Beginner Question.

[chezfarmhouse]

Help with feeding my laying hens and roosters.... There are so many choices when it comes to types of feed, what's the best way to feed my grown boys and girls? Currently they get layer pellets and scratch. Of course, they get daily mealworm treats and our scrap salad veggies as well.

I'm curious what the purpose of layer "crumble" is?

Should I be using a feeder for certain types of feed versus letting them scratch, etc?

They are very happy hens and roos, just curious to know more correct methods of feeding.

 

[A Chicken Owner]

Layer crumble has the same nutrition as layer pellets it is just crumbled up instead of in pellet form. I don't use a feeder I leave some food on the ground and they scratch around for it. There happy to do this but if you want, you can use a feeder for layer pellets.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

It does get a little confusing. There are different kinds of feed -- meaning that the nutritional content is different. For example you can buy a starter, a grower or flock raiser, or a layer feed.

Then, there are different shapes. The most common shapes are mash, crumbles, or pellets. A layer pellet and a layer crumble will have the same nutrition (or very close if they are different brands) but will physically look different. A grower crumble and a layer crumble will physically look the same but have different nutrition.

About mid way down the page on this thread there is a great image that shows the different shapes:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/581855/mash-crumble-what-is-the-difference

Most people like one shape over another because they feel like their birds waste less when the food comes in that form. This varies depending on what type of feeder you have and your individual flock.

I would be less concerned about the shape and more concerned about the nutrition.

Laying feed is made to be complete nutrition for laying hens and really laying hens only. You never want to feed this to young birds. It has way too much calcium. While a lot of people do feed it to their roosters for convenience, it is really not an ideal nutrition for them. Some people prefer to feed a mixed flock of boys and girls a grower or flock raiser feed -- which is similar to a layer but does not have the extra calcium that laying hens need -- and put a bowl of oyster shell or some other calcium source on the side, completely separate from the food. The birds will eat this only as needed. This way the hens get the calcium they need and the roosters are not getting too much. Either way is up to you and your goals for your flock.

 

[chezfarmhouse]

Great advice, as always. Thank you!