feed help for soon to be laying hens.

[brudavis1031]

Well my girls willsoon be laying and I came acorss this feed at a local poultry store and was wondering if it was a good feed for laying hens. Cracked corn, wheat, barley, blackoil sunflower seed, milo, laying pellets, molasess, and vegetable oil. 12% crude protien (min), 4% crude fat (min), and 2% crude fiber (max). Or should I just go with a 21% or 16% laying crumble? Any advice would be great.

Thanks
Bruce

 

[Judy]

I don't see any added vitamins or minerals, especially calcium. This is why I stick to layer feed; I use pellets for less mess, myself.

However, that sounds like it would make a good "scratch," to be used as a treat, in small quantities.

 

[brudavis1031]

I don't see any added vitamins or minerals, especially calcium.  This is why I stick to layer feed; I use pellets for less mess, myself.

However, that sounds like it would make a good "scratch," to be used as a treat, in small quantities.

Ok thanks for the advice. I was also told that feeding straight laying food would kill my chickens after awhile. Is that true? I am new to chickens and learning as I go.

 

[what did I do]

I don't see any problem with it. Just add some oyster shells for calcium. Do your chickens free range at all or do you give them scraps?

Mine get something similar that we grind and mix at home plus free range and scraps. I took some chickens to the fair and they all got grand or reserve champion.

As far as added vitamins go, corn, barley, molasses and the other ingredients have vitamins in them. It isn't like they need the extra vitamins. We Americans just think we need all these extra things added to our food. Now I will say that in some countries that don't eat a big variety of food they need added vitamins.

 

[Cindy in PA]

12% protein is low for laying hens.

 

[Fred's Hens]

12% protein is low for laying hens.

Agree. Far too low for layers to be very productive. Scratch or fed in conjunction with a high protein 20% mix? Perhaps.

 

[RedStarLady1207]

16% protein is what is in layer feed. I would use a good layer feed and provide oyster shell/coral grit. Everything else IMO should be given as occasional treats. I don't beleive the person that told you your chickens will die on just commercial feed. Yes, I suppose that could be true if it is junky, cheap feed or not the right type for the use. Fast growth comes from extra protein so you don't want your protein to be consistently too high for laying hens, nor too low.

Fresh vegetable greens, meal worms, some fruit is good for them also. They are ominvores that mainly eat grain but also tons of other foods but IMO for a consistent diet a good commerical feed for layers should be the mainstay diet.