Broiler feed

[Chickenheadmate]

Just out of curiosity. Will dual purpose chickens benefit from eating broiler feed?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Broiler, starter, layer, grower, all flock, flock raiser... all confusing terms to get us to buy different products...

ONLY major differences in ANY of them is protein level and calcium level.

Broiler feed USED to be 25% protein and about 1% calcium. Most have lowered to 20-22% this past year. My guess is to slow the growth of the meat birds that were sustaining injury because of it. Many "starter" feeds are around 22% protein.

I raise mostly dual purpose birds. I use Purina flock raiser which has 20% protein and 1% ish calcium from start to finish. It only cost me $17/ 50# bag. I provide oyster shell on the side free choice for layers.

Sometimes I cheat and toss in some 30% protein turkey starter for the first week. You don't wanna go too high for too long because overweight birds will be less productive and growing too fast is not healthy. Also too high of protein OR calcium fed long term *could* (doesn't mean will) cause different types of gout and kidney failure.

Regardless of which formulated ration you choose, be sure not diminish nutrient levels by offering too much scratch or other treats. Keep it within 10% of the total daily ration and it *should* be OK.

Long term... dual purpose birds will do best on about 18-22% protein feed. 22% has been shown to give the best hatch rates. Aside from hatching, which I do... to me that says more nutrition in the eggs my family is consuming!

One resource I use... http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf

One thing regarding DP chickens and "broiler feed"... Many "layer feeds" use corn or marigold to give you yellower yolks. Where as some feeds like my flock raiser or other may be made with wheat, giving slightly less yellow yolks... I don't care about gimmicks. Places where they have white corn the yolks are actually white or platinum looking. I know my birds are eating good feed. And they have pasture access daily.

Hope this is helpful.

ETA: I skip scratch all together.

 

[Chickenheadmate]

Broiler, starter, layer, grower, all flock, flock raiser... all confusing terms to get us to buy different products...

ONLY major differences in ANY of them is protein level and calcium level.

Broiler feed USED to be 25% protein and about 1% calcium. Most have lowered to 20-22% this past year. My guess is to slow the growth of the meat birds that were sustaining injury because of it. Many "starter" feeds are around 22% protein.

I raise mostly dual purpose birds. I use Purina flock raiser which has 20% protein and 1% ish calcium from start to finish. It only cost me $17/ 50# bag. I provide oyster shell on the side free choice for layers.

Sometimes I cheat and toss in some 30% protein turkey starter for the first week. You don't wanna go too high for too long because overweight birds will be less productive and growing too fast is not healthy. Also too high of protein OR calcium fed long term *could* (doesn't mean will) cause different types of gout and kidney failure.

Regardless of which formulated ration you choose, be sure not diminish nutrient levels by offering too much scratch or other treats. Keep it within 10% of the total daily ration and it *should* be OK.

Long term... dual purpose birds will do best on about 18-22% protein feed. 22% has been shown to give the best hatch rates. Aside from hatching, which I do... to me that says more nutrition in the eggs my family is consuming!

One resource I use... http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf

One thing regarding DP chickens and "broiler feed"... Many "layer feeds" use corn or marigold to give you yellower yolks. Where as some feeds like my flock raiser or other may be made with wheat, giving slightly less yellow yolks... I don't care about gimmicks. Places where they have white corn the yolks are actually white or platinum looking. I know my birds are eating good feed. And they have pasture access daily.

Hope this is helpful.

ETA: I skip scratch all together.

Thanks, it was very informative. I'm sure I'll have to come back and re-read to make sure I learn some more.