21 Week Old Girls--Feed

[jkrueger_coop]

Well just wanted to give an update. I went to local feed store (Theisens) last night and ended up with 2 bags of Nutrena Naturewise All Flock Feed.

Search through the bags became simple. I wanted to try a pellet to cut down on waste and minimum of 18% protein, lower calcium preferred, no medication. That left me with only 2 options--All flock vs the Country Feeds Egg Producer. Which I did like the higher protein in it, but it seemed more like a boost for free ranging chickens--not a complete feed, plus extra calcium. I live in town so they are in a run. If they don't take to the pellet form well the best option seemed like the Purina Flock Raiser crumbles (higher protein...think 20%).

Lots of choices for 16% or medicated starter/grower...not so many choices for 18% protein or higher unmedicated. I will supplement with oyster shells when I start getting eggs.

Wanted to say thank you to all! Was alot easier designing and building the coop...more difficult figuring out how best to care for them. Happy Holidays to all!

-Krueger

 

[lazy gardener]

One other thing that may not have been mentioned in this thread... Age of feed: Immediately after it's been milled, those grains start to oxidize. 6 weeks after milling, the oxidization results in depletion of nutrient levels in the feed. It's not at all uncommon for feed, at least in my area to sit on the shelves for months. I've walked out of a nationally known box feed store on many occasions without buying their product because it's 3 months old! I make every attempt to buy fresh and use it within that 6 week window. Not always possible, but... I won't buy old feed!!!

 

[rebrascora]

@chickens really

Hello...I also would leave them on the feed they are getting and once they lay eggs provide oyster shell on the side

I wonder if perhaps you did not read the OP's first post correctly which states that the feed she is currently giving them is medicated.

@jkrueger_coop

The Nutrena All flock you have bought should be the best solution to your situation with oyster shell offered on the side. I cannot get a grower that is more than 16% protein and not medicated or a flock raiser (all flock) so my whole flock gets layer pellets and they are fine with it. When any of my birds die I do a necropsy and I haven't had one with an abnormal kidney so far. I'm not saying it is a perfect situation, but you work with what you can get.

If your birds turn their noses up at the pellets, add warm water to them, to make a mash or start fermenting them and sprinkle a few whole dry pellets on the top or in the bottom of their feeding pan.... fermenting is very easy to do..... but leave a feeder with dry pellets in for them to try too. As with anything new it takes a while for them to accept the change and they may turn their noses up at it for a while, but don't let them dictate to you.... persevere until they accept it. You could also bash some up with a rolling pin in a plastic bag and put those on top of the larger whole pellets so that they gradually get used to the larger sized particles.

Keep an eye on them for bright red comb development and becoming more vocal.... that is usually a sign that they are getting ready to lay. Good luck with them and I hope you see some eggs from them sooner rather than later.

Regards

Barbara

 

[chickens really]

@chickens really


I wonder if perhaps you did not read the OP's first post correctly which states that the feed she is currently giving them is medicated.

@jkrueger_coop

The Nutrena All flock you have bought should be the best solution to your situation with oyster shell offered on the side. I cannot get a grower that is more than 16% protein and not medicated or a flock raiser (all flock) so my whole flock gets layer pellets and they are fine with it. When any of my birds die I do a necropsy and I haven't had one with an abnormal kidney so far. I'm not saying it is a perfect situation, but you work with what you can get.

If your birds turn their noses up at the pellets, add warm water to them, to make a mash or start fermenting them and sprinkle a few whole dry pellets on the top or in the bottom of their feeding pan.... fermenting is very easy to do..... but leave a feeder with dry pellets in for them to try too. As with anything new it takes a while for them to accept the change and they may turn their noses up at it for a while, but don't let them dictate to you.... persevere until they accept it. You could also bash some up with a rolling pin in a plastic bag and put those on top of the larger whole pellets so that they gradually get used to the larger sized particles.

Keep an eye on them for bright red comb development and becoming more vocal.... that is usually a sign that they are getting ready to lay. Good luck with them and I hope you see some eggs from them sooner rather than later.

Regards

Barbara

Oh, then switch from medicated..

 

[jkrueger_coop]

@chickens really


I wonder if perhaps you did not read the OP's first post correctly which states that the feed she is currently giving them is medicated.

@jkrueger_coop

The Nutrena All flock you have bought should be the best solution to your situation with oyster shell offered on the side. I cannot get a grower that is more than 16% protein and not medicated or a flock raiser (all flock) so my whole flock gets layer pellets and they are fine with it. When any of my birds die I do a necropsy and I haven't had one with an abnormal kidney so far. I'm not saying it is a perfect situation, but you work with what you can get.

If your birds turn their noses up at the pellets, add warm water to them, to make a mash or start fermenting them and sprinkle a few whole dry pellets on the top or in the bottom of their feeding pan.... fermenting is very easy to do..... but leave a feeder with dry pellets in for them to try too. As with anything new it takes a while for them to accept the change and they may turn their noses up at it for a while, but don't let them dictate to you.... persevere until they accept it. You could also bash some up with a rolling pin in a plastic bag and put those on top of the larger whole pellets so that they gradually get used to the larger sized particles.

Keep an eye on them for bright red comb development and becoming more vocal.... that is usually a sign that they are getting ready to lay. Good luck with them and I hope you see some eggs from them sooner rather than later.

Regards

Barbara

Thanks for the tips for if they get picky with pellets! I planned on just adding pellets to the top of the feeder and they will just work their way out of crumbles to getting pellets. And they have been more vocal, but I attributed it to me starting to regularly give treats. They used to ignore me when I went into the run or stayed away from me. Now they peak at my boots and make a racket of noise until I throw out the treats then they ignore me and just gobble the treats up. Maybe I'll get a Christmas gift of my first egg lol.

-Krueger

 

[GC-Raptor]

I mixed pellets with scratch grains and tossed on dry ground, and my girls gobbled up the pellets. I also mixed the pellets with the crumbles in the feeder for 2 weeks. They ate the pellets without a fuss. GC