Argh! Just learned my All Flock feed has the same calcium level as layer...

[AmyPaperlady]

I've been feeding an All-in-One poultry feed for a while now, as the simplest way to deal with feeding chicks and layers. The protein's at 18%, so at the lower end for chicks, but they've been growing well. I hadn't actually checked the calcium level, because I was assuming that it was low. then I happened to look at the tag while pouring the feed into buckets for storage, and thought that a minimum of 3.5% seemed kind of high...

Anyway, here's the info for the All-in-One:

Rogue Quality Feeds All In One is a complete and balanced poultry feed for Growing Poultry, Laying Hens, Turkeys, and Game Birds. Manufactured as a crumble.
Features 18% Protein. Helps ensure that growth goals can be met. Supplies the proper level of protein for growth and high egg production.
Complete and Balanced. Convenience. Supplies vitamins, minerals and other Nutrients in the proper amounts.
Non-Medicated. One feed for all classes of poultry. Can also be used for waterfowl, game birds, and well
started turkeys.

Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, 18%
Lysine, 0.92%
Methionine, 0.34%
Crude Fat, 3.0%
Crude Fiber, 4.0%
Calcium (minimum), 3.5%
Calcium (maximum), 4.5%
Phosphorus, 0.58%
Salt (minimum), 0.3%
Salt (maximum), 0.5%

The same brand's layer feed:

A Complete Layer Ration
Guaranteed Analysis:
Crude Protein, 16%
Lysine, 0.71%
Methionine, 0.30%
Crude Fat, 3.50%
Crude Fiber, 5.0%
Calcium (minimum), 3.5%
Calcium (maximum), 4.5%
Phosphorus, 0.70%
Salt (minimum), 0.2%
Salt (maximum), 0.4%

The current chicks are about 6 weeks old, and have eaten the All In One their whole lives. Do I need to worry? (The previous clutch was sold at 8 weeks, with this as their sole feed, and the clutch before that at 12 weeks.)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That stinks, I guess there is nothing you can do at this point except switch to something else, you did make me check my own brand though. I don't know whether it will cause problems, everyone says it will but I haven't seen proof, I did let a hen raise a chick in my flock and never stopped feeding layer, the bird is still with me six years later.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When it says "All Flock" on the sack that is what it means. It is as good for for the hen as it is for the rooster. In my humble opinion you are over-thinking your approach towards keeping chickens because the same amount of calcium is in a breeder chicken ration because for the eggs to successfully hatch they need good strong eggshells that only oyster shells or crushed limestone rock can provide.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My all flock has a lower calcium, it's made to feed to everyone, with calcium offered on the side.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Nutrena All Flock has a min of 1.4 and a max of 1.9
Nutrena Feather Fixer has a min of 3.25 and a max of 3.75

I feed the all flock when I have mixed ages. Once everyone is laying I feed Feather Fixer. I do not have males or other types of birds.

Young chicks may need to be on a different brand of all flock or on chick starter/ grower.

With molting just around the corner here I switched them this week back to the feather fixer. I still have 4 that are not yet laying but are close.

 

[MeepBeep]

When it says "All Flock" on the sack that is what it means.  It is as good for for the hen as it is for the rooster.

In this instance I beg to differ regardless of what the label says, that level of calcium is in excess for roosters and non egg layers, and should not be that high in an 'All Flock' feed...

In fact I find the entire label misleading, as 18% protein isn't enough for growing turkeys or game birds either...

I don't know whether it will cause problems, everyone says it will

There have been numerous scientific studies that excess calcium causes multiple problems in poultry...

Do a Google search for 'excess calcium poultry' and read the studies, there is a laundry list of negative effects likely happening even if you don't notice them...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

In this instance I beg to differ regardless of what the label says, that level of calcium is in excess for roosters and non egg layers, and should not be that high in an 'All Flock' feed...

In fact I find the entire label misleading, as 18% protein isn't enough for growing turkeys or game birds either...
There have been numerous scientific studies that excess calcium causes multiple problems in poultry...

Do a Google search for 'excess calcium poultry' and read the studies, there is a laundry list of negative effects likely happening even if you don't notice them...

To paraphrase the movie Cool Hand Luke, "....what we have here is a failure to communicate effectively."

Laying pellets, breeder chow, game bird food, all flock feed, starter-grower, turkey chow, feather fixer, and on and on are all compromises not the be all to end all of poultry feed. I have kept and bred chickens including 1,000s of roosters and so far I have yet to find one cockerel with a kidney stone or see any other harm come to a rooster from eating girlie food. Every compromise is a little less than optimal. That is the operational definition of a compromise.

 

[MeepBeep]

Laying pellets, breeder chow, game bird food, all flock feed, starter-grower, turkey chow, feather fixer, and on and on are all compromises not the be all to end all of poultry feed.

I agree that a varied diet is best, but many foods are in fact designed to be the end all complete and balanced diet for that type or stage of bird...

As I stated in this case I personally believe this particular brand of 'All Flock' is over and/or incorrectly advertised... No doubt an 'All Flock' is a compromise, it has to be, but that level of compromise needs to also addressed and considered based on the particular use... IMO this particular 'All Flock' appears to simply be a slightly high protein chicken layer feed, not an 'All Flock'...

I have kept and bred chickens including 1,000s of roosters and so far I have yet to find one cockerel with a kidney stone or see any other harm come to a rooster from eating girlie food.

Anecdotal Fallacy...

In the end if you choose to provide that level of calcium across all your birds, that is certainly your choice, for me there is no shortage of solid scientific study and conclusive evidence that discourages me from using such a heavily calcium supplemented feed for my own mixed flock...

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I agree that a varied diet is best, but many foods are in fact designed to be the end all complete and balanced diet for that type or stage of bird...

As I stated in this case I personally believe this particular brand of 'All Flock' is over and/or incorrectly advertised... No doubt an 'All Flock' is a compromise, it has to be, but that level of compromise needs to also addressed and considered based on the particular use... IMO this particular 'All Flock' appears to simply be a slightly high protein chicken layer feed, not an 'All Flock'...
Anecdotal Fallacy...

In the end if you choose to provide that level of calcium across all your birds, that is certainly your choice, for me there is no shortage of solid scientific study and conclusive evidence that discourages me from using such a heavily calcium supplemented feed for my own mixed flock...

No one said that laying pellets was the only thing that I fed my roosters except perhaps when he was in the brood pen. At all other times a good home mixed scratch with about 50% pellets and a diet supplement like Calf Manna, Pig Chow, and some good quality kibble style dog and/or cat food was their main diet. The percentages of the various ingredients changed throughout the year in response to the weather, the annual molt, and the onstart of the chickens' natural breeding season (March, April, and May). There again every formulation change at any time of the year was in itself a compromise. Back in the day all grains were readily available at most feed stores in rural areas so I seldom bought scratch feed because I considered cracked corn unfit for chicken consumption. I much preferred whole dent or feed corn but Argentina Flint corn was my favorite.

My chickens however never mentioned their favorite type of corn, at least not to me.

 

[enola]

I am another person that has never seen a rooster fall over dead from eating laying pellets. I have had chickens for 50+ years and until 2 years ago, all I had fed all of my chickens, even chicks, was a layer ration of some sort or another.

I now feed all of my chickens "All Flock" in a fermented feed form.