicks to escape the heat. They don't have to have their whole environment at 95 degrees..... just that temp under the light, so they can come and go as they please. Then they perpetuate the industry standards of 2 square feet coop space per bird. I reiterate, most feed store give OK, but NOT good information. Even if they " fed it to roosters with no problem", Maybe their roo wasn't around long enough for them to see side effects. Or they didn't recognize it as the reason they lost the bird.
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Who knew there was a feed with only 12% protein? Terrible.

What size is a mini bag of oats and barley? Can it be sprouted before feeding out?

I would go with the starter. Or if there was one I liked better, I might mix it with the game bird feed to up the protein content while maintaining lower calcium levels. If you mix 50/50 the protein would be the middle of the 2 #s.

Luckily, you have a wealth of information right at your finger tips and now you can make better informed decision!
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I missed what breeds you are feeding.

Yes, if you take chick start at say 18% and blend it 50/50 with game feed at 20% you settle in the middle...at about 19%

18% is a good level for chicks of standard laying breeds. 20% is getting higher. I wouldn't go over 22% as that is meat bird level. Some game bird and turkey grower levels are very high, around 28%.

For commercial layers that grow fast, a higher protein is fine. If you have slower developing heritage breeds an 18% is better.

When I raised Buckeyes (a heritage meat/dual bird) the recommendation was start them on higher protein as they lay on the muscle quickly, generally the meat bird 22% was recommended. However, I can't do that with my slower layer types. It pushes growth too fast.

High protein can cause too much growth too quickly which can cause joint problems as muscles and joints literally outstrip each other.

If it were me, I'd just get the 18% chick start and add calcite grit or oyster shell. You've got a good balanced feed for all your birds and added calcium for those that need it.

LofMc
 
I missed what breeds you are feeding.

Yes, if you take chick start at say 18% and blend it 50/50 with game feed at 20% you settle in the middle...at about 19%

18% is a good level for chicks of standard laying breeds. 20% is getting higher. I wouldn't go over 22% as that is meat bird level. Some game bird and turkey grower levels are very high, around 28%.

For commercial layers that grow fast, a higher protein is fine. If you have slower developing heritage breeds an 18% is better.

When I raised Buckeyes (a heritage meat/dual bird) the recommendation was start them on higher protein as they lay on the muscle quickly, generally the meat bird 22% was recommended. However, I can't do that with my slower layer types. It pushes growth too fast.

High protein can cause too much growth too quickly which can cause joint problems as muscles and joints literally outstrip each other.

If it were me, I'd just get the 18% chick start and add calcite grit or oyster shell. You've got a good balanced feed for all your birds and added calcium for those that need it.

LofMc

This makes sense. I have six 17-week Isa browns, 18 araucana/banty/leghorn(14 are 11-15 weeks), buff rooster, sussex rooster.
The Co-op's chick starter is actually at 19% with the 1% calcium.. however, it might only come in the really fine ground form.. I'll have to find out.
 
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