OK this is going to be long.
First MG - not a wonderful feed in life or by design, but certainly can be used. I've used it before with no health issues other than some soft shells which were corrected by using oyster shell (which I always do now). So I often use this as a sort of minimum standard feed.
MG 16% LAYER FEED GRANULES
Complete Feed for Laying Chickens
GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
Crude Protein (Min) ........... 16.00%
Lysine (Min)......................... 0.65%
Methionine (Min) ..................0.35%
Crude Fat (Min).................... 2.50%
Crude Fiber (Max)................ 5.00%
Calcium (CA) (Min)................ 3.00%
Calcium (CA) (Max) .............. 4.00%
Phosphorus (P) (Min) ........... 0.65%
Salt (NaCl) (Min) ................... 0.25%
Salt (NaCl) (Max)................... 0.50%
INGREDIENT STATEMENT
Grain products, plant protein products, processed grain byproducts, dehydrated alfalfa meal, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, niacin supplement, salt, d-calcium pantothenate, choline chloride, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K activity), folic acid, manganous oxide, zinc oxide, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, cobalt carbonate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, sodium selenite, 1-lysine, dl-methionine, dried extracted streptomyces meal and fermentation solubles, dried extracted penicillium fermentation solubles.
Note that it states vitamin A clearly as it's one of the more important vitamins for bird health. I'm hoping maybe yours did, too, but that in typing it for us (thank you thank you thank you for all that hard work) it got left off. I'd make sure that you see "vitamin A supplement" on the feed tag or I would not feed it except as a supplement or without making sure there was some A given. (See below). In this feed, this is the minimum I'd ever want to see calcium. 4% and a roughly 4:1 cal/phos balance. (Again I had problems with shell condition on it).
--------------------- Purina SunFresh Layena 16%------------
Protein, not less than 16.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.55%
Methionine, not less than 0.25%
Fat, not less than 2.5%
Fiber, not more than 7.0%
Calcium, not less than 3.25%
Calcium, not more than 4.25%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.5%
Salt, not less than 0.3%
Salt, not more than 0.8%
Vitamin A 3,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E 10.5 IU/lb
They don't give the tag, but Purina is a stickler about letting you know that they're a complete feed - so they give the VitA amount on the analysis. Note on this one the Phos is lower, the calcium percentages are higher and it comes out about 7:1 - 8:1 roughly. Standard is about 6:1 for a good laying choice. The vitamin D in this will be fortified higher to meet the higher calcium levels though it doesn't list it on the label.
-------------------Purina Flock Raiser 20% - a/p to laying feed ---------
Protein, not less than 20.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.95%
Methionine, not less than 0.35%
Fat, not less than 3.5%
Fiber, not more than 5.0%
Calcium, not less than 0.8%
Calcium, not more than 1.3%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.7%
Salt, not less than 0.35%
Salt, not more than 0.85%
Vitamin A 7,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E 14 IU/lb
In this feed, phos levels are higher again. Calcium levels are way lower indicating it's not a laying feed. They're under 1%. The ratio is the normal 2:1 cal/phos ratio required for most animals and non-laying birds.
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On the a/p feed, the calcium is lower than what is normally even a low standard for a laying feed. 3% with a ratio of 6:1 - which is odd. Because they don't provide much calcium. They provide it in a decent cal/phos ratio for layers - but that's pretty high for growers, except that the levels are so low. It's mixed up. It's like they aren't doing either really.
Purina's start and grow's calcium is this:
Calcium, not less than 0.75%
Calcium, not more than 1.25%
So the a/p is much higher than a growing feed - much more high than I would think is normally given. Too much calcium in young birds isn't really a great idea - which is why you don't feed them laying feed and just have it all done from the start. But this isn't quite the usual laying feed calcium. They're giving nearly twice the levels of calcium than a normal start/grow. But almost half the levels of a layer.
And then there's the methionine - maybe a mistype, but definitely very high - possibly 0.32 which is about like the 0.35 or 0.4 of layer and broiler feeds - intended for either the amino acids for egg production or for growth. Their flyer keeps talking about "high energy", which usually I'd think that it would be protein that builds the egg. Odd choice of words as proteins aren't usually the energy - the fats and carbs are more of the 'high energy'.
"16% All Purpose Poultry crumbles provide high energy for maximum egg production. Poultry crumbles are flexible for use as grower and developer with chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, and gamebirds, from 6 weeks through laying.
"16% Laying pellets or crumbles provide high energy ration for high egg production. Highly palatable to encourage maximum consumption." <-- their description on a flyer.
On the flyer they only show the All Purpose bag, but the wording above indicates maybe there's a layer (perhaps with a better higher calcium). So maybe they do this so you can feed everyone in one yard without hens missing too much calcium?
Their protein is in line with the standard proteins for layers 16-18% but lower than the standard for growing (18-20%), way lower than starter (20-22%), and much lower than game birds (20+%).
Since they're promising it's ok, you could try it. I would never ever be without oyster shell for adults, and I'd probably give cod liver oil sprayed on the feed twice weekly to provide vitamin A and D for adults. Only adults. I'd watch carefully for any signs of hypercalcemia (overage in calcium) for young birds. There are some studies that show in fast growing chicks a diet in over 1.5% calcium can indeed cause hypercalcemia (while it didn't as much in slow growing chicks). And of course since calcium never stands on its own, but always in relationship with vitamin D and phosphorus, if you use too much calcium for chicks then it messes with the levels of the other nutrients and their availability for bodily function and growth.
It might just be one of those "try it and see" feeds, but I'm betting it's lower protein levels won't make you as happy as a higher protein feed for babies. Just a hunch.
Very interesting feed though! I noticed there were no other options other than medicated start/grow, and scratch. I suppose this is their answer to the Purina "Flock Raiser" as it's not medicated - but the calcium levels still make me raise an eyebrow for layers. On the same page, they sell oyster shell.
So they have that right.
I'm going to email them and ask their suggestions on the feed because I absolutely LOVE different feeds and manufacturer philosophy and how they justify and explain their choices. Thank you again so very much for going out of your way to type out all that tag information! You're awesome. I wish I could say something more clear about the feed - it's just a strange mix. I'm very interested to know how you find it if you do decide to use it.
By the way how are the birds today? Any changes?
