At a Crossroads on Feed!

[Mimi13]

We have pellet feed and water inside the coop for early mornings and if it is raining but otherwise they forage all their food except for the once a day, three hands full of meal worms treat they get when I feed the hogs. We had an ant problem but I used spent coffee grounds to cover the ant mound and all around it, no more ants. If you have ants after using spent coffee grounds, just buy some cheap coffee grounds and use fresh grounds to cover and around the ant hill then sprinkle gently to soak the fresh grounds. The ants will be gone soon after the treatment. The best part is no poison, no harm to chickens or good bugs, just dead ant hill.

Well this is interesting information. Will coffee grounds not hurt the chickens if they happen to eat some?

 

[lazy gardener]

My entire flock switches back to layer when the pullets/cockerels go through puberty (voice change). At that time, I finish up what ever unmedicated feed they are on, and put them on layer. No issues with roosters, or non laying birds. My previous roo (avatar) was replaced at the age of 4 b/c he was no longer hitting the bulls eye when he was breeding the hens. many folks keep their entire flock on layer feed, in spite of mixed gender. I hear all the noise about too much calcium causing renal failure in non laying birds, but have yet to experience any such issue with my birds.

An other option to keep your birds from wasting crumble is to wet it down or ferment it. I've been fermenting for 5 years now. The fermentation process is super easy, and increases Methionine and Lysine in the feed. studies also indicate that fermentation may produce B vitamins. Super easy to do. Read the FF FAQ article in my signature for more information.

I use a combination of dog bowls, and plastic gutter feed troughs. Never seen ants at the feeders.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I think with regards to layer feed, I kept my rooster on layer feed for 4 years an ultimately he died not to kidney problems but a raccoon. I was going to replace him next year.
If it's your intention to keep your rooster around for more than 5 years, or if your roosters are pets and never ever food, sure, feed an all flock feed. It may effect their lifespan or mortality. If you expect to rotate through your rooster more than every 5-6 years (and most people who breed do, as rooster start loosing fertility around 4 years or so) just feed them layer feed. They'll be fine.

I have no suggestions on feeders. I only ever feed out what my chickens will eat in one day anyhow. As you've discovered, ants are a problem. So are rats. So is over-eating, and I've had PLENTY of fat hens. I never leave feed out. Never.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I'm currently feeding my two chickens (rooster + hen) a layer feed..... I don't know, I tend to think people over exaggerate the ill effects of extra calcium in roosters. But that's just me and my non-expert opinion.

 

[Mimi13]

My entire flock switches back to layer when the pullets/cockerels go through puberty (voice change). At that time, I finish up what ever unmedicated feed they are on, and put them on layer. No issues with roosters, or non laying birds. My previous roo (avatar) was replaced at the age of 4 b/c he was no longer hitting the bulls eye when he was breeding the hens. many folks keep their entire flock on layer feed, in spite of mixed gender. I hear all the noise about too much calcium causing renal failure in non laying birds, but have yet to experience any such issue with my birds.

An other option to keep your birds from wasting crumble is to wet it down or ferment it. I've been fermenting for 5 years now. The fermentation process is super easy, and increases Methionine and Lysine in the feed. studies also indicate that fermentation may produce B vitamins. Super easy to do. Read the FF FAQ article in my signature for more information.

I use a combination of dog bowls, and plastic gutter feed troughs. Never seen ants at the feeders.

Well, it is very good to hear so many saying they feed layer to all their birds and, most likely, that’s what I’ll wind up doing too.

You know, I have fermented feed for my four originals, but only during the the colder months. I have no idea why only then though. Maybe I can start doing it now for all of them. I guess it’ll just be trial and error trying to figure out how much to make each day for 27 birds.

 

[lazy gardener]

I suggest that you rotate 2 5G. buckets, making them about 3/4 full.

 

[Mimi13]

When first switching back to crumble do to new chicks my birds will empty half the feeder first few days. Knowing this I don't fill it and take it away before noon until that behavior stops.

That is exactly what my older birds did. Going from pellet to crumbles they appeared to be starving, but I knew they weren’t. But I do think they were hogging the feeders not letting the chicks eat. Grrrr!

 

[SueT]

Well this is interesting information. Will coffee grounds not hurt the chickens if they happen to eat some?

We daily put our coffee grounds in the compost pile, and the chickens like to hop in and dig thru it. So I would assume they've eaten some grounds, either intentionally or inadvertently.

 

[lazy gardener]

We daily put our coffee grounds in the compost pile, and the chickens like to hop in and dig thru it. So I would assume they've eaten some grounds, either intentionally or inadvertently.

Does this mean that you can get a good caffeine fix without bothering to drink the coffee? Think how much time that would save in the morning! High test eggs!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I work for a Purina dealer and I haven't heard anything about them discontinuing Flock Raiser pellets. I'm going to have to look into this. Have you asked your local Tractor Supply to special order you the feed you want? They will usually do it. Also, I feed layena about 75% of the time and I have multiple roosters who are more than 7 yrs old.