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- #11
Crazy how much prices can very! The brand country lane of the chick starter that I get is cheaper than the country lane layer pellets that I get! So is there any reason to feed them layer versus an all flock feed??
I don't think mixing the different feeds into one feeder is really doing anything good for the flock. The birds won't pick out the individual feed that they should be eating, so the hens will be eating some of the feather booster and the rooster will be eating some of the layer feed. Neither one is going to get full benefit from either feed, and around here the feather booster is expensive feed.
Personally, I would just go with an All-flock feed and when you have small chicks set up an area where only the chicks can go to get the chick starter. When the chicks are bigger, then all-flock is fine for them also. I have found that my hens LOVE the chick starter - but it makes sense since it is more expensive than layer feed.
Oyster shell on the side is always a good option. And yes, i have a chicken also who eats more oystershell than she should and gets calcium deposits on her eggs, but I have 2 chickens who lay very thin-shelled eggs without the oystershell.