Am I feeding properly?

[TexasWineGuy]

Howdy All,

We have 2 chickens that are about 6 months old. These were given to us by my brother. We continue his feeding regiment: Wendland's Egg Maker Crumbles 20% mixed in with corn scratch (~50/50 mix). Neither of these hens have laid any eggs yet.

Is this appropriate feed?

I also mix in oyster shells but I will shortly be putting in a small "feeder" just for the shell.

Thoughts?

Texas Wine Guy

 

[ellenscoop]

I would get rid of the corn scratch. Not only does it contain mycotoxins but it causes fatty liver syndrome - http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/fatty-liver-syndrome

 

[TexasWineGuy]

I would get rid of the corn scratch. Not only does it contain mycotoxins but it causes fatty liver syndrome - http://www.poultrydvm.com/condition/fatty-liver-syndrome

Completely, or just reduce?

TWG

@aart

 

[Krisitne]

I only feed a little bit of scratch during during the cold winter months. It's a treat and should be viewed as "chicken candy". Corn is of no nutritional value. And I think it's a good plan to put the oyster shells in a different feeder. That's what I do with my flock. They get it when they need it.

 

[Kiki]

Get rid of the scratch completely.

Don't even feed it as a treat.

Give me a few minutes to look up that exact feed but since it's labeled for egg layers you probably do not need to be buying extra calcium on the side and for sure don't mix it in.

 

[Kiki]

I went to the Wendland's website... They do not list details of their feed on the site.

Can you take a picture of the feed tag/label of your bag please?

https://www.wendlands.com/wendlands_bird.shtml

 

[TexasWineGuy]

I went to the Wendland's website... They do not list details of their feed on the site.

Can you take a picture of the feed tag/label of your bag please?

https://www.wendlands.com/wendlands_bird.shtml

TK,

I don't currently have a bag of the crumbles to do that, but I did email Wendland's to request a nutritional analysis sheet. I'll post when I get it.

Odd, a few weeks ago I called Wendlands and talked to someone there with the question, "Do I need to add scratch to the crumbles, or are the crumbles a complete diet alone?"

His answer was that the crumbles are indeed a complete diet "however if it were me I would add some scratch."

a little confusing. Just trying to learn what is the right thing to do. Maybe he wasn't the "chicken guy".

TWG

 

[Kiki]

TK,

I don't currently have a bag of the crumbles to do that, but I did email Wendland's to request a nutritional analysis sheet. I'll post when I get it.

Odd, a few weeks ago I called Wendlands and talked to someone there with the question, "Do I need to add scratch to the crumbles, or are the crumbles a complete diet alone?"

His answer was that the crumbles are indeed a complete diet "however if it were me I would add some scratch."

a little confusing. Just trying to learn what is the right thing to do. Maybe he wasn't the "chicken guy".

TWG

He isn't a chicken smart guy, that is for sure.

 

[triplepurpose]

Give me a few minutes to look up that exact feed but since it's labeled for egg layers you probably do not need to be buying extra calcium on the side and for sure don't mix it in.

Actually most feed companies recommend always having oystershell free-choice on the side (NOT mixed in) to supplement their layer feed. Often they have instructions to that effect somewhere on the bag...
requirements vary from hen to hen and at different times and what's in oystershell is more of just a baseline requirement for layers. besides oystershell is cheap enough esp for the amount a tiny flock will consume on the side.

 

[Kiki]

Actually most feed companies recommend always having oystershell free-choice on the side (NOT mixed in) to supplement their layer feed. Often they have instructions to that effect somewhere on the bag...

I've not seen this yet.