Advice on chicken feed

[Mosey2003]

Lucky!

 

[Peppercorngal]

I also suggest a no-waste feeder such as in this photo. I have 30 chickens and two of these. I only have to fill them every two days. The feed does not end up all over the ground and it saves me work!

 

[Melky]

Hey everyone. I'm just starting out in all this BYC fun and have tons of questions. Can anyone suggest a quality brand chicken feed from tractor Supply? Also, how do you give chickens the grit and how much?

I used Nature’s Best starter grower 18 % organic feed from 8 weeks to 18 weeks. Prior to that on a 20% protein medicated feed. I use hanging feeders and waterers because more sanitary. See review below on feed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/natures-best-organic-feed.11885/

 

[Mosey2003]

I find those hanging feeders to actually have a TON of waste. Maybe it would be less with pellets? I'm always happy when the chicks are big enough to reach into the deep trough feeders with the spinner bar on top, THOSE give me nearly zero waste and they are too big to climb in them by that age too, so still sanitary.

 

[Melky]

Mine still walked over ground fountain feeders with separaters when older and you will find kick in alot of mulch, dirt, and poo into them and you will constantly be cleaning them. Not very sanitary. You also typically see spilled grains on the ground around them so providing a wet mash feed or fermented feed removes waste when feeding a crumble or whole grain type feed. Mine is a small hanging trough feeder and I only put out one days worth so not to attract pests and predators when I hang them. No waste. I take it in at night and just leave the water because they do not eat at night anyway.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I hear people are not satisfied with Dumor product, I've bought a bag before and it seemed fine. I'm currently on Purina feed though.

 

[Melky]

I hear people are not satisfied with Dumor product, I've bought a bag before and it seemed fine. I'm currently on Purina feed though.

I bought my first bag and it molded. So refuse to use and there is just better out there. The bag should not have molded as kept same as my current feed and no issues with current. I think many people use Purina. I do not because of organic interests with no corn or soy.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I bought my first bag and it molded. So refuse to use and there is just better out there. The bag should not have molded as kept same as my current feed and no issues with current. I think many people use Purina. I do not because of organic interests with no corn or soy.

So you like no corn or soy? Nature's Best uses corn & soy like most feeds.

 

[Melky]

So you like no corn or soy? Nature's Best uses corn & soy like most feeds.

Yes it does. Most organic feeds do. My birds are now at 28 weeks and old enough for a layer Mash and I switched to a 16% layer mash that is no corn or no soy organic whole grain. I buy from Azure Standard Big Sky and share drop locations with others for shipping. So my shipping was $3-8 depending on size of order. They give first time customers 10-15 % off etc. For younger birds there is no organic feed that has no corn or no soy here that you can buy. I thought Scratch and Peck was too expensive to purchase and have shipped to me. Many more companies are starting to carry a no soy product and/or no corn or no soy but your local retailer might not carry it. I compare what my local retailers sells to what is available online. I try to find the most cost effective option for my nutritional goals. Mainly because the consumer has not caught on to it and most local retailers just buy what they feel sells as a product if that makes sense. I fill out my surveys for local retailers requesting these options of organic including no corn and no soy options so they help provide this to the consumer at decreased cost to us as when they buy in bulk can get more shipping discounts than you or I and roll that back to the customer on lower pricing.