Dual puropose chicken feed

[PrincessTee]

Hello there, I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this if not please guide me to the correct thread.
We have buff oprington chickens that we planned to use for dual purpose, eggs and meat we don't separate our birds. We Have about 8 hens and a rooster. I heard the rooster shouldn't get the same as the hens but is there a all flock feed that works well for dual purpose use of chickens? They're coming to age where we will have to switch over their food soon.

 

[Brooks_]

I would recommend Purina flock raiser. Of course other brands may be available to you or a local grain mill could offer you a better price point. Oyster shell on the side for those that need the calcium and grit on the side for all.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you were raising a laying flock you would have certain preferred options. If you were raising them for meat only you would have certain preferred options. Those options do overlap.

I don't know what marketing names are available to you. As mentioned above Flock Raiser is a good choice. In some placed All-Flock may be available. You can typically use Chick Starter but I'd avoid medicated, you don't need the medicine for your adults. What you are looking for is an analysis that gives you a high protein content and a low calcium content. An 18% protein content would work but most people prefer 20%. If you feed many low protein treats or let them forage 20% is probably better because they probably aren't getting that high of a protein content with the overall average. Many people prefer 20% anyway.

All chickens need some calcium, that's why practically all chicken feeds have a minimum of around 1%. Laying pullets and hens need more for the egg shells. If all they eat is Layer, then they should have around 4% calcium, but that much calcium can potentially harm chickens that don't need that much. The easy solution to that is to provide a calcium supplement on the side. I like oyster shell. It is pretty inexpensive and never goes bad. Most chickens are really good at eating what calcium they need, whether that is laying chickens that need more for the egg shells or the ones that may not get enough calcium if they forage or get too many low calcium treats.

Regardless of the name, I'd suggest you look for a feed with 20% protein and around 1% calcium and offer oyster shell on the side.

If yours have access to the ground and your dirt has bits of rock the size of a green pea or smaller they can find their own grit. You will often see them scratching and pecking at dirt, grit is one thing they are looking for. I've never purchased grit, had no need. But some people keep their chickens in a way that they don't have access to find their own. If the chickens eat anything that needs to be ground up they need grit (insoluble grit for out British friends) in their gizzard so they can grind it. It doesn't hurt to offer grit on the side even if they can find their own, just don't get concerned if they don't eat it.

 

[Brooks_]

If yours have access to the ground and your dirt has bits of rock the size of a green pea or smaller they can find their own grit. You will often see them scratching and pecking at dirt, grit is one thing they are looking for. I've never purchased grit, had no need. But some people keep their chickens in a way that they don't have access to find their own.

Adding to that: some soils just don't have appropriate rock. I feel mine to be one of them.

 

[PrincessTee]

If you were raising a laying flock you would have certain preferred options. If you were raising them for meat only you would have certain preferred options. Those options do overlap.

I don't know what marketing names are available to you. As mentioned above Flock Raiser is a good choice. In some placed All-Flock may be available. You can typically use Chick Starter but I'd avoid medicated, you don't need the medicine for your adults. What you are looking for is an analysis that gives you a high protein content and a low calcium content. An 18% protein content would work but most people prefer 20%. If you feed many low protein treats or let them forage 20% is probably better because they probably aren't getting that high of a protein content with the overall average. Many people prefer 20% anyway.

All chickens need some calcium, that's why practically all chicken feeds have a minimum of around 1%. Laying pullets and hens need more for the egg shells. If all they eat is Layer, then they should have around 4% calcium, but that much calcium can potentially harm chickens that don't need that much. The easy solution to that is to provide a calcium supplement on the side. I like oyster shell. It is pretty inexpensive and never goes bad. Most chickens are really good at eating what calcium they need, whether that is laying chickens that need more for the egg shells or the ones that may not get enough calcium if they forage or get too many low calcium treats.

Regardless of the name, I'd suggest you look for a feed with 20% protein and around 1% calcium and offer oyster shell on the side.

If yours have access to the ground and your dirt has bits of rock the size of a green pea or smaller they can find their own grit. You will often see them scratching and pecking at dirt, grit is one thing they are looking for. I've never purchased grit, had no need. But some people keep their chickens in a way that they don't have access to find their own. If the chickens eat anything that needs to be ground up they need grit (insoluble grit for out British friends) in their gizzard so they can grind it. It doesn't hurt to offer grit on the side even if they can find their own, just don't get concerned if they don't eat it.

If you were raising a laying flock you would have certain preferred options. If you were raising them for meat only you would have certain preferred options. Those options do overlap.

I don't know what marketing names are available to you. As mentioned above Flock Raiser is a good choice. In some placed All-Flock may be available. You can typically use Chick Starter but I'd avoid medicated, you don't need the medicine for your adults. What you are looking for is an analysis that gives you a high protein content and a low calcium content. An 18% protein content would work but most people prefer 20%. If you feed many low protein treats or let them forage 20% is probably better because they probably aren't getting that high of a protein content with the overall average. Many people prefer 20% anyway.

All chickens need some calcium, that's why practically all chicken feeds have a minimum of around 1%. Laying pullets and hens need more for the egg shells. If all they eat is Layer, then they should have around 4% calcium, but that much calcium can potentially harm chickens that don't need that much. The easy solution to that is to provide a calcium supplement on the side. I like oyster shell. It is pretty inexpensive and never goes bad. Most chickens are really good at eating what calcium they need, whether that is laying chickens that need more for the egg shells or the ones that may not get enough calcium if they forage or get too many low calcium treats.

Regardless of the name, I'd suggest you look for a feed with 20% protein and around 1% calcium and offer oyster shell on the side.

If yours have access to the ground and your dirt has bits of rock the size of a green pea or smaller they can find their own grit. You will often see them scratching and pecking at dirt, grit is one thing they are looking for. I've never purchased grit, had no need. But some people keep their chickens in a way that they don't have access to find their own. If the chickens eat anything that needs to be ground up they need grit (insoluble grit for out British friends) in their gizzard so they can grind it. It doesn't hurt to offer grit on the side even if they can find their own, just don't get concerned if they don't eat it.

I've heard not to switch over their food until we see the first egg. Does this stand true for the most part or should we switch based on age?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you are talking about switching to Layer feed, wait until you see an egg. If you are talking about switching to a low calcium feed with oyster shell on the side switch whenever you like. Today would be good but waiting until the bag you are using now is empty is also good. You can offer oyster shell on the side anytime you want as long as it is before they start laying.

 

[PrincessTee]

I would recommend Purina flock raiser. Of course other brands may be available to you or a local grain mill could offer you a better price point. Oyster shell on the side for those that need the calcium and grit on the side for all.

Our store unfortunately does not sell this. We have been using dumor. Would dumor 17% all flock pellet for poultry be sufficient?

 

[Brooks_]

Our store unfortunately does not sell this. We have been using dumor. Would dumor 17% all flock pellet for poultry be sufficient?

I would look for an 18-20% starter/grower over that but, yes, it would work.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Our store unfortunately does not sell this. We have been using dumor. Would dumor 17% all flock pellet for poultry be sufficient?

Yes, it will work. The analysis looks good. With 17% protein instead of 20% the eggs may not be quite as large but the difference is going to be slight. If you don't weigh them you probably won't notice. The carcass won't be quite as large but many people eat chickens that are smaller. Different breeds or fed different ways.

 

[PrincessTee]

I would look for an 18-20% starter/grower over that but, yes, it would work.

They currently have a 20% starter grower they are consuming. But I'm looking for information on food once they start laying.