Can you continue to use a grower feed as an all flock feed?

[Quaen]

Many people use layer feed for flocks with roosters, myself included. It looks like your potential rooster turned out to not be a rooster, so you won't need to worry about this for now, but something to keep in mind for the future!

No need to immediately discount layer feed with a rooster. There seems to be a chance that some roosters on layer feed will have a shorter lifespan from excess calcium being hard on the kidneys, but honestly most roosters don't live out their full life span anyway. If predators don't get them then you've got humans turning them into dinner if they get aggressive or selling because they are starting to inbreed.

Layer feed is bad for roosters and cockerels long term. It harms their kidneys. Plus, some All flock does not hurt the entire flock as long as they have oyster shells. Grower/All flock feeds also tend to have higher protein. 18% is usually the minimum for chickens.

 

[AOrchard]

Layer feed is bad for roosters and cockerels long term.

Exactly my point - long term just isn't that relevant for most roosters (predation, behavior issues gets him in the stew pot, etc). Most roosters do not live out their full life span anyways, so long term considerations have less weight to me when making the decision. I choose the cheaper and easier layer feed.

 

[Ryguy3684]

I received 9 buff chicks in the mail that are now 21 weeks old. Some are beginning to lay. However, suspicions of a rooster in the flock have been confirmed by emergence of tiny spurs right now they are all on organic grower feed with oyster shell on the side and limited free ranging. Since I can’t switch to layer feed due to rooster, can I keep them all on grower long term? Or should I switch to an all flock feed? I have them on nature’s best organic currently, and they are thriving. Advice appreciated! Thanks!

Like others, I use an all flock feed, with oyster shell for the hens. They normally have more protein, which will help the girls when molting. Also, if you have more chicks, they can eat the feed, too.
As for the possible rooster, you're probably in the clear at 21 weeks. All my Buff Orpington roosters were very noticeable by 6-8 weeks. Post a pic if you're unsure. I've hatched around 30 Buff Orpingtons, and I've noticed the differences in the sexes is pretty drastic with that breed.

 

[Outer limit]

Like others, I use an all flock feed, with oyster shell for the hens. They normally have more protein, which will help the girls when molting. Also, if you have more chicks, they can eat the feed, too.
As for the possible rooster, you're probably in the clear at 21 weeks. All my Buff Orpington roosters were very noticeable by 6-8 weeks. Post a pic if you're unsure. I've hatched around 30 Buff Orpingtons, and I've noticed the differences in the sexes is pretty drastic with that breed.

Appreciate the info! Thank you!

 

[Outer limit]

Thank you so much for the info and insight!

 

[Outer limit]

I believe that they do, because I remember telling my feed store that I didn't want to pay the extra for Organic. A given store might not carry it if there isn't enough demand.

@Outer limit

View attachment 2813622

The pic really helps! Waiting on some poultry books to better educate myself

 

[Weeg]

I'd say it was my fault, not theirs. I just hadn't noticed.

I was in the process of buying another bag when I noticed that it was lacking the word "organic" on the label. I asked the owner of the business (small place that I like to give my business to) and she said that it had never been organic. I didn't 'fess up to being so dumb that I hadn't read the label...

In case anyone wants to know, the brand is Kalmbach. If they have organic grower, why not an all flock?

Ya, that brand is confusing.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Alright, It's 17 weeks, I have three Golden Coco Marans and 1 Penciled Plymouth Rock. Is it time to open up the nesting boxes and put the fake eggs in? I have the Oyster shells arriving Friday. I plan to keep them on starter/grower feed for now. First timer here.

 

[3KillerBs]

Alright, It's 17 weeks, I have three Golden Coco Marans and 1 Penciled Plymouth Rock. Is it time to open up the nesting boxes and put the fake eggs in? I have the Oyster shells arriving Friday. I plan to keep them on starter/grower feed for now. First timer here.

Yes, this would be a good time to let them have a look at the nestboxes and start to get the idea.

My POLs have been watching the adults in the nests for the past month.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As others have said, yes you can use Starter/Grower as "All Flock", and yes, the most important things on the bag is not the term on the label, but rather the guaranteed nutritional analysis (supplimented by the ingredients list if necessary) and the date of manufacture. The disadvantage is that (particularly for feed labeled "Starter") its usually sold in smaller bags at higher price/pound.

As to why its difficult to find an Organic All Flock? Because its very difficult to find organic sources high in Methionine. True in 2008, and sadly still true today.

It may be worse, in fact, because synthetic methionine can be commercially produced now at industrial scale and reasonable price, so there is less demand for natural sources to be organic certified. In fact, the "organic people" tried to find natural sources and couldn't, so sythetic methionine (it really is that important to growing chicks) was ALLOWED in Organic feed, though less is allowed now than had been, I believe. and these {explicatives} want it banned entirely, though it would result in significant reduction in poultry production, and ultimately, less protein on the table (plus, of course, price increases). Better people starve than eat something that ate something non-organic, in their view.