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should i feed my chickens layer feed

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post #1 of 7

8/11/12 at 7:32pm

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farmer12

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hi my chickens are 6months old i got them in march should i feed my chickens layer feed

thank you

owner of 2 red sex link 4 rhode island red and 2 barred rock

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post #2 of 7

8/11/12 at 7:56pm

Marty1876
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Yes, it is time for layor crumble. :D Almost there, they should be laying now, or very soon!

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Why is there brail at drive up ATMs??

Why are their floatation devices instead of parachutes in my airplain seat???

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Why don't sheep shrink in the rain?

Why is there brail at drive up ATMs??

Why are their floatation devices instead of parachutes in my airplain seat???

If a tree falls in the woods and my husband doesn't hear it, am I still wrong????

post #3 of 7

8/17/12 at 8:02pm

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farmer12

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is there a difference between layer feed and layer crumbles

owner of 2 red sex link 4 rhode island red and 2 barred rock

post #4 of 7

8/18/12 at 4:45am

Intetdreamer

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Most places offer 3 choices for layer feed: pellet, crumble, and mash. All are layer feed, what you get is determined by what your chickens like.

Father to 2 French Black Copper Marans, 2 Lavender Orpingtons, 1 Lemon Cuckoo Orpington, 1 Red Sussex, 1 Coronation Sussex, 1 Silver Sussex, 1 Double Laced Barnevelder, and 5 Silkies including Featherbottom, the BEST CHICKEN EVAR!!!!
Featherbottom conquers all!
...I only had 6 chickens last year...what happened?

post #5 of 7

8/18/12 at 5:59am

Fred's Hens

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Intetdreamer

Most places offer 3 choices for layer feed: pellet, crumble, and mash. All are layer feed, what you get is determined by what your chickens like.

That.

But also what the keeper finds convenient for his/her style of feeding. All layer feed starts as ground feed. It is then made into a pellet, which adds a bit to the cost, or then the broken pellets are then sold as "crumbles" which also adds to the cost a bit. Buying the straight, ground feed is normally the cheapest. While the bag of "mash" or straight, ground feed may, at first glance, look "dusty" it is merely because the flour of grinding is coating everything. If you add a bit of moisture, a cup or two of water and stir in a feed bucket, the result is virtually identical to a crumble look.

With soaring feed costs, the mash is what I buy, to save money and I don't mind the extra step of labor. The hens really, really like the moistened feed. However, if I have to be gone for a day or two, mash doesn't work as well. I use pellets in circumstances such as that. Pellets are pretty easy to feed and there is very little waste. If a pellet gets knocked to the floor of the coop, they'll eat it, once they've emptied their feeder.

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post #6 of 7

8/18/12 at 6:03am

Red Barn Farms
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You really do not need to start feeding layer feed until after they start laying. The main difference between layer and starter/grower feed is layer contain ground calcium where starter/grower does not. You may still feed starter/grower but offer calcium to your layer chickens. Most times only the ones who need extra calcium will eat it.

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