Confused about type of feed.

[PeckinChickens]

We've got a mix of hens/pullets.

• 3 are 5 years old and only lay once in a blue moon these days
• 4 are 2.5 years old and are still laying at a reasonable rate
• 4 are 16 weeks old and are not laying yet

Our oldest hen has a bad case of gout and has a difficult time walking. She's reason I'm asking. Are the older hens getting too much calcium?

We've been feeding the hens Purina Layena Pellets.
The pullets get Purina Medicated Start & Grow.

Should I still be feeding our grandmother hens the layer pellets? Is there a feed that I can provide for the entire flock once the pullets start to lay?

 

[cherrynberry]

We've got a mix of hens/pullets.

• 3 are 5 years old and only lay once in a blue moon these days
• 4 are 2.5 years old and are still laying at a reasonable rate
• 4 are 16 weeks old and are not laying yet

Our oldest hen has a bad case of gout and has a difficult time walking. She's reason I'm asking. Are the older hens getting too much calcium?

We've been feeding the hens Purina Layena Pellets.
The pullets get Purina Medicated Start & Grow.

Should I still be feeding our grandmother hens the layer pellets? Is there a feed that I can provide for the entire flock once the pullets start to lay?

All flock or chick grower is good. The entire flock can eat that, just make sure to provide oyster shells on the side, where they cannot get wet. The guideline is to feed chickens atleast 18% protein. I use Purina Flock raiser for my entire flock (rooster, cockerels, pullets, chicks, and hens)

 

[nuthatched]

Try feeding everyone all flock or flock raiser, with oyster shell on the side.
What breeds are your older hens? Most still lay at that age.

 

[PeckinChickens]

Our oldest are Golden Comets. One still lays fairy eggs once in a while. She was mauled by a dog when she was young and her laying has been off ever since. Our oldest with gout has not layed in a year or two. The third comet still lays one or two eggs per week.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would also feed all flock with oyster shell on the side.

 

[PeckinChickens]

I would also feed all flock with oyster shell on the side.

What about black soldier fly larvae? I've heard they've tons of calcium and my hens love them.

 

[cherrynberry]

What about black soldier fly larvae? I've heard they've tons of calcium and my hens love them.

Either way, black soldier fly larvae is a treat and should only take up up to 10% of their diet. If you do feed that, you still need oyster shells on the side.

 

[K0k0shka]

Chickens know best how much calcium they need at every stage of their lives. That's why it's best to let them regulate that themselves, by providing calcium on the side, not pre-mixed with the feed. I, too, feed flock raiser to everybody, with calcium on the side.