Animal based feed in the Lehigh Valley?

[Karl Hirsch]

Hi all,

I've been raising chickens in the backyard now for about 5 years and have noticed of late that many of their shells are very thin. My broody makes a sticky mess from breaking them while trying to hatch and it's breaking my heart! This has lead to me to examine the feed I give them. They are allowed to free range daily, but I also feed them a layer feed from an Amish mill in Kutztown, as well as giving some corn and occasional scratch grains. I love the folks I get the feed from, but after reading some information regarding animal based feed and it's benefits I wonder if their may be a local source for such and if it might help with the thin shells and the health of my flock in general? I am aware of supplementing with oyster shells, but I figured starting at the start might be the best idea. Tomorrow I'll check the tag from one of the bags to offer more detail on what I am feeding now... Thanks all in advance for any help advice!

 

[Sonya9]

Game bird feed has animal protein and most any store that sells chicken feed carries it. I feed game bird with a dish of oyster shell on the side for calcium.

Obviously yours need the oyster shell badly, however game bird feed is also safe for chicks and roosters unlike layer feed so that combo may be a good choice for you.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Would love to know what feed mill in Kutztown & what the feed is. There is a Mennonite farmer in Oley that mills feed & has an organic dairy farm. His layer feed does not have animal protein, but his grower feed (19%) has fish meal & his soy free layer & grower both have fish meal. Oley is a few miles from Kutztown. The feed is mash.

 

[Acre4Me]

Sounds like you are diluting their feed with scratch and corn. Layer feed is usually 15-16% protein, a minimum level needed by the chickens. Giving scratch, etc lowers the protein intake. You could still give some scratch if you move to a higher protein feed, often an all-flock, typically 20% protein. You will need to supplement with oyster shell then. You could look for game bird feed, but if it doesn’t move off the shelves quickly, then you risk getting old feed. In addition, game bird feed is formulated for game birds, rather than farm poultry and it is my understanding the amino acids and vitamins differ from a poultry feed. I’m sure game bird feed is ok to use, and may not cause any Apparent problems. Some people supplement protein with canned meat, fish food flakes, and dry cat food.

 

[Karl Hirsch]

Hi All, the gentleman I get the feed from is Harlan S Burkholder 35 Koffee Lane Kutztown, PA 19530. I always buy layer feed, but I know he offers grower feed too. Perhaps the grower feed uses animal protein, I never checked? Is it OK to feed grower feed to layers? Either way, I would think the grower would not have enough calcium, if the layer did not, so getting a bag of oyster shell seems to be a good idea. I read a post from someone saying their chicks had trouble hatching from the shells being too strong from giving oyster shell, so they stopped? I'm really feeling a bit out of my depth and hope I can do better. Sincerely appreciate all of the input so far and looking forward to learning more!

 

[Karl Hirsch]

Oh, PS: Thanks for the game bird feed information! I just want to do the best for my birds, so please do feel free to offer your experience knowledge, it is VERY MUCH appreciated!

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If it's soft eggshells, I'd think supplementing with oyster shell is likely the best and easiest fix. Animal-based protein isn't a bad idea, but getting enough calcium and protein in general is probably a good idea.

 

[Sonya9]

If it's soft eggshells, I'd think supplementing with oyster shell is likely the best and easiest fix. Animal-based protein isn't a bad idea, but getting enough calcium and protein in general is probably a good idea.

^^^This^^^

They need oyster shell asap and then you can fiddle around with changing their feed, but in the meantime those birds need calcium. You can also crush egg shells in a pinch if you have some around, but oyster shell is cheap and a dish of that in the coop will make a big difference. Broodies breaking their eggs is very sad.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hi all,

I've been raising chickens in the backyard now for about 5 years and have noticed of late that many of their shells are very thin. My broody makes a sticky mess from breaking them while trying to hatch and it's breaking my heart! This has lead to me to examine the feed I give them. They are allowed to free range daily, but I also feed them a layer feed from an Amish mill in Kutztown, as well as giving some corn and occasional scratch grains. I love the folks I get the feed from, but after reading some information regarding animal based feed and it's benefits I wonder if their may be a local source for such and if it might help with the thin shells and the health of my flock in general? I am aware of supplementing with oyster shells, but I figured starting at the start might be the best idea. Tomorrow I'll check the tag from one of the bags to offer more detail on what I am feeding now... Thanks all in advance for any help advice!

The grit and oyster shells are so important for getting stronger egg shells i would start there