Chicken feed

[RoosterML]

Where do you find that? I've never seen it at tractor supply it my feed store.

TSC has a couples kinds,
Nutrena All Flock which is what I use because I like the pellet feed versus crumbles.
Purena Flock Raiser which is a crumble to me is no different than a regular grower feed hence the “raiser”

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

TSC has a couples kinds,
Nutrena All Flock which is what I use because I like the pellet feed versus crumbles.
Purena Flock Raiser which is a crumble to me is no different than a regular grower feed hence the “raiser”

Btw, flock raiser comes in both forms....different retailers opt to carry different things in one or the other(or both

 

[writergirl]

I supposed and additional question now that I think about it, dose anyone mix their own chicken feed?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I supposed and additional question now that I think about it, dose anyone mix their own chicken feed?

No, I don't. It isn't worth it.
Many people do but to provide the same nutrition in a bag of feed, it would be much more expensive. Even if you did have the ability to assay the nutrients in the primary ingredients and then determine and have access to all the supplement needed, It is the economy of scale. While we may buy ingredients in 50# bags, mills are buying by the trainload. We may buy vitamins, minerals and amino acids by the pound, they are buying by the ton.
Feed from the mill companies have all the nutrients chickens are known to need in each bite. We just can't do that for 10 times the cost.
I worked at a facility in Costa Rica with about 400 Scarlet and Great Green Macaws. We couldn't afford pelleted feed but that would have been the best choice. We had to go to the produce market and buy all the fruits and vegetables that were discounted because they were close to going bad. Several volunteers spent hours each day to chop up all the ingredients and the staff biologist would mix in a nutrient blend to 'hopefully' get it to where it needed to be.

 

[Mosey2003]

It's really not that complicated, but you're coming at it backwards. Don't feed the chicks layer feed, feed the layers (and everyone else) chick feed. Or grower. Or All Flock. Simple. Just put out a container of oyster shell too and you're done.

 

[writergirl]

It's really not that complicated, but you're coming at it backwards. Don't feed the chicks layer feed, feed the layers (and everyone else) chick feed. Or grower. Or All Flock. Simple. Just put out a container of oyster shell too and you're done.

Thanks! After looking at everyone's response I was starting to see that! Layer feed is just cheaper than the chick/grower feed, but not by much. I have a whiwh bucket of oyster shells my girls never eat. With 19 laying hens and 10 babies in a brooder my brain want actually working lol. Thanks

 

[RoosterML]

Btw, flock raiser comes in both forms....different retailers opt to carry different things in one or the other(or both

I just learned of the pellet by flock raiser today while down at TSC. I always just saw the crumbles so figured that was it . She said they stack them together so I never started to lift a bag to see under the other.

 

[Beer can]

Thanks! After looking at everyone's response I was starting to see that! Layer feed is just cheaper than the chick/grower feed, but not by much. I have a whiwh bucket of oyster shells my girls never eat. With 19 laying hens and 10 babies in a brooder my brain want actually working lol. Thanks

If your looking to save $ see if you have a mill anywhere nearby you can pick it up direct. I get 50# bags of mash at out local mill for $10. Some of that savings comes from it not being pellitized I imagine.

 

[Mosey2003]

If your looking to save $ see if you have a mill anywhere nearby you can pick it up direct. I get 50# bags of mash at out local mill for $10. Some of that savings comes from it not being pellitized I imagine.

I don't know if all mills are the same, but I know that the bigger ones actually make the pellets first and then grind them for mash.

 

[writergirl]

That's a great idea. I don't have anything local but maybe in southern Oregon I can find something (Medford or Ashland).