Can adults eat grower feed?

[Mosey2003]

The Golden Comets I would blame simply the breed for the large eggs, rather than the protein. I feed 21% protein to my Barred Rocks and never get over a very Large egg from them. Typically a small Large.

 

[GC-Raptor]

The Golden Comets I would blame simply the breed for the large eggs, rather than the protein. I feed 21% protein to my Barred Rocks and never get over a very Large egg from them. Typically a small Large.

Agree. 18% is not high Protein in my Opinion. Just enough for a Duel Purpose chicken. GC

 

[Susan Dye]

I feed a certain amount of feed per day, and I don't really want to mess with adding a certain amount of oyster shell to it daily. So I feed my feed and I leave a container of shells out. Simple. I actually got a couple cute baby pig feeders free from a friend that work quite nicely for them.

Thanks. I was also wondering what kind of dish people used since any dish I put out gets walked in and kicked/scratched over.Plus, I've never actually seen them eat any of the oc I put out.

 

[NoFlyBackFarm]

Mine eat grower, pellet and ground feed. I raise babies on regular feed sometimes. I have two free ranging with their mom and they eat regular. It depends on your preference.

 

[Susan Dye]

The general recommendation is to NOT put it in their regular feed ration. If they have to go to a separate container to get their OS, it is more of a deliberate choice than if it is simply dumped into their regular feed.

Is this an old wives tale? Are we doing it this way b/c this is what some one said we should do? Have there been any studies done to see how much Ca++ a hen will ingest if the OS is put into her feed vs. fed separately? Further, any studies done to compare egg shell quality with hens on:

16% feed w/o extra calcium but OS provided free choice

vs.

16% feed w/o extra calcium but OS added to their feed

vs.
16% layer feed with Ca++ at 3.5 - 4.5%, no extra OS provided

Great questions. I sometimes feel like most of the feed recommendations are based on what the mfgs want us to believe. Kind of like the claims they make about dog food.

 

[Mosey2003]

Thanks. I was also wondering what kind of dish people used since any dish I put out gets walked in and kicked/scratched over.Plus, I've never actually seen them eat any of the oc I put out.

Before I got the pig feeders, I used square no-tip dog bowls with a brick on top, towards the back, as they love to dig in it and turn it over.

This is what I have now, it has two holes in the back so you could mount it on screws too, if you wanted:
https://www.ruralking.com/2-hole-cr...MI9duZ-vrY3AIVkrXACh1IbApxEAQYBSABEgLwVfD_BwE

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Great questions. I sometimes feel like most of the feed recommendations are based on what the mfgs want us to believe. Kind of like the claims they make about dog food.

That's how I feel. I don't know what's true and what's been claimed by the feed manufacturers to make us "need" their products.

 

[Mosey2003]

Great questions. I sometimes feel like most of the feed recommendations are based on what the mfgs want us to believe. Kind of like the claims they make about dog food.

My feeling is that most commercial feeds we get are the same as what the big commercial operations use, just bagged smaller. It costs more to formulate separate feeds. Which is why most Layer rations are 16% protein - that's the amount necessary for a flock of Leghorns to keep laying well. Which, in my opinion, isn't sufficient for most large fowl dual purpose, and why I feed higher.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

This is one of the reasons why I'll not keep production hybrids. Sometimes too much of a good thing is not a good thing. IMO, this pertains to excess protein in the diet, as well as birds who are bred to lay a huge egg, while possessing a small frame, and being thrifty with their feed conversion.

Exactly. I think people are overdoing it with excessively high protein diets.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I've never actually seen them eat any of the oc I put out.

When I was feeding a 18% Layers feed, I had Oyster Shells in a separate container. I didn't mix it with Scratch or toss on the ground. I used to buy the 5# bag and I marked the date I opened it.
A 5# bag lasted 11 months for 5 hens. According to my trusty calculator and knowing that there is 454 grams in a pound and 334 days in 11 months.
My calculator says each of my hens consumed 1.36 grams of Oyster Shells a day on average.
Of course now I'm feeding a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower and I'm adding some Oyster Shells to my mixed bird seed that I toss out for the chickens, as well as offering it separately. I expect to go through a lot more. I bought a 50# bag for $8.99. GC