Countryside Organics Feed--- drop in egg production?

[shamrockmommy]

Granted, I only have 3 laying hens at the moment, so naturally not a ton of eggs daily, usually 3 (and amazingly sometimes 4!) per day.

I was very excited to switch from Purina Layena to Countryside Organics layer feed. I like the idea that it has fish meal in it, and also that it is not GMO garbage.

However, they now lay later in the day and generally I get 2 eggs per day. They spend a LOT of time foraging in a large moveable pasture. Is this just an adjustment to the feed/foraging? Their feathers have brightened and they are soft as silk.

What do you think?
Thanks!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

It may be they are eating less of the feed during their adjustment to it. It also could be they are simply getting out of their pullet stage of incredible laying which happened to coincide with the feed change.

Organic aside the feed you changed to is higher in protein so would actually aid in laying. Purina is 16% and Countryside is 17%. This late winter I upped the protein for my birds to try and kick start egg production again (didn't use added lighting). From 16% Agway layer to Agway's Heart Healthy (something like that) 18% soy free made a big difference in a weeks time of changing. But then the days were getting longer and warmer too.

 

[shamrockmommy]

The eggs from them eating C.O. are AMAZING. Beautiful, thick orange yolk, and the white in the pan stays in an oval shape and doesn't leak out. They taste delicious.

I think they are about 7 months old at this point. It makes sense that they would slow down as they age- I'm a total newb, much to learn
Thanks!

 

[GreenMountainEric]

The CO feed is soy-free, and also has a lot of field peas in it. Although the crude protein is higher, the crucial amino acids are much lower. Your chickens will be looking for those amino acids elsewhere, and will not produce as well. Crude protein being higher, does not mean that they will be getting the "types" of protein that they need for high production. The fishmeal certainly helps in a formulation like that, but it will not make up for lack of amino acid balance in a formulation that is mostly field peas. This type of formulation will also be much lower in energy.

There are a few different ways to manufacture a soy-free organic layer feed, but none of them will produce as well as a soy based feed. They will still produce in the 50-70% range though.....(Instead of 80-95%)

 

[shamrockmommy]

Hmm. well there's some food for thought!

I have looked and looked for a decent feed aroundhere, and it's either Purina, Dumor, Southern States and there is one co-op feed mill that has its own, but with similar looking ingredients to the aforementioned.
I would love the feed to at least have some animal protein in it, but can't seem to find anything near me with that either! ugh.

My chicks in the brooder are on Purina chick starter (medicated) with Farmer's helper, which has fish meal and they are looking fine. Perhaps I need to do something like that instead.

 

[GreenMountainEric]

Well, there is nothing really wrong with feeding the CO product. It's just that feeding soy-free will produce a little less.... "Nature of the beast" sort of thing.

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I have been feeding a soy-free feed for awhile now and have not had this experience. I still get an egg a day most days from each bird.

I am interested in reading about the amino acid differences you mention. Can you link your sources? Where did the only 50%-70% numbers come from?

I am always interested in reading more about chicken nutrition. From my understanding fish meal is a considered a good protein source for chickens because it IS high in amino acids and is also easy for chickens to digest.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_meal#Nutrient_composition

From what I have read about soy it does seem to have a good amino acid profile but is not nearly as digestible for birds, especially when cooked which I believe is how it must be in feed otherwise it basically toxic. I would love to get more info.

 

[shamrockmommy]

The feed is very appealing to me, as I will react to feedlot meat (I have an autoimmune arthritis) which is fed who knows what junk. Grass fed beef/pork and organic chicken I do not react to. I would ideally like the eggs I eat to be of great quality. Essentially, you are what you eat eats! I also have 3 families interested in eggs from soy free organically fed hens...

I checked for more eggs this afternoon, caught two girls in the nest boxes so maybe they are just delayed. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[shamrockmommy]

Total of three eggs yesterday from my 3 girls, just later in the day. We'll see how today goes!

 

[nipper75]

I've been using CO for 2 years now and have wonderful eggs from helthy, beautiful hens... The price and shipping is high but a bag will last me a couple of months.