Feed Tests - More Results

[Mother-Hen-Michele]

It could just be the change in feed,... a different brand and/or change in ingredients. even if the feed was similar in nutritional content, but made up of different ingredients/different ratio, they might not be extracting full nutritional value right away - that would affect laying

This I think is much more likely.

The war in Europe changed a lot of grain prices worldwide. That leads to recipe changes in order to not see too big a price change for the consumer.

But the hen does not know about brands she just knows this used to be corn, now it is soy ( or other grains), so her food is different. Hens love variety in their snacks and consistency in their feed.

 

[NanaK]

I didn't get tagged either. It unreasonable to suspect that I didn't throw in some snide remark along the way but am too lazy to plow back through the thread(s) to check. Probably a bookkeeping error instead of conspiracy.

Me too!
I was also assuming bookkeeping error.
No more conspiracy, please. I hope we are through with that.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I saw someone had linked this thread on Facebook, where it was promptly (apparently) ignored by (seemingly) all.

Not surprised.

 

[miss heny]

I saw someone had linked this thread on Facebook, where it was promptly (apparently) ignored by (seemingly) all.

Not surprised.

Coulda told that would of happened lol

 

[3KillerBs]

I seem to have missed the tag on the day I was unexpectedly called into work.

I'm very grateful to the people who have put the effort into this.

You may have noticed some birds are said to eat more of this than other brands' "layer" feeds - between the slightly low protein and the slightly low energy, a bird trying to meet its needs will eat more.

I have seen people claiming that their birds "like" a particular feed more than others based on eating more of it -- which would be a valid observation for humans.

I personally have noticed, on multiple occasions with different flock compositions, that when I have to buy an emergency bag of cheap layer because of my regular feed being unavailable or because some factor prevents me from getting to my regular store, that the amount of feed that normally lasts 2 weeks only lasts 12-days.

Since free-fed chickens are noted for being able to self-regulate their intake, my interpretation has always been that rather than "liking" that feed, they're trying to compensate for the lesser nutrition.

It could just be the change in feed, period, especially if a different brand and/or change in ingredients. I don't know scientifically (i.e. studies) with chickens, but I know for many other animals (dogs, cats, horses - all mammals, though, on this list) that sudden change in diet is hard for them and it takes a few weeks for the microbiome in their gut to adapt, so even if the feed was similar in nutritional content, but made up of different ingredients/different ratio, they might not be extracting full nutritional value right away - that would affect laying as well, short term.

Thoughts anyone on this speculation??

I have always bought whatever feed is least expensive within certain ranges of composition and have, in fact, had highly variable feed this past fall and winter due to Southern States having discontinued one line of feed and brought in another (related, IIRC, to a change in the ownership of the chain), and never noticed any change whatsoever in my chickens' habits or laying other than what I observed above in that they eat more feed if the protein is lower.

Chickens are, in nature, omnivores and scavengers -- some of "God's garbagemen". They are designed by nature to eat a varied diet according to its availability.

 

[electrycmonk]

Tag list

Spoiler: Tag List edited out

I was not kidding folks…. Sheeesh ya just had to go and check, to be certain?

I appreciate the *TAG* as always. Re-reading again….

 

[Sally PB]

Did the guy we won't name ever post the results of his "test" on one of his many websites? The guy who is right because some of his other websites say he is right. That guy.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Did the guy we won't name ever post the results of his "test" on one of his many websites? The guy who is right because some of his other websites say he is right. That guy.

Not since the 8th, as best I can tell - and did I ever suffer to confirm that. He's moved on to Dioxins and forgotten all about the chicken thing, seems like

 

[Sussex19]

Tag list

Spoiler: Tag List

@casportpony

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@CIVA

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@Boyds Outdoors

Why didn't I get tagged?
I nearly missed out on seeing the results.

edited Oh I see a fair few people didn't, and it must have been hard keeping track of everyone.
Never mind, I've found it now!

 

[NanaK]

did I ever suffer to confirm that.

Sorry about the suffering. I guess he had nothing to report so on to the next drama.
Thanks for all you've done.