All flock feed and calcium.. after a thread search!

[Chickweed9]

My girls are 10-14 weeks old. I have been giving them Scratch & Peck Grower, but read a thread.. which I now can’t find.. that has made me want to switch to a crumble. I noticed they sometimes leave behind a specific grain and want to make sure they are getting everything they need.
I hear lots of people recommend Purina All Flock crumbles. I just want to feed them the best!

My questions are,
#1.. Is the Purina the best?
#2.. Is all flock the best?
#3.. If I’m feeding something that requires a calcium supplement, do I begin that now or when they are laying age?
#4.. What things do you supplement your feed with and why?

 

[Folly's place]

There are certainly more than one brand that's good out there. What's available where you shop, and what's fresh by mill date may not be the same as what works for us here.
We feed Purina's Flock Raiser, an all flock feed that works for all our chickens of any age or sex. It's available within one month of milling where I shop, very important!
We also have oyster shell in a separate feeder out there for the actively laying hens, and it can go out there any time, your pullets will try it, then eat it as needed when they are laying eggs.
Mary

 

[Tre3hugger]

I agree with Mary, I have a couple different brands that I will feed depending on where I am shopping and freshness. I always use the all flock though, for everyone except my meat birds. It is the best, in my opinion, when you will be feeding any birds that aren't layers. Roosters, broody hens, brand new chicks, as well as my layers, all of them get All flock pellets. Crumbles are often not available at my regular store. If the pellets are too large for chicks, I wet them slightly and mash them up. I offer grit and oyster shell on the side, but could probably do without the grit since they find it themselves on the ground.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I use Purina Flock Raiser, too.
I'm thinking about switching to All Flock pellets though, since it's cheaper.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My questions are,
#1.. Is the Purina the best?
#2.. Is all flock the best?
#3.. If I’m feeding something that requires a calcium supplement, do I begin that now or when they are laying age?
#4.. What things do you supplement your feed with and why?

I like Nutrena Naturewise feeds and Purina feeds.
I buy and feed both.
I feed Purina Medicated Start and Grow for the first 10 weeks. Then when bag is empty I switch to Nutrena Non-Medicated Starter-Grower or Purina Flock Raiser, whichever is available or cheaper when I'm at TSC.
Both are 50 lb bags.
When I have less than 4 chickens, I buy the 25 lb bag of Purina Non-Medicated Start and Grow, because 50 lb of feed goes stale with a small Flock.
I like a feed with 18 to 20% Protein.

As for supplements; I offer Adult size Poultry Grit (Granite) after 7 weeks.
I offer Oyster Shells (calcium) after 15 weeks.
Both are offered separately, the chickens will take as needed.

GC