best brand of chicken feed?

I was wondering the same thing...it's all I have ever used and my girls lay great!
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Why is it that no one likes Purina? Just curious.

: pop

This place is a wealth of information....

I use Egg Maker by Manna Pro and get 2-3 eggs per day from 3 pullets throughout this past winter. I get it from my local Ace Hardware store.

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So do I.


Mana Pro makes grit, oyster shell, layer feed, medicated and un-medicated chick feed, and breeder (feather quality improvement) feed.

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Why is it that no one likes Purina? Just curious.


No one can provide any hard core facts (evidence) about the negative effect that Purina products have on chickens. I asked already. So continue to use your Purina. I do and I have no problems. I think it's just personal opinions of this product. Don't let the comments change your mind. If it works for you, please continue to use it.

Okay, I've just actually read through all 10 pages here....phew! That's a lot of info!

Here's my story: I started out with Southern States brand feed, which is an "all grain poultry layer/breeder" feed. It states that it is a complete vegetarian formulated feed, and it does not list "soy" specifically.

After some problems with a Marans rooster, it was mentioned by a friend that she found that breed seems to need higher protein. She suggested what she uses ~ Purina Flock Raiser. I bought that for a while, but when it got up to $15/50lb bag, I went back to Southern States again. After a new discussion on feed among local chicken keepers, it was pointed out that although the Purina cost more, it seemed to be more filling and stretch further. I went back to Purina again.

However, I am now slightly concerned with the amount of soy that seems to be in Purina and the fact that it lists "ruminant meat & bone meal free". First, I think the key to good nutrition for not only ourselves but also the chickens is diversity in the diet. If the feed is primarily soy, then that just doesn't seem good. It also occurred to me that maybe the reason that it stretches further is because it has more soy filler in it...?? Secondly, I also have to wonder--why specify no "ruminant" meat/meal? Does that mean that it includes chicken, like someone else said, or possibly pork?? Ruminating animals include most farm type animals other than poultry or swine. I guess I'm a pessimist when it comes to trusting big business ~ my gut says that if they specify no "ruminant", then that means it has everything else in there.

As far as "animal protein" in my chickens' feed, I'm all for it ~ IF I thought they were using "quality" animal product rather than all the garbage that gets shoveled out when they're done. My chickens can't free range (too many predators), but they have a large run where they can search for any bugs that happen that way. However, I clearly see that they would be lacking in "insect protein", so what would you all suggest for a way to supplement if I use the 16% So. States feed with no animal by-product? I do throw-out scratch one or twice a day that has BOSS in it.

Lastly, HLAC, I have the Purina "Flock Raiser" tag and it does list DL-methionine (11th on the list). I think I have to agree--I'd rather "real" amino acids than synthetic ones. I think we consume far too much synthetic garbage and GM stuff already.

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This is more of a comment than real contribution. I am in Sponge mode right now trying to absorb as much as I can before I start my next flock. I have been reading alot of various threads. including a partial organic approach.... not vegetarian just organic. I am intrigued about adding milk products like cottage cheese, yogurt, and kiefer mainly because of the natural organisms growing in them. There is quite a lot of protien in there. As well as adding sprouted seed/grain growing things are loaded with aminos. It never occured to me until I read it here that you can feed meat as well .... a picture of a chicken running through the chicken coop with a fried chicken leg in its beak is still haunting me....

I have had horses for more than 40 years and KNOW the benefits of a quality food program and also know the simpler the better with regard to trying to track down dietary issues. They too have a cecum that performes most of their digestion. We feed horses Yogurt too. though it has to be disguised... LOL. The nice thing about yogurt is you only have to buy one good live culture and you can make your own from there on. Same goes for Kiefer... I believe you can buy starters too.

I am hoping to find a good foundation over the counter product to feed my flock as their foundation food then supplementing with home organic products like yogurt, cottage cheese, and kiefer as well as sprouts and my own home raised meal worms. I cant free range them without supervision so I have to provide protiens similar to what they would find out in the brush. The only problem I can see with this is how to quantify the amount of nutrition you are providing. Or maybe it doesnt matter. What ever they can scratch up in the field would vary from day to day.

So here I sit and read ... and digest .... (no pun intended) and learn... and giggle now and then....

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I went down to get some chick starter at TSC and they only had Dumor and Purina in the 50lb bags.
I wanted to get some more Manna Pro (in 50lb) but they only have it in 5lb sizes.
Does Manna Pro chick starter even come in the larger size bags???