Best feed and where to buy it?

[Chris09]

GameCock,

First let me ask this question,
What breed are you getting, this will make a big difference on what you will want to feed and the amount of protein that you will need at what age.
If you are getting a Gamefowl type breed you will need no more than a 20% protein feed and that is when they are breeding (or chicks 0 - 6 weeks of age).

Now you said that you are getting a Trio, the rooster in that Trio does not need the added calcium that is added to a layer type feed and it will in fact do him more harm than good.
You would be best off feeding them (the trio) a good Game Bird Breeder feed that is 20% protein or if you cant find that then you could feed them a Game Bird or Turkey Starter with a grain mix added to lower the protein amount.

I will also add that Chicken of all types and ages should be fed a feed that contains animal proteins, the vegetarian type poultry feeds are not the best feeds for poultry and are for the most part a "cheap" feed.

Chris

 

[Chris09]

So they are must all be laying?

Read the labels. Make sure the feed is high in protein and contains calcium or you can supplement calcium on the side. I have been advised not to feed corn in warm weather as it builds fat so chose a feed with no corn or soy.

We are still waiting for three of our six pullets to start laying but got a bag of "Cascade Organic Layer Mash 16% protein It's 60% crab and fish meal. When I opened the tub I saw that it is ground pretty fine and I think there will be more waste than with a crumble so I might not buy it again.

If the OP has gamefowl they do not need a "High Protein" feed, a 20% would be best also the OP has a trio so the last thing they want to do is feed a High Calcium feed that can cause Kidney problems to there rooster. (layer feed is for laying fowl). I don't know where you got your information on the corn but it is incorrect also.


Quote:
ORGANIC CASCADE LAYER 16% Layer Mash
Ingredients: Peas, triticale, wheat, barley, aragonite, crab meal, fish meal (60%), poultry nutri-balancers, flax oil, enzymes.
There is Crab Meal and Fish Meal in the mix but so that you know, when you see Fish Meal (60%) that means that the Fish Meal used is a 60% protein and not that there is 60 percent Crab and Fish Meal in the mix. (Tritcal is a Second Generation Laboratory Hybrid cross between Rye and Wheat)

Chris
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[aggiemae]

actually I read about feeding corn several places here on BYC including this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/9652/feeding-corn-in-summer-time and I do know how to read labels so figured out that others here can as well, so skipped what I thought awas a needless explanation.

However, as I am fairly new to the site and as it is called "backyard chickens" it was not clear to me from the original message that the person was raising game fowl and that corn would be completely appropriate.

 

[Chris09]

actually I read about feeding corn several places here on BYC including this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/9652/feeding-corn-in-summer-time and I do know how to read labels so figured out that others here can as well, so skipped what I thought awas a needless explanation.

However, as I am fairly new to the site and as it is called "backyard chickens" it was not clear to me from the original message that the person was raising game fowl and that corn would be completely appropriate.

So that you and others that read this know;
Corn will not make your chicken (or any other livestock) warm/ hot and in the case of poultry it will not make them overly fat.
Corn is a easily digested High Energy feed ingredient and it does not produce excess heat like fibrous ingredients (whole wheat, alfalfa meal, whole oats etc.). Corn also will not make your chickens overly fat, chickens eat to fill there Energy needs and if feed large amounts of corn (a high energy feed ingredient) they fill there energy need sooner and eat less. Poultry that are feed a sole diet or overly large amounts of corn in there diet will tend to be very thin and undernourished.




Quote: Here is is the part of your post that is incorrect (or at least incorrectly worded)



Quote: The feed does not contain 60 percent crab and fish meal, it does contain a fish meal that is 60% protein.
Most likely there is only about 2 to 5 percent crab and fish meal combined in that feed. (40 to 100 pounds per ton of feed) any more than that will start to give you a "fishy" smell to your eggs.


Chris