chicken feed confusion!!!!! need answers!!!

[NYREDS]

I feed a 22% ame Bird Grower Crumble from the day they hatch untill the day they die. The birds grow well, feather well & lay well on this system. It completely avoids the whole question of what do I feed now. I hatch several times a year so I often have birds in different stages of development. Juggling 3 differen feeds was a pain & one day I went to visit one of the top Black Rosecomb breeders in the country. He had about @00 of the most beautiful Rosecombs I had ever seen. When I asked him what he fed the system I use now is what he told me.
If I'm away for the weekend showing or judging my wife really appreciates this system. She doesn't have to take notes on who gets what-there's only one feed.
I have been feeding this way for about 4 years now & would never go back to multiple feeds.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

I have never heard of Bird Grower Crumble. I will call the feed store in the morning to see if it is sold here. Sound easy enough!! DJ

 

[scooby]

ok so i am a little more confused now then i was before i posted.....
I have four 12 week pullets right now.... and they do have a run but i dont let them free range.so should i just keep them on the chick feed till they lay then switch to layer mash, i am not sure if my feed store carrys "grower" or "flock raiser"... all i ever see there is chick start,layer and game bird, scratch and corn.. so would it be safe to just keep them on the chick feed through winter??? and the higher protein is better for winter right?

 

[the1much]

yes the higher protein is better, and at 3 months old, they are plenty ready for "big bird" food,,if the "game" food is conditioner, that is perfect for them, if its maintenance then you should mix that and starter together for a couple weeks, then just the maint.
and i wouldnt let them free range until their on adult food.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Thank you for weighing in on this issue. I do think we overthink things. My last group that was integrated into the main flock got layer feed earlier than is preferred because I had too many age groups and no place to store all those different bags. I started feeding my Blue Orp breeders a game bird breeder crumble when they were having molt issues and their eggs were not hatching as well for me here at home. It helped alot! At the moment, I have everyone back on layer crumble only because I cant afford to feed my size flock with the game bird feeds all the time. They cost about $4-5 more a bag here. When you go through six or seven bags of feed a month, it adds up. The co-op carries a 16% layer and a 22% layer, which is more expensive, but I have used it when I thought they needed the extra protein punch. In winter, I am wondering if they need higher or lower protein, yet, there again, here I go overanalyzing it, LOL. My co-op only carries medicated game bird feed and cant get unmedicated (I tried and they kept sending the wrong bag, then said they just cant get UNmedicated

), so I'd have to go to the more expensive Purina or Southern States to get game bird feed of any kind.

 

[BJ]

Can you please share the brand of gamebird feed? Is it Purina? Can I get it at Tractor Supply?

Is the gamebird feed also appropriate for layers?

 

[speckledhen]

Mine was Purina Game Bird Breeder Crumble with 20% protein. Southern States has a Super Breeder Crumble at 21% protein. NYReds uses grower at a slightly higher protein content, but I have a hard time finding grower. Well, it's impossible.

 

[pips&peeps]

I would love to feed my birds strictly Purina Game Bird Breeder too, but it is around $18.00 a bag and I go through 3-4 bags of food a week.

 

[the1much]

the food i get ( other then the scratch) is close to 20 bucks a bag,, i go through 6-9 bags a week,,,, man my birds eat better then i do

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

Quote:
Be careful or you are going to scare people! You forgot to mention that you have like a zillion birds.
I averaged it out and found that I am spending $1.16/bird/month and getting 27 to 32 doz eggs in return. How can this be bad?
I know it's not scientific, but everyone gets layer if they're not in a brooder and starter if they are. Beyond that they get to pick through the yard for whatever they can find or are lucky enough to have tossed over the fence by neighbors or egg seekers.