best price crumble higher percentage to find online

[Welshies]

Well it is hard to imagine humans have been raising chicken since at least 3500BC and managed to do it without comercially prepared feed. It sucks we have lost the knowledge of the ancients we can agree to disagree on this and both be fine. I am of the opinion the birds are smarter than we are when it comes to their dietary needs. Regardless of how we feel they are going to eat what they want when they want when it is offered free choice.

Oh, of course birds survive on minimal food. But they don't thrive. The backyard owner would certainly prefer his birds to thrive, and be happy, than just survive. Also consider the fact many people do not have access to true, natural forage for their birds- let me ask you this: would you feed your birds grass and bugs if they had no access to any forage whatsoever? I sure wouldn't.
Bugs and grass are not a complete feed and I am listing that for the OP. They are a treat. Backyard owners should be feeding whole diets.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Of course not, mine do I have even considered cutting them off from feeding commercially prepared feed, but now that it is winter for me I have relented. I have plenty of neighbors who raise flocks without supplemental feeding at all. We are the softies in the hood who buy feed, scratch and BOSS for ours. If you are willing to accept slower production during the leaner months then there is no need to supplement a thing here. I really feel for my neighbors flocks but what works for them doesn't work for me.

The thing I hate the most is my flock require more protein to grow and the feed store I like doesn't carry grower in higher than 18% protein. I think the next bag I buy from them I am going to see if they have turkey feed. I am a strong believer in buying local and TSC has the feed I want but they aren't a small mom and pop operation.

 

[Welshies]

Of course not, mine do I have even considered cutting them off from feeding commercially prepared feed, but now that it is winter for me I have relented. I have plenty of neighbors who raise flocks without supplemental feeding at all. We are the softies in the hood who buy feed, scratch and BOSS for ours. If you are willing to accept slower production during the leaner months then there is no need to supplement a thing here. I really feel for my neighbors flocks but what works for them doesn't work for me.

The thing I hate the most is my flock require more protein to grow and the feed store I like doesn't carry grower in higher than 18% protein. I think the next bag I buy from them I am going to see if they have turkey feed. I am a strong believer in buying local and TSC has the feed I want but they aren't a small mom and pop operation.

Yes, I agree. What works for me doesn't work for others always, either.
I am glad we were able to come to an agreement.
I was just being extra clear for the OP- I was worried about the OP misinterpreting what either of us was saying.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Oh, of course birds survive on minimal food. But they don't thrive. The backyard owner would certainly prefer his birds to thrive, and be happy, than just survive. Also consider the fact many people do not have access to true, natural forage for their birds- let me ask you this: would you feed your birds grass and bugs if they had no access to any forage whatsoever? I sure wouldn't.
Bugs and grass are not a complete feed and I am listing that for the OP. They are a treat. Backyard owners should be feeding whole diets.

Also we have 300+ days of sun here per annum, I do not live in Canada so I can certainly understand our diffrence in opinions.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Do you know of any best kept secret Websites Reasonably priced chicken waterers and feeders and other chicken supplies and accessories on another point? Lol

@chickenreyna I would suggest you follow @aart she seems to me to be the Mcgyver(probably before your time but a master DIYer) of chickenkeeping on the cheap. Someone whose input I highly value look over her coops and feeders.

 

[Welshies]

Also we have 300+ days of sun here per annum, I do not live in Canada so I can certainly understand our diffrence in opinions.

Our lowest hours of daylight is around 5, so there would definitely be a huge different in both management styles and opinion. I could totally understand 90%-self-sufficient birds if I had accessible grass year round.

 

[Folly's place]

I want to mention that an 18% protein all-flock feed is fine, but not actually improved by adding scratch and sunflower seeds. Both decrease protein levels, and are treats.
Modern chickens are NOT the birds raised 150+ years ago! Unless you are getting wild jungle fowl, or very low egg production smaller game type birds.
A hen who's genetically programmed to produce 250+ eggs per year will sacrifice herself to do that, so will be malnourished before she seriously reduces her egg production. That's not the same bird who is designed to lay 60 to 100 eggs per year, and be much smaller.
Old farms had very diverse plant and animal life, farmers fed different grains to their livestock, shared by their chickens. And they ate chicken! Old birds? Not likely.
I like my more modern highly productive chickens, and they need a balanced diet, and the most cost effective way to have it is buying commercial feeds.
Mary

 

[Welshies]

I want to mention that an 18% protein all-flock feed is fine, but not actually improved by adding scratch and sunflower seeds. Bot decrease protein levels, and are treats.
Modern chickens are NOT the birds raised 150+ years ago! Unless you are getting wild jungle fowl, or very low egg production smaller game type birds.
A hen who's genetically programmed to produce 250+ eggs per year will sacrifice herself to do that, so will be malnourished before she seriously reduces her egg production. That's not the same bird who is designed to lay 60 to 100 eggs per year, and be much smaller.
Old farms had very diverse plant and animal life, farmers fed different grains to their livestock, shared by their chickens. And they ate chicken! Old birds? Not likely.
I like my more modern highly productive chickens, and they need a balanced diet, and the most cost effective way to have it is buying commercial feeds.
Mary

Agreed.

 

[AllenK RGV]

And Folly mentions another aspect of my chickenening differences. I like the gamey old fashioned low production types. Currently keeping Sumatra's and adding Malay's in the spring. I don't have enough chicken to keep the grass down even in winter, and I really hate mowing it when it is super thick.

 

[Folly's place]

It's not so much grass as mixed plantings of lots of different plants. Living in the tropics helps too. Mary