Can someone confirm this is normal?

[wrathsfarm]

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.

I do this same for my chickens and ducks. I feed chick starter for the broodys and chicks when they're in their own space but when they start mingling with the flocks usually by 3 or 4 days old in the coops, runs and free ranging that's an All Flock feed.

 

[z3lda3]

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.

I promise y’all I’m usually not so dense. I’ve seen all flock feed but I thought it was for different fowl, chickens ducks, turkey and quail. If you had a species mixed flock you’d use all flock. I’m so happy about this! And my husband will be ecstatic! No more lugging around 75 lbs of feed and taking up space. And he was asking me how are we supposed to put feed in the yard with all the chickens out there? See this makes so much sense!

 

[z3lda3]

I do this same for my chickens and ducks. I feed chick starter for the broodys and chicks when they're in their own space but when they start mingling with the flocks usually by 3 or 4 days old in the coops, runs and free ranging that's an All Flock feed.

I do this same for my chickens and ducks. I feed chick starter for the broodys and chicks when they're in their own space but when they start mingling with the flocks usually by 3 or 4 days old in the coops, runs and free ranging that's an All Flock feed.

@wrathsfarm I didn’t know you have ducks? Oooo ducklings???

 

[wrathsfarm]

@wrathsfarm I didn’t know you have ducks? Oooo ducklings???

Only 2 and both females.

 

[z3lda3]

Only 2 and both females.
View attachment 3915171View attachment 3915168

Ohhh they’re gorgeous! I would grab a chair and sit and watch them all day! I’d get nothing done. Are they loud? I mean louder than chickens and roosters don’t count.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Ohhh they’re gorgeous! I would grab a chair and sit and watch them all day! I’d get nothing done. Are they loud? I mean louder than chickens and roosters don’t count.

Mine aren't at all, they of course have their own language and talk back to us and will sound of to danger with annoying quacking when a duck killing leaf blows by.
Everything is a duck killer with 'The Sissy's'...named them cuz their scared of everything and connected at the hip like twins.

 

[NatJ]

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.

Layer feed has about as much calcium as they need, already mixed in. So if they are eating layer feed, they will not need much oyster shell.

If they eat all flock feed or chick starter, they will need to eat a bit more oyster shell, maybe two or three times as much as they have been eating. They usually eat the right amount, so you don't really have to think about it, but you may notice yourself refilling the bowl more frequently than you were in the past.

 

[z3lda3]

Layer feed has about as much calcium as they need, already mixed in. So if they are eating layer feed, they will not need much oyster shell.

If they eat all flock feed or chick starter, they will need to eat a bit more oyster shell, maybe two or three times as much as they have been eating. They usually eat the right amount, so you don't really have to think about it, but you may notice yourself refilling the bowl more frequently than you were in the past.

Thanks..again! You’re just full of great information!

 

[Mrs. K]

I always use chick starter when I have chicks in the flock. And oyster shell on the side. After about a week or so, they start going through the oyster shell, so as Nat says - keep an eye on it.

 

[CookieB]

Hi, I’ve got 4 RSLs about 20 weeks ish. Two have been laying consistently for 2-3 weeks. My third was walking up the coop steps, and laid (her first egg)a shelless egg. It happened so fast and I was straightening up and not paying close attention to her. She cackled and I looked and there was a splattered egg. No shell to be seen anywhere. I’ve been reading around and read it shelless eggs can happen to first layers. How do I know the didn’t crack inside of her? What should I do? I don’t know if it matters but they’re all eating layer feed and oyster shells. And every few days eggs with the shell.

The eggs don't have shells when they come out. The shells harden as the chicken sits on them. First eggs are sometimes odd.