Do they need crumbles daily?

[ChrisisaGirl]

I amhappy and surprised you remembered Azy, they matured and moved out 3 years ago

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

they're 4 and 8 around there and we have 4 months old babies

How old are your chicks? Chick crumbles is a complete feed, they definitely do better if they have access to it daily.

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

Way back when I got my very own silverlaces, they were so little and it was cold, like november they bunked in with me in my room. and then when they got big enough they joined the flocl. they had their own pen in my room and would join me on my bed occasionally and we'd have to keep putting back to THEIR bed hahaha

I'm missing something.
Free range in bedroom? Or just roosting in bedroom?

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

yes they get this every day

Can you post a picture of what you are talking about?

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

this is what they get, there;s 9 of them and they get a can to share

I would always give crumbles or pellets appropriate to the age and development needs of the chicken, as their main food. It is a good way to make sure they are getting all the nutrients they need. In fact, I limit all treats to a handful a day.

Edited for clarity.

Limiting “All treats” really means limiting everything except crumbles, and whatever they forage while outside.

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

there's tons of bugs still in Sacramento and tons of succulent tiny grasses that wanna grow cuz the rain. their little crocks are fulllllllllllllll when they go ni ni! Also when you turn something over thats been down for a long time there's earthworms and ear wiggs and grubs our birds are like PARTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tHEY GO THROUGH opps caps was still on 1 bag a month. so it stays pretty fresh, but I may buy a smaller bag cuz i am going to be low on money and get another bag sooner once i get more money



I know it's not sand but and it's a poor reference it's what it always reminds m of.

Where are you located? There are no bugs in forage where I live on New Years day.
If you are talking about chicks and chick starter crumbles, then yes, they need them every day if you want them to be properly fed.
They don't need grain at all because if you read the ingredient label, grain is already in the feed. Adding more to the diet will lower the nutrition.
To deprive them of the nutrients they are known to need in the correct ratios would not be good animal husbandry.
Forget what it looks like. Just read the guaranteed analysis tag and you'll learn that it isn't sand.
The key caveat to all this is that the feed should be fresh. Feed 4 months old or more will have lost much of its vitamin content and amino acids will be diminished. If not stabilized, vitamin content begins to be lost from the day it is milled. Always check the mill date.

I'm returning a bag of Fertrell Poultry Nutri Balancer tomorrow. I brought it home a week ago and called Fertrell with the lot number. It turns out it is two years old. The grain elevator I bought it from is 60 miles from my house. So, I'm going to spend 3 hours to return something the feed store shouldn't have sold in the first place. All the other places that carry it are farther away and they may not rotate their stock either. I'll call ahead for the lot number or mill date any time I have to drive that far.
In the mean time, I'm still looking to enhance vitamin content of my feed. I do have fish meal which I have been adding in moderation.

 

[ValerieJ]

this is what they get, there;s 9 of them and they get a can to share

This isn't crumbles. It looks like scratch grains to me. I would stop buying it and buy chick starter. Then give them the chick starter exclusively. Allow their treats to be whatever thy find free ranging. They really do need grit as well when they are eating anything besides chick starter. Here is an example of one brand of starter/grower, there are others:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...rter-grower-20-feed-50-lb?solr=1&cm_vc=-10005
and chick grit: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/purina-chick-grit-5-lb?cm_vc=-10005

You can go with medicated or non-medicated feed. I personally go with the medicated.

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

yeah it got kind of confusing there, that's their treat . All of my girls and our roo are adults but we have 3 babies and they had babie chick started but momma kept eating it all. I think we got medicated for a while yes.

This isn't crumbles. It looks like scratch grains to me. I would stop buying it and buy chick starter. Then give them the chick starter exclusively. Allow their treats to be whatever thy find free ranging. They really do need grit as well when they are eating anything besides chick starter. Here is an example of one brand of starter/grower, there are others:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...rter-grower-20-feed-50-lb?solr=1&cm_vc=-10005
and chick grit: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/purina-chick-grit-5-lb?cm_vc=-10005

You can go with medicated or non-medicated feed. I personally go with the medicated.

 

[DiYMama540]

The scratch grains should be considered a treat as well for optimal health. As others have said, you can find a complete balanced feed for them and that will be all they need. And fresh water of course...

 

[featherhead007]

I'm missing something.
Free range in bedroom? Or just roosting in bedroom?

sometimes I get lonely and bring a chicken in MY bedroom for company! yes in my house!
Last night it was my ameraucana.. hey, she promised me breakfast, so why not?