Feed selection question.

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Here's the deal, I'm wanting to feed as much of quality as I can get for price, so far I have fed my hens Country Road from Rural King and Purina from the local feed mill. When I order I get 500lbs of chick starter (this order will be layer feed), 300lbs cracked corn and 200lbs scratch grains. I have two feeders, one is currently chick starter the other cracked corn/ scratch grains. So the price differance on the local feed mills price compared to Rural King is $55 more expensive, I don't see a differance in the quality of the food or the hens liking one brand over the other. The local feed mill makes there own crumbles for $14 a bag and the purina is $14.95 still more expensive than the $11 Country Road layer feed. So is purina any better than Country Road? I'm not sure what's in the feed mills crumbles, just curious if I should go back to the Country Road or try to negotiate price on purina feed or the crumbles at the local feed mill. I'm sure you all ran into the same problem so let me know what your preference is, I have 43 chickens that just started laying, I'm about 200lbs away from another order of feed.

 

[junebuggena]

Seems to be a compare-able feed. Just a note about scratch and corn, it's not feed and should not be offered as feed. It's more a treat or cold-weather supplement. Feed should be the primary source of nutrition. Too much scratch or corn, and you can end up with birds not getting enough protein to produce eggs. Lack of protein can also cause feather picking and egg eating, both of which can be very difficult habits to break.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

Seems to be a compare-able feed. Just a note about scratch and corn, it's not feed and should not be offered as feed. It's more a treat or cold-weather supplement. Feed should be the primary source of nutrition. Too much scratch or corn, and you can end up with birds not getting enough protein to produce eggs. Lack of protein can also cause feather picking and egg eating, both of which can be very difficult habits to break.

That's a good way to look at the corn and scratch, I originally offered it to them for variety and they ate 30lbs of feed way too fast lol and because corn was cheaper, scratch isn't lol. I can understand where your going with that, the hens eat the chick starter better, I have two 30lb feeders and they will eat 10lbs less of the corn and scratch so there eating both at a steady rate preferring the chick starter a little more. I think this next time around I will do one with layer feed the other with chick starter. There is a bit of a age difference in the flock.

 

[junebuggena]

Corn/scratch isn't too big of an issue when you are feeding a high protein feed like starter or grower, but once you switch to layer, you will have to be careful.

 

[Chris09]

That's a good way to look at the corn and scratch, I originally offered it to them for variety and they ate 30lbs of feed way too fast lol and because corn was cheaper, scratch isn't lol. I can understand where your going with that, the hens eat the chick starter better, I have two 30lb feeders and they will eat 10lbs less of the corn and scratch so there eating both at a steady rate preferring the chick starter a little more. I think this next time around I will do one with layer feed the other with chick starter. There is a bit of a age difference in the flock.

Quote: I have two 30lb feeders and they will eat 10lbs less of the corn and scratch so there eating both at a steady rate preferring the chick starter a little more

The problem that I see is this...
Lets say that your starter feed is 20% protein and your birds eat 60lbs of that to 40lbs of your scratch/ corn mix.

20% protein (starter) ÷ 100 = .20
8% protein (scratch/ corn) ÷ 100 = .08

.20% protein x 60lbs = 12.00% protein
.08% protein x 40lbs = 3.20% protein

8.00% protein x 5.20% protein = 15.20% protein

Your birds are eating a 15.20% feed mix.

Also with as cold as it has been here in Ohio your birds would be far better off with less scratch/ corn and more of there higher protein feed.

Note ---
Corn and scratch does produce energy but it is burned off very fast, proteins produce energy, takes longer to burn off and will produce far more "body heat" than corn or scratch.

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

I get the math, my main question is Country Road, Purina or feed mill mix?

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]

 

[BrokeFarmerJohn]