Can someone confirm this is normal?

[z3lda3]

Cuteness...

**Requires more details.

@wrathsfarm well you see when a hen and rooster love each other, they want to express that love..

 

[z3lda3]

@wrathsfarm well you see when a hen and rooster love each other, they want to express that love..

We had the tail end of a hurricane blow through here, and a neighbor lost power (well we all did), and was incubating eggs. I have a generator so here we are. In exchange for my electricity I got to name them! I have no idea what breed they are but aren’t they cute?!

 

[NatJ]

Wait, I thought layers needed extra calcium and chicks needed medicated and the boys needed extra protein. Are you telling me there’s an all flock feed???

Yes, there is an all flock feed. And a flock raiser feed (same thing, different manufacturer, different name.) And unmedicated chick starter. They can all be used the same way.

Layers do need extra calcium. Provide a dish of oyster shell free-choice, and they will eat that for their extra calcium. Males and young chicks will mostly ignore it, although they may have a bite here and there (not harmful.)

Many people raise chicks without medicated feed and they do just fine. If the chicks do get coccidiosis, put Corid (amprolium) in their water to treat it (directions should be on the package.) If you want the low-dose amprolium that would normally be in chick starter, the Corid package has directions for that too: it still goes in the water, just a lower dose, for the same length of time that you would otherwise have used medicated feed.

I cannot see any reason for males to need extra protein after they are done growing. They are certainly not laying an egg every day! But if you get an all flock feed, it will already have protein higher than a typical "layer" feed, so that covers it anyway.

 

[z3lda3]

Yes, there is an all flock feed. And a flock raiser feed (same thing, different manufacturer, different name.) And unmedicated chick starter. They can all be used the same way.

Layers do need extra calcium. Provide a dish of oyster shell free-choice, and they will eat that for their extra calcium. Males and young chicks will mostly ignore it, although they may have a bite here and there (not harmful.)

Many people raise chicks without medicated feed and they do just fine. If the chicks do get coccidiosis, put Corid (amprolium) in their water to treat it (directions should be on the package.) If you want the low-dose amprolium that would normally be in chick starter, the Corid package has directions for that too: it still goes in the water, just a lower dose, for the same length of time that you would otherwise have used medicated feed.

I cannot see any reason for males to need extra protein after they are done growing. They are certainly not laying an egg every day! But if you get an all flock feed, it will already have protein higher than a typical "layer" feed, so that covers it anyway.

Oh wow thank you! Do you know how convenient it would be to have one type of feed?! All the 25lb bags of feed taking up so much space..

 

[wrathsfarm]

NatJ provided a much better detailed answer than I could give.

I would've just posted something corny like, just go buy it...

 

[z3lda3]

NatJ provided a much better detailed answer than I could give.

I would've just posted something corny like, just go buy it...

View attachment 3914998

It’s like at the end of the day and I’m tired. My kids will ask the weirdest questions why this and why that. (Why don’t chickens have teeth) By nighttime my answer is Because reasons.

 

[RoyalChick]

Wait, I thought layers needed extra calcium and chicks needed medicated and the boys needed extra protein. Are you telling me there’s an all flock feed???

Many of us use some version of all flock feed and give them oyster shell on the side so they can supplement their own calcium at will.
So much easier than lots of different bags.
I use a 20% protein all flock.

 

[z3lda3]

Many of us use some version of all flock feed and give them oyster shell on the side so they can supplement their own calcium at will.
So much easier than lots of different bags.
I use a 20% protein all flock.

This is great news let me tell ya!
only one bag of feed..wow. Definitely getting on the all flock feed party. My girls have the oyster shell in a small feeder/bowl. They’ll peck at it a little but it’s not like they’re eating it like food. I hope a little is all they need through the day.

 

[wrathsfarm]

This is great news let me tell ya!
only one bag of feed..wow. Definitely getting on the all flock feed party. My girls have the oyster shell in a small feeder/bowl. They’ll peck at it a little but it’s not like they’re eating it like food. I hope a little is all they need through the day.

Yes, they regulate the calcium as needed. The calcium in layer feed is predetermined in the mix giving other birds too much that don't need it to produce eggs.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

This is great news let me tell ya!
only one bag of feed..wow. Definitely getting on the all flock feed party. My girls have the oyster shell in a small feeder/bowl. They’ll peck at it a little but it’s not like they’re eating it like food. I hope a little is all they need through the day.

I feed an all flock ration here to chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese. I have a lot of birds and generally buy one or two 50 pound bags a year of oyster shells. I do feed chick starter as necessary, but have never used medicated because often hens have access to it. It is nice to mostly use one type of feed for everyone.