Changing over feed

[Rhode Island Ken]

Hi all, any inputs on changing over from chick starter/ grower to laying food? I have 12 hens and 2 roosters on the starter and got my first egg yesterday!!! Should I wait till more start laying? Or make the switch now? Can the roosters eat the laying feed as well? I put oyster shell out for them already

 

[RUNuts]

Laying food not required, but really won't hurt the rooster. Just feed all flock with oyster shell on the side. It'll be fine.

I just put it in the feeder and we didn't have any problems when I switched from Purina to MG.

Cheers!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

As long as there is oyster shell available they will be fine on their current feed.

Yes your boys can eat layer, but I don't feed it to mine as I have read studies showing that extra calcium fed long term to non laying birds such as chicks, roosters, or molting hens *can* (doesn't mean will) suffer from gout or even kidney failure. For that reason, in addition to hatching and having chicks in my flock most of the time.. I use a flock raiser which is 20% protein and 1% calcium with OS on the side for layers. Yes, sometimes I see a chick or boy picking at the calcium but they can mostly avoid it verses being mixed in the feed.

Also, 16% protein in layer is the bare minimum needed to sustain a light bodied layer like a Leghorn. But heavier breeds like Barred Rock do better on more protein. It's the amino acids really. I also read studies showing better hatch rates and chick viability when hens given more protein, which to me says better nutrition for my family. Also, many people who show their birds know that feathers are made of 90% protein and so feed higher protein because they get better, fuller, shinier feathers. My only point is if you choose to feed layer, make sure not to diminish your protein with treats like corn and such.

Since you do have the oyster shell out already, note that sometimes a soft shelled egg happens as a standard hiccup and does not mean your girls are lacking calcium.

Oh, and congrats on your first egg!

 

[lazy gardener]

Hey Ken! Since you already have OS available, just finish out your current bag of feed, what ever that happens to be, then make the switch if you want to. I keep my whole flock on Layer unless I have youngsters. My rooster(s) are still in peak of condition at almost 4 years of age, and I expect he'd live an other 4 years or more on his current diet if not for my need to replace him due to breeding needs. Do your homework and make your own decision re: layer vs. MF, high protein vs. 16%. Folks speak out often about the calcium in layer feed causing gout and renal failure, and advocate putting their birds on a higher protein feed. However, not much is said about high protein feed also playing a role in gout.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

It's true if you put your chickens on a 30% protein feed they may also experience a different type of gout and the same end fate...

But I have met people who's birds including roosters and chicks and heavy breed large fowl that were always fed layer, living past 8 years and still productive. It's just not my choice and I gave MY reasons why. Not upsetting the balance too much is key. What I do also isn't what I think of as a perfect solution, just a happy medium. And since I learn something new everyday, who knows when I might decide to change it up or try something different!

Indeed, do what feels the most comfortable for you.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

Curious about gout, calcium, protein, etc---I went looking.
Found this interesting (to me, anyway) article and thought some here might find it interesting too.
(Yes, I am a science nerd)

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/3509/gout-management-in-poultry/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yes, it was interesting. I'm a science nerd as well.

 

[sourland]

If and when you change feed do it in steps gradually increasing the % of the new feed until they are 100 % on the new. Birds generally hate change and are sometimes reluctant to eat new feed.

 

[jvls1942]

I start my chicks off with a 50/50 blend of corn and oats, ground very fine.
I keep the meaties on the same ration until we butcher them,
the layers also eat this blend and I have good egg production. I don't give any extra oyster shells. all of my chickens are free ranging on a few acres ..
If your chickens are laying on starter, why change ?
too much protein can cause cattle to lose their hair. I imagine something similar could happen to chickens..
I don't worry about kidney failure in the roosters and young chickens. the young chickens are young for only a short time.
I do not keep any hens beyond two laying cycles. especially the production reds and blacks..

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I start my chicks off with a 50/50 blend of corn and oats, ground very fine.
I keep the meaties on the same ration until we butcher them,
the layers also eat this blend and I have good egg production. I don't give any extra oyster shells. all of my chickens are free ranging on a few acres ..
If your chickens are laying on starter, why change ?
too much protein can cause cattle to lose their hair. I imagine something similar could happen to chickens..
I don't worry about kidney failure in the roosters and young chickens. the young chickens are young for only a short time.
I do not keep any hens beyond two laying cycles. especially the production reds and blacks..

Wow, just oats and corn?! You must have some very good forage available AND not overcrowd your land. I wonder how much better your production would be if you provided actual good nutrients for them? Why grind it very fine? Isn't that whet their crop does?

Anyways, I guess it's working for you! I personally would never give that low quality of nutrients to my flock. But we all have different goals. How many chicks of your own do you hatch? You may not know the long term effects since you butcher young. The amount of calcium in layer is only 4% of the total diet and a hen will use her own body's calcium to produce eggs before laying softees. That's why very often softees are just a hiccup of new layers or those entering and exiting molt. But it's true that most bugs and plants contain calcium and protein to some degree.

Wish I had the kind of brain that would allow me to KNOW the things and NOT worry or care about it.

Anyways, thanks for sharing. It's fun to see what others do.