Feed store said scratch or starter is fine for adults?

[Judy]

Agreed, BOSS is a great treat. Wish I could get mine to eat it. If just one would try it....

I use pellets, as someone already said, to avoid the waste. It took mine a few days to accept it. They will eat when they're hungry. Nor they dive right in.

 

[animalover]

The person I got my Orps from said she feeds only flock raiser, with oyster shell available. My birds are almost 6 months old and not laying yet. Should I be feeding layer instead? Someone on the forum said they they thought Blue Seal Chick N' Game Bird Starter/Grower Crumbles was the best quality to feed. I am confused.....

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
I doubt if the flockraiser is delaying the start of egg laying. The flockraiser should have as much if not more protien etc. in it, just not enough calcium for laying hens which is why it's important to keep oystershell out free choice. I use gamebird feed for my mixed age/species flock with the oystershell freechoice and haven't had any problems. The pullets all seem to mature at different rates but have started laying between 17-24 weeks. Are your orps show or hatchery birds? I've heard (I only have one BO so not much first hand with them) that the show birds get much bigger and mature slower then the hatchery stock. Are your birds starting to get red in the comb and wattles? Is there any possibilty that they could be laying in a hidden nest or two? I had an EE/BO that I didn't know was laying until she didn't come back to the coop one night and I found her on 21 eggs after looking for the better part of an hour.

 

[dieselgrl48]

It depend's on whether you free range or not.I have fed all of my bird's a mix over the year's.I generaly free range all of mine and give scratch, whole corn, cracked corn, grower finisher and layer crumble's.It basicly depend's on how you keep your bird's.If they are caged or have a run you might want to add in grit,oyster shell etc.It's Potluck here really I have super fatty (healthy fatty)good looking bird's.Au Naturel` with a bit of Buffet thrown in.I think it's Awesome when I see a bird a small one running off with a big worm and she is almost tripping on it trying to get it away from the bigger ones.I don't waste any bread leftover's or veggie's either if it's green left over's, egg's which are hard boiled , pasta or bread. The guy's and girl's are like Rambo on them.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
Yes--I've said this a number of times about the same topic--always feed to the younger birds and put out free choice supplements for the older ones. You don't want to force the immature chicks too much.

Also I have said the just because someone works in a feed store doesn't mean they know how to care for chickens--all they can do is carry heavy bags to your car. I'd stay away from making scratch a regular part of your bird's diet--it has too much corn which equals fat and isn't well balanced--keep it to give them a little boost when the weather is really cold.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
When it comes to brands everyone has an opinion whether it's chicken feed or toothpaste--listen to the person you got your chickens from--when they start to lay then go to the layer feed.

 

[animalover]

Thanks all - I feel much better now. I do supplement with kitchen scraps, mealworms, BOSS, etc. And I do have oyster shell out. I'll just try to be patient!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I am confused.....

Brand names don't really mean anything.

Learn to read the labels, and feed them anywhere from 15-22% protein depending on age.
Once they are old enough to lay, make sure they are getting a good source of calcium, either in layer pellets or oyster shell

It's not rocket science , and it doesn't have to be all that precise

And NEVER assume that just because someone works at a feed store that they KNOW anything about what is best to use​

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

My opinion is that if your birds are in cages then they need to be on a complete feed like laying pellets.. If your birds are free ranged all day on good land then scratch is all they need from you. An that's just so they stay tame, an they stay home.

 

[8ROYALS]

Quote:
Yes--I've said this a number of times about the same topic--always feed to the younger birds and put out free choice supplements for the older ones. You don't want to force the immature chicks too much.

Also I have said the just because someone works in a feed store doesn't mean they know how to care for chickens--all they can do is carry heavy bags to your car. I'd stay away from making scratch a regular part of your bird's diet--it has too much corn which equals fat and isn't well balanced--keep it to give them a little boost when the weather is really cold.

thanks that is exactly what I did. i just have to get the oyster shell and put it in a place of it's own...thanks again.