I'm confused as to what I will be needing to feed my chickens (will be getting them in April). Planning on getting 3 Golden Buff hens, 2 Light Bahma hens and one rooster (kept separate) don't like fertilized eggs when eating them. I've looked around and I just don't understand about the different types. Example: 16% Poultry Layer Crumbles versus 16% All Purpose Poultry Crumbles versus 16% Poultry Layer Pellets. What about Cleaned Cracked Corn, Poultry Grit, Oyster Shell, Poultry Fancy Scratch Grains, & Trip-L-Duty All Purpose Poultry Feed. These are my options to buy in my area and I really don't know what and when I need to be feeding them. I am reading as much as possible about them before they get here but nothing has told me what the differences are and which one is best for egg production.
First, there is no difference in taste or nutrition between fertilized or infertile eggs. It always amazes me folks don't want to eat fertile eggs. Not saying there is anything wrong with you, I just don't understand it. Crumbles are crumbled versions of pellets, regardless of the nutional make-up of the feed. If the protein content is the same, either one is good for adult birds. Some folks prefer pellets over crumbles because their chickens waste less feed. Mine hate pellets. Layer feed should only be fed to chickens already laying eggs, not at an arbitrary age like 18 weeks or older. Grit is for chickens eating foods other than commercial feed; it serves to grind up harder bits. Oyster shell is to supplement calcium, especially if - like me - you only feed grower/finisher feed to everybody over 8 weeks of age. I don't feed layer feed, so the chickens need the extra calcium, free choice, obtained through the crushed oyster shell. Cleaned cracked corn and chicken scratch are both treats, and should not be used as a main feed source. No more than 10% of what they're consuming, or it will upset the nutritional balance. Hope that helps!
I am NO expert since I have only had my chickens for about 10 months, I started out my chicks on the crumbles but now feed my flock 16% Layer Crumbles since they are laying eggs. Mostly the bag can tell you what you need to know. Layer Crumbles are for hens that lay All Poultry crumbles are for them all and the layer pellets are a personal preference. They are bigger and less messy from what I was told. The crumbles is just that, crumbles, easier to eat. As for the cracked corn, I give mine that twice a day to keep their body heat up but during the warmer weather I just give them some once a day. The grit is for helping them digest the food. Oyster shells are for the eggs they lay, helps the outer layer of the shell. Fancy scratch is I THINK a mixture of the cracked corn and the crumbles. I don't know what the triple L feed is. I go to the feed store and get a 50# bag of crumbles for my 28 chickens, I also give them some cracked corn a few times a day sprinkled on the ground so the scratch for it. I have been giving them cheap oatmeal sprinkled on the ground as a treat as well as old bread, and white potato skins in small chunks. It is up to you as to what you will give your chickens as a treat. Are they going to be free range or penned up. Mine are penned. Way to many predators around here and I don't want to loose any. Hope this helped but am sure someone else will have their own thoughts and they just might be better and more informative. Good Luck and welcome to chickens.
Yes both replies have helped me thank you very much. As for the fertilized eggs, cracking open an egg with what was a baby couple days old, once was enough for me. I had chickens when I was around 12 years old; I wasn't in full care of them and apparently the eggs didn't get collected daily, and got a baby egg once. I'm not taking the chance again thus the reason the rooster will be kept separate till breeding time. For the most part my hens will be penned but I have a huge backyard (largest in the neighborhood) and plan on letting them run the yard off and on. We have a regular visiting skunk and two raccoons that like our house. We also have lots of hawks too. So they will have to be watched closely.
Collect eggs daily then, right? Anyhoo, I feed mine the crumbles, I never asked for the pellets... my hens seem to like it. They are eating it and still alive. Thats good, right?
