Best all flock feeds??

[Gerty0630]

Can anyone give me some ideas as to what you feed your mixed flock? My local tractor supply and feed stores always basically only have chick starter feed and layer feed - neither of which I need. Because I have both drakes and hens, I cannot have a feed that is too high in protein or calcium (I supplement calcium for the layers). They free range all day long but i do provide feed in the coop for them overnight and mornings. The feed they currently have was suggested by someone off BYC but it was a while ago that i bought it and i cannot for the life of me remember what it was. Any ideas?

 

[PirateGirl]

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...try/country-companion-all-flock-poultry-feed/

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...poultry/naturewise-all-flock-feed-18-crumble/

https://www.ruralking.com/nutrena-country-feeds-all-flock-feed-50lb

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...a-flock-raiser-crumbles-premium-poultry-feed/

These are the ones I most commonly see at the feed stores near me. I have used all without issues. I have chickens and ducks, including a drake.

 

[Gerty0630]

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...try/country-companion-all-flock-poultry-feed/

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...poultry/naturewise-all-flock-feed-18-crumble/

https://www.ruralking.com/nutrena-country-feeds-all-flock-feed-50lb

https://www.murdochs.com/products/l...a-flock-raiser-crumbles-premium-poultry-feed/

These are the ones I most commonly see at the feed stores near me. I have used all without issues. I have chickens and ducks, including a drake.

I've seen and considered the purina flock raiser but that's 20% protein! Girls will be laying dragon eggs with that I've never seen any of the others around me before! Sometimes they don't make this easy I swear lol

 

[igorsMistress]

My TSC carries Nutrena All Flock which is what I feed my flock. I offer oyster shell free choice all the time for the hens.

 

[Gerty0630]

My TSC carries Nutrena All Flock which is what I feed my flock. I offer oyster shell free choice all the time for the hens.

Nutrena All Flock is my first and basically only available option! Good to know! Thank you

 

[perchie.girl]

I think the best one is the one you can get. The Feed retailer can be responsible for many of the negative reports.... Feed has to be kept Dry and Critter free... I dont mind a few beetles or bugs Chickens love those...

But Mold and evidence of mouse intrusions or taped up bags.... speaks of poor handling and Store keeping.

I tend to go to stores that have alot of business so I know the feed hasnt been on the shelves or in storage containers a very long time.

I use Purina All Flock. TSCs Dumor is made by Purena by the way. I am a little more particular about Chick food.... Since I raise Guinea Fowl as well...

deb

 

[Ebony Rose]

You can "cut" the overall protein of the feed with your treat regime. Examples include adding rice, split peas, oats, wheat, barley etc. Lower in protein, still high in nutrition and amino acids. More examples include fruits and veggies, faster reduction in overall protein, but adds hard to get vitamins & minerals that could be lacking or at least benefit from a boost. Reducing overall protein is easy. I have the exact opposite problem, the feed stores here only carry feed that 'short changes' my birds on protein... their position is that 'most' people here kill their birds within a year, so they don't need to concern themselves with providing a feed that would sustain life beyond that. **grumbles** They do not offer any form of supplementation other than "vitamin / mineral" additives for their water or in medicines TO TREAT THE DISEASES that the malnutrition causes. I supplement my birds with high quality snacks (under 10% of their total feed intake) to try to combat the problem.
My advice: Buy the high protein stuff and feed treats to reduce it to the desired level, but DON'T feed the medicated chick starter stuff... it works by blocking absorption of some vitamins.

 

[BreanneRN]

I buy the "flock grower" and mix it with hen scratch. If the coop is mostly hens, I throw in layer pellets to the mix. It works for me... I have fed it to wild ducks that happened along from time to time. Once I was visited by what appeared to be feral Welsh Harlequins. Wish I could have convinced them to stay. Feed has risen several dollars a bag at the TSC here. They say due to price of gas... But it never goes down when gas does...

 

[PirateGirl]

Ducks lay BIG eggs, I think they tend to do well on a higher protein feed. For ducks in particular, oats are recommended as a way of cutting the protein in feed. You can get a 50lb bag of oats at the feed store for about $10.

 

[Gerty0630]

You can "cut" the overall protein of the feed with your treat regime. Examples include adding rice, split peas, oats, wheat, barley etc. Lower in protein, still high in nutrition and amino acids. More examples include fruits and veggies, faster reduction in overall protein, but adds hard to get vitamins & minerals that could be lacking or at least benefit from a boost. Reducing overall protein is easy. I have the exact opposite problem, the feed stores here only carry feed that 'short changes' my birds on protein... their position is that 'most' people here kill their birds within a year, so they don't need to concern themselves with providing a feed that would sustain life beyond that. **grumbles** They do not offer any form of supplementation other than "vitamin / mineral" additives for their water or in medicines TO TREAT THE DISEASES that the malnutrition causes. I supplement my birds with high quality snacks (under 10% of their total feed intake) to try to combat the problem.
My advice: Buy the high protein stuff and feed treats to reduce it to the desired level, but DON'T feed the medicated chick starter stuff... it works by blocking absorption of some vitamins.

Good tip about adding the oats thank you! I do have a bowl of oats so perhaps I'm doing that already without even knowing! How frustrating with your opposite problem!! AND with no supplementation! Grrrrr. These things are SO area specific it's crazy!!