Topic of the Week - Feeding Chickens - What to feed and when?

[losttexan]

Yeah, but my birds free range and are a bit "lean" and tough. I'm looking for a "finishing diet" - kinda like switching cattle over to grain at the last.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

I don't know if it's the same for chickens but I was trying told to feed my duck beet pulp. Besides caging them and feeding them nothing but feed if they are running around the use energy whe. You need them to store the protien in order to put weight on them.

 

[Ethel 1954]

I feed fermented feed during our wet and cold winters then switch back to layer food but it is 2 cups feed to 2 cups od fashion raw oats , 2 cups uncooked whole grain rice , with tomatoe tops and core, I add garlic and thyme, oregano , basil lemon balm and put b12 drops in the water every other time alternating with acv 7 out of 13 are good layers and over 1yr. 3 are ameracaunas getting ready to lay anytime I have a sultrane that was laying but stopped , she just 1 yr. I have one leghorn in a molt and an older ameracauna just finished a molt, she only lays about 3x a week . I live in a small rurual town 25 miles north west of ft. worth Tx , called Boyd

 

[afieldssnowyegger]

Medicated or non-medicated feed?
If I order chicks, I choose vaccinations for them. For vaccinated chicks, non medicated.
If I hatch my own or have unvaccinated chicks, medicated.

When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?
I use Purina start & grow chick crumbles.

Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?
I feed chick feed until flock integration, and then all flock with crushed oyster shells. I don’t have any Roos but if I did they could eat the all flock (separate oyster dish). I don’t feed layer feed anymore because it actually had TOO MUCH calcium for my hens, the egg shells were way too thick. Gave all flock with free choice oyster shell and problem solved

Thoughts on organic feed?
If I sold any of the eggs I get I might feed organic to be able to say they’re fed only organic feed…. But I don’t sell , and I don’t care about it much. My hens are happy without it lol.

When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?
Whenever I integrate chicks into the flock…. And I give fresh veggie treats from the kitchen several times a week (like cucumbers or lettuce), I also toss some cracked corn in the run whenever I’m in the coop.

 

[SueT]

I feed all chickens of all ages an all flock feed. (I get Purina Flock Raiser) It simplifies everything.

Treats would mainly be a little scratch feed, weeds from the garden, extra eggs scrambled.
In the past 3 years, I let a hen raise the chicks and she lets them try everything they can fit in their mouths.

 

[MSWingate]

Scenario: I get my birds once every few years from a hatchery. I buy in larger numbers from 30-100 at a time. Sometimes other people come and get some of them after they "aren't delicate little chicks" anymore. Sometimes people just come for "finished"birds. Sometimes people just give me the money to "get" their chicks because wuantity buying is cheaper. I do keep a lot of them. Some of my birds are 6 years old. 1 rooster is gonna be 10 if he makes it till next spring. I use my birds for eggs and meat and breeding experiments crossbreeding to different breeds and sometimes even with pheasants or Guineas.

On to feed/s/ing……

If I can afford it I will feed my chicks non-medicated "20% Chick Starter" for a couple of weeks then "18% Grower" till they are about half grown(4or5months).
More often than not it's free range with the adults after the chick starter. Regarding "medicated feed" I haven't seen a great positive effect. I ain't saying not to use it though. I suppose in some instances it is necessary. Just that in the long run it hasn't done anything good for my birds. Many times my hens raise their own chicks "un savauge"
They eat grasses and legumes and slugs and bugs and other fruits of nature. I sometimes throw some some mixed grains to them. They start knowing a certain call and come running. That helps in the fall and nights during aerial predator season. I like to feed more corn during the fall and winter for the higher fat content. It gets pretty darn cold here sometimes. I'm talking -50*C.
I really prefer organic but need to be real if I can't get it.

My birds get treats every day. It's kind of bothersome having them underfoot occasionally but it is a control thing to have my chickens running to and/or with me. It's also helped save a few lives.....of chickens and turkeys and ducks and geese and Guinea fowl and even rabbits....from roaming dogs. Geez I even have Eagles, Falcons, Redtails and owls actually landing in my yard. But it's also kind of cute. So ya the 'treats' have in this case actually been helpful.
That said about "treats" my treats are more down to earth than cubed veggies and balled fruit.

I like to mix my own feed of pretty much even amounts of wheat oats and corn and about half that of barley. I really like peas and some beans. All my veggie peels and egg shells get scattered on the lawn and they have access to their own gravel/sand pile. They also seem to like ingesting certain amount of the thick high quality clay from around the edge of the pond. And always alway always fresh water. Anywhere from once to 7 times a day depending on the weather. Winter has its own challenges but still kinda simple.

I don't do fermented food mainly because I don't have it and it would be too much bother to make and properly look after it...for safety sake....for the chickens
However, in the winter I like reconstituting dehydrated alfalfa for them. They seem to love it and the payoff is I still get the nice richly yellow, almost orange, yolks of summer free range chickens.
In my neck of the woods "free range" is essentially wild.... bush, wetlands, meadow, pasture and lawn.

