I am a complete rookie on raising chickens. I spent a lot of time building my coop and finally got myself some mature hens. I know the one has started laying already! I went to my local feed and grain store and asked for chicken feed. I paid for the feed and he brought it out to my truck and dropped it in the bed. I got home tore open the bag and that's when I seen it said chick starter feed crumble. So the question is should I feed my mature hens this? does it matter? Should I get new feed (pellets) ? I have a feeder but I didn't want to pour a half or whole bag of chick starter into it without checking to see if it would be ok first. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you
The shape or texture of the feed is not an indication as to it's content or which kind of feed it is. Might read the bag or call the feed store and confirm you got what you wanted. As long as it is non medicated, your hens will gobble it up. If you supply a calcium source, like crushed oysters shells on the side, that'd do nicely. Next time, be sure you are getting Layer, if that's what you want to feed. Layer isn't magic feed, it merely has the proper dose of calcium already ground into the feed. Now that feed MAY be a mash, a crumble or a pellet. Those are shapes or textures. People feed different textures according to their own preferences and feeding practices.
I have done the exact same thing! I have used it anyway. Make sure your bag is not medicated. If it is, the store may take it back. If you do use this feed, make sure the hens have plenty of oyster shell available since the starter feed doesn't have any calcium. And keep the oyster shell right there next to the feed. I mean right there. The hens will not go looking for it and if it is not right in front of their faces, they may not get enough of it. At least this is how my girls are. I did have some soft shells when I fed some chick starter so by keeping the oyster shell right there, they ate more of it. Good luck with your hens and it is great to have you aboard!
Welcome to BYC. I would use the feed and when it is about two thirds gone start mixing it with a layer feed.
