All-flock feed vs layer feed, and brands!

[Ccort]

Kalmbach is cheaper on Chewy. Yay! They have 16 percent Flock Maintainer. To confirm, that's a solid all-flock feed?

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Kalmbach is cheaper on Chewy. Yay! They have 16 percent Flock Maintainer. To confirm, that's a solid all-flock feed?

https://www.chewy.com/kalmbach-feeds-all-natural-non-gmo-20/dp/244682

This is my personal preference

 

[Ccort]

https://www.chewy.com/kalmbach-feeds-all-natural-non-gmo-20/dp/244682

This is my personal preference

That one says it's for up to laying age. But you use it for all ages?
Again, just trying to learn.

 

[Kiki]

That one says it's for up to laying age. But you use it for all ages?
Again, just trying to learn.

The reason why it says for up two laying age is because it does not contain enough calcium for a laying bird which is why the people that choose to use this type of feed offer calcium on the side.

 

[Kiki]

I am in the feed layer feed club.
If you spend a few weeks reading through the emergency section you will see 99% more threads related to hens having issues because they weren't fed enough calcium compared to a roosters having an issue because he ate too much calcium.

Roosters usually die a natural old age death way before you will ever have an issue with them eating too much calcium.

 

[Kiki]

Also... I only skimmed this thread I did not read every post.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I am in the feed layer feed club.
If you spend a few weeks reading through the emergency section you will see 99% more threads related to hens having issues because they weren't fed enough calcium compared to a roosters having an issue because he ate too much calcium.

Roosters usually die a natural old age death way before you will ever have an issue with them eating too much calcium.

In addition to the feeds that I noted earlier I do also feed layer rations to my younger larger breed pullets. I have found that most bantams and older hens past the point of lay do fine with the all flock feeds. And in my over half century of keeping chickens, I have had many large breed roosters that have outlasted their female flock mates when all were fed primarily layer feeds.

 

[Ccort]

Thank you all. I'm still undecided and wanting to keep learning but also need to start asking a switch since they're 16 weeks. There's more to chicken feed than I expected! Initially I thought layer feed was what everyone fee chickens currently laying!
Another question...would you feed layer if say, half your flock were currently layers but half we're still not quite there?

 

[Chicken Heel]

Thank you all. I'm still undecided and wanting to keep learning but also need to start asking a switch since they're 16 weeks. There's more to chicken feed than I expected! Initially I thought layer feed was what everyone fee chickens currently laying!
Another question...would you feed layer if say, half your flock were currently layers but half we're still not quite there?

I've always started feeding layer at around 16 weeks of age.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Another question...would you feed layer if say, half your flock were currently layers but half we're still not quite there?

If your plan is to use layer, yes that would be an appropriate time to switch over.