Can I ?......

[EuroChook]

Is it ok to give* hens *chick feed along with oyster shells ?

Sorry, I read "chick" and went nutso on the chick thing.

 

[EuroChook]

sorry for confusion my hens are melting trying to give them more protein.

If they melt, their need for protein will be very minimal.

 

[EuroChook]

Would it be normal/ok to feed chickens chick feed along with oyster shells ?

If adult birds, then they will need more nutrients than a chick feed can provide.

 

[EuroChook]

Good protein sources for mature birds--then you will want to source a good adult chicken feed. Will they be laying? Or...? If laying, then you will be looking for a top quality "layer feed."

Even then, basic sources of protein for adult hens include things like even eggs, (yep, you can feed that right back to them). They are rather omnivorous, and so will eat a wide variety of things. Not so much fish things, they usually reject, but also the high content of iodine makes them ill.

Worms, "mealworms"... Crickets ... Depends what you can get your hands on.

9g of protein daily is a good ball park figure for laying hens. Many people make sure the feed supplies around 1.8g daily and then they leave additional oyster shell or egg shell (yes again--can feed it right back to them) for them to self-serve on.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Maybe all flock/Flockraiser type feed would be better. Although plenty of people do feed starter/grower for life. Either way, you need additional oyster shell.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Chick feed is pretty much the same as a Flock Raiser/All Flock feed. Adult birds can be on it their entire life really. Of course supplemented with oyster shells on the side for extra calcium.

 

[NatJ]

Is it ok to give* hens *chick feed along with oyster shells ?

Yes. Chick starter is just fine for all chickens of all ages, whether they are male or female.

Yes, the oyster shells are needed to provide calcium for laying hens. Having a separate dish of free-choice oyster shell is good because most chickens will eat the correct amount for their own needs and not overdo it. (So there is no need to keep roosters or young chicks away from the oyster shells, because they usually ignore them anyway.)

If adult birds, then they will need more nutrients than a chick feed can provide.

What nutrients?

In the USA where I live, chick starter usually has more of every nutrient than layer feed, with the single exception of calcium. Layer feed has more calcium (which is the reason for providing oyster shell: so the hens can get their calcium.)

But no matter where you live, read the bag to check. There is always going to be one exception that causes trouble for someone.

Good protein sources for mature birds--then you will want to source a good adult chicken feed. Will they be laying? Or...? If laying, then you will be looking for a top quality "layer feed."

Even then, basic sources of protein for adult hens include things like even eggs, (yep, you can feed that right back to them). They are rather omnivorous, and so will eat a wide variety of things. Not so much fish things, they usually reject, but also the high content of iodine makes them ill.

Worms, "mealworms"... Crickets ... Depends what you can get your hands on.

If you are worried about protein: again, read the bag. Where I live a "layer" feed will have about 15% to 16% protein, while a chick starter has about 18% to 20% protein. So the chick starter is fine.

Many chickens are happy to eat fish (although I have read a few anecdotes of fishy-flavored eggs. It appears that how much fish, and what kind of fish, might be important, because there are plenty of stories of hens that eat fish without having their eggs taste fishy.)

9g of protein daily is a good ball park figure for laying hens. Many people make sure the feed supplies around 1.8g daily and then they leave additional oyster shell or egg shell (yes again--can feed it right back to them) for them to self-serve on.

Did you miss a few words or sentences there? If chickens need 9g of protein daily, a feed that provides 1.8g is WAY too low, and providing oyster shell & eggshell will not do anything for the protein content. Oyster shell and eggshells are sources of calcium.

I think you got protein (9 g per day?) mixed up with calcium (1.8 g daily in the feed is probably fine, with oyster shell and eggshell being free-choice sources of additional calcium.)

 

[SueT]

I give all hens, chicks, and roosters, the same feed—a 20% protein all flock feed. From day one. Everyone. Most feed companies offer an all flock feed.
I have used Purina Flock Raiser, and my chickens also like Kalmbach 20% Flock Maker.

 

[Yah]

Kalmbach

they have lied on this their entire life . But it was only like 17% protein.

 

[Yah]

they have *lived* on this