I think most BYC people would be shocked at how very much "KISS"(thnx speckled hen) my operation is.
My birds aren't pets and although they aren't forced to roost in trees all year round their chicken coop ain't a palace either. I used to expend tons of energy in fortifications for my birds but my life ain't just about my birds anymore. So no barnyard fowl Fort Knox here anymore.
Like I said "essentially wild"

Hi RezChamp can you give me more information on the: reconstituting dehydrated alfalfa...with what and how. Thank you!

 

[NNYchick]

Medicated or non-medicated feed?
Have always used non medicated, never had a reason to use it. Then recently found out medicated actually inhibits their ability to build resistance to coccidosis. I do use grit and probiotics from day 1.

When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?
I don’t. I have always used all flock feed and oyster shells on the side free choice for hens.

Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?
Same as above everyone gets Kalmbach flock maker from hatch to death. I do buy it in crumble for chicks and pellets for adults but all the same feed.

Thoughts on organic feed?
No thoughts on it. I don’t use it.

When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?
Treats for me include regular feed with water added, egg if I have extra to get rid of or a dollop of plain yogurt. First 2 can be given day 1, yogurt is good for chicks day 3,7,14&21 to give probiotics and the lactose sugars feed the good bacteria to out number the bad keeping the gut in balance.
Do you make/mix your own homemade feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)? I just buy feed because I don’t have time or space to store the needed ingredients to make a balanced feed. If I ever am able to go that route I would use the recipe found in the files of the FB group Poultry Breeders Nutrition because they are developed by a poultry nutritionist and have guaranteed analysis done.

- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that? Nope I tried it and doesn’t work for me because of time, storage and I have bearded breeds and it encourages beard picking.

 

[Pampered chicken girl]

​

This is a hot topic on our forums and questions like when to switch feed and what is the best feed comes up frequently. So, for our featured Topic of the Week this week I would like to ask your opinions and suggestions on feeding chickens. Specifically:

- Medicated or non-medicated feed?
- When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?
- Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?
- Thoughts on organic feed?
- When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?
- Do you make/mix your own homemade feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)?
- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that?


For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

medicated or non-medicated:
i use unmedicated and use sslow exposure or medicated and not
when do you switch from chick crumble:
i switch to flock raiser when they 18-20 weeks with oyster shell.
is it OK to feed chick food to older birds, layer to non layers:
first question yes totally safe, second no the extra calcium can cause kidney failure and all sorts of problems thats why i use flock raiser for my birds all different ages and genders.
thoughts on organic:
i am all for natural or organic products if you can find a reasonable price and good nutrition.
When do you start feeding treats and how much:
i start at day 2 or 3 it really helps them trust me and roos are not aggressive. I feed the chicks mealworms, BSL, scrambled egg, and wet food but no scratch till they are older. I give treats in VERY small amounts daily to chicks (for taming purposes), and adults get fruits and vegetables and herbs and wet feed In summer and scratch mealworms and fruits and vegetables and herbs and wet feed in winter. I give scratch(winter only) every other day and fruits and vegetables when I have them.
Do you make or mix your own food at home and best recipe:
no but i make a Treat mix of scratch, mealworms, grit, oyster shell, and anything else i have for them.
Do you use fermented feed and what are your thoughts on it:
i dont use or know anything about it.


BTW great idea I hope this helps alot of people

 

[HenHouse Henry]

View attachment 2732942​

This is a hot topic on our forums and questions like when to switch feed and what is the best feed comes up frequently. So, for our featured Topic of the Week this week I would like to ask your opinions and suggestions on feeding chickens. Specifically:

- Medicated or non-medicated feed?
- When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?
- Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?
- Thoughts on organic feed?
- When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?
- Do you make/mix your own homemade feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)?
- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that?


For a complete list of our Topic of the Week threads, see here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/topic-of-the-week-thread-archive

- Medicated or non-medicated feed?
I feed the chicks non-medicated Game and show bird feed.
- When do you switch from chick crumbs to grower and layer feed?
At about 16 weeks I switch over to All Flock. I have crushed oyster shell in small cups throughout the coop.
- Is it o.k. to feed older birds chick food, cockbirds layer feed, etc?
never have
- Thoughts on organic feed?
too expensive
- When do you start feeding treats and how much and often do you give these?
BSF larvae, I start a a week old or so. Also cooked oats with crushed red peppers and chili powder. The yolks come out nice and dark
- Do you make/mix your own homemade feed? If so, what do you consider the best recipe(s)?
No

- Who uses fermented feed and what are your thoughts on that?
Not a fan, seems like a bit too much work.

 

[chicken-tender]

Your style reads like what my husband is drumming into my head. I wonder if you are still active here as this post is kinda old. Looks like I could learn a lot from your set up. Thank you.

You could get a bag of 22% game bird feed and mix them, but I'd probably just finish what you have and make the transition to 20% all flock

Would that increase it 18 %?