Expanding Chicken Feed.

[hempsteadjb]

Hello, a debate is going on...

This is what I do....I do not feed layer at all...I feed Grower all year around to my Birds at 18% protein..Not organic because to me it's all hype..That's another topic though..
I supply oyster shell in a Separate bowl ...I have extremely healthy Birds and zero issues..I free range daily maximum two hours and rarely give treats...

**That's good to know! My birds have recently been gradually changing over to Layer Pellets and they HATE them! I think I will go back to the grower! Thanks for your post.

 

[rjohns39]

**That's good to know! My birds have recently been gradually changing over to Layer Pellets and they HATE them! I think I will go back to the grower! Thanks for your post.

Just make sure you give them Oyster Shell free choice.

 

[lazy gardener]

a quick google search of Quaker oat meal indicates that it is $2.38/# at Walmart. Organic scratch and peck (googled on line was $1.35/#) So... unless one has oatmeal available as a bulk food item, I can't imagine that feeding a kitchen grade of oatmeal would be financially rewarding. Yes... when you run out of feed, it could fill the gap. But certainly would not be a cost savings.

The first recipe posted by OP where they considered 1 part grit or OS as part of the feed was less than logical.

 

[Kiki]

a quick google search of Quaker oat meal indicates that it is $2.38/# at Walmart. Organic scratch and peck (googled on line was $1.35/#) So... unless one has oatmeal available as a bulk food item, I can't imagine that feeding a kitchen grade of oatmeal would be financially rewarding. Yes... when you run out of feed, it could fill the gap. But certainly would not be a cost savings.

The first recipe posted by OP where they considered 1 part grit or OS as part of the feed was less than logical.

X2
One should never mix grit into a feed.

 

[chickens really]

a quick google search of Quaker oat meal indicates that it is $2.38/# at Walmart. Organic scratch and peck (googled on line was $1.35/#) So... unless one has oatmeal available as a bulk food item, I can't imagine that feeding a kitchen grade of oatmeal would be financially rewarding. Yes... when you run out of feed, it could fill the gap. But certainly would not be a cost savings.

The first recipe posted by OP where they considered 1 part grit or OS as part of the feed was less than logical.

Not really a witch hunt...Its entirely up to the OP if the decide to switch things up?...I don't care?...I just hope things help?

 

[Li'lFlock]

X2
One should never mix grit into a feed.

Do you mean as part of their total intake? I’ve always thrown in a few beak’s-worth. Especially when they were smaller and I gave them the chick one with probiotics, and they were still not really foraging and scratching outdoors.

 

[Kiki]

What I mean is you should never count grit as feed..it is not. And you should never mix it with any food. You can offer it in a dish by itself and they will take what they need.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

What I mean is you should never count grit as feed..it is not. And you should never mix it with any food. You can offer it in a dish by itself and they will take what they need.

Yup. I normally toss some grit down with their scratch. Figure they'll peck up what they need.

 

[Li'lFlock]

What I mean is you should never count grit as feed..it is not. And you should never mix it with any food. You can offer it in a dish by itself and they will take what they need.

That’s what I thought you meant. Thanks. I always sort of considered it like bird fiber, to aid in digestion. I only have 3 birds. So it’s not like I went nuts.