Feed Recommendations

[ktown matt]

Hi all,

I am set to be a brand new chicken owner and brand new to this site. I have a flock of chicks arriving May 30 from Mcmurray and was looking or recommendations regarding feed. I live in an area that does not have a nearby feed store living in NW Ontario; nearest being rouhly 1 1/2 hours away. I am going next weekend to get supplies and was looking for recommended amounts of feed for my flock.

Can anyone recommend ratios or suggested amounts of chick starter, grower and layer ration to buy. I am getting 22 Cornish X-rocks and 20 layings hens (Brahmas, Austrolorpes and Langshan's) with one rooster.

I have not been able to find a simple spread sheet with the suggested feed consumption rates.

Any recommendations from this group are greatly appreciated. I expect to be a forum member and back yard chicken'er for many years to come.

Thanks for your replies/posts.

 

[homesteadapps]

Over the next 8 weeks for the cornish you can figure 16 to 20 lbs per bird depending on temps.

I generally figure 10 lbs per cornish X for the first 6 weeks and 10 pounds for the last 2 weeks.

The pullet chicks will take a lot less feed over the same period of time.


The University of California-Davis reports the following feed rates for feeding layer hens:
Chick starter, 20-29 lbs for the first 6 weeks for 10 chickens.
Pullet growing at 120-130 lbs. for the weeks 6 - 20.
Layer feed at 8 to 24 lbs./week.

For feeding meat chickens, the university says 10 chickens will eat 30 to 50 lbs. of broiler starter until six weeks of age, and 16 to 20 lbs. of broiler finish until slaughter.


Reference:
http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/avian/feedingchickens.pdf



Edited: 5/10/10 @3:47PM -- Added reference and corrected starter line which was written per week instead of for 6 weeks


We generally stick with an 18 to 20% protein mix until the layers are around 5 months.

 

[1776]

if they are day old chix, u will prolly leave a light on all day and night... have their feed available 24/7, and they'll eat all day and night... my chix are just past that and living outside now, and i still leave their food all day and all night. hope that helps.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

from Washington State!

I have read that laying hens eat around 4 ounces of feed per day (adults). Their feed consumption changes with the weather, too.

Don't try to store feed that has cracked grain in it for more than around 4 months, in my experience, especially in summer! Whole grains store longer, especially when kept cool and dry.

If it were me, I'd buy two bags of starter, and a couple of bags of grower just for the laying hens. No laying ration yet, since it will be spoiled probably by the time you use it. I don't do meaties, so I have no recommendations for them.

This is just my opinion...and I like to just use organic chick starter 20% protein all the way through to 6 weeks, when I switch them to my homemixed feed. I never feed grower.

I used to buy non-organic commercial starter/grower but it was combined in one product.

Also, I would buy some oyster shell just so I didn't forget it later.

I would also buy some chick grit, med. grit, and large grit (#3) unless you are going to be free ranging.

I would buy Corid 9.6% liquid (in the cattle section) just in case of coccidiosis,
a bag of chicken antibiotic powder - just in case,
and some pick no more lotion or Blu-Kote in case of cannibalism.
Also some poultry dust in case of lice or mites.
Also Wazine in case of worms (don't use it for younguns- for older ones)
And an extra heat lamp OR several ceramic socket brooder lights for use with 100 watt bulbs
pine shavings galore
feeders, waterers
thermometer for testing under light

In other words, I'd get a kit together for chicken illness since you live so far away from the store.

And do check out the McMurray chick care page if you haven't already- I am one of their customers and love that page. It recommends sugar water, heat requirements, etc.

Please keep in mind that I am guessing on the feed amounts I recommended you purchase. You might want to do the math and figure exactly what you'll need...I live terrifically close to a store and thus am spoiled.