TheFatBlueCat
Crowing
Hi knowledgeable team of fellow chicken nerds.
I have been happily and successfully feeding my mixed flock with a combination of good quality local grain/peas, pullet grower feed (15% protein) and meat meal and seaweed to round out the edges (plus free choice calcium of course). HOWEVER I am being hit with some supply issues, shipping delays, and massive shipping cost increases so I am having to rethink what I'm doing.
I have now moved to a 50/50 blend of layer pellets (17% protein) and meat bird crumbles (20% protein). The meat bird crumble may have to be substituted for grower feed (16% protein) once I have finished growing on my current batch of chicks as it is very pricey.
My concern is force-feeding too much calcium to my rooster and young birds from the layer feed, which is why I am feeding it at 50/50. Is 50/50 going to be alright for the calcium issue. I can't actually see a calcium percentage on this new feed but it is usually 4% on layer feed and 1% on meat bird and grower.
The chicks have all the time free range and the adult birds have 2-3 hours per day of free range, with a good amount of pasture forage available to them.
All-flock is not really available here, although I figure pullet grower is about the same.
I have been happily and successfully feeding my mixed flock with a combination of good quality local grain/peas, pullet grower feed (15% protein) and meat meal and seaweed to round out the edges (plus free choice calcium of course). HOWEVER I am being hit with some supply issues, shipping delays, and massive shipping cost increases so I am having to rethink what I'm doing.
I have now moved to a 50/50 blend of layer pellets (17% protein) and meat bird crumbles (20% protein). The meat bird crumble may have to be substituted for grower feed (16% protein) once I have finished growing on my current batch of chicks as it is very pricey.
My concern is force-feeding too much calcium to my rooster and young birds from the layer feed, which is why I am feeding it at 50/50. Is 50/50 going to be alright for the calcium issue. I can't actually see a calcium percentage on this new feed but it is usually 4% on layer feed and 1% on meat bird and grower.
The chicks have all the time free range and the adult birds have 2-3 hours per day of free range, with a good amount of pasture forage available to them.
All-flock is not really available here, although I figure pullet grower is about the same.