Feed?

[ShrekDawg]

Good luck with the new chicks! I've fed agway brand feeds to my six pullets for their whole life 16-20 weeks so far) and they seem to be healthy and they really like the food as well. I will be switching to agway hearty hen layer for them once they start laying. I don't think they are in anyway bad foods (although people might argue there are better).

Thank you! Yeah, mine are turning 5 weeks Monday and all thriving so far besides one that died at 6 days of pasty butt but that's from being inside and too warm. I don't think it's necessarily a bad food either which is why I'm going to keep them on it until we're out but I just think that eventually I would like something a little "better", quotes because that's subjective, especially for eating the eggs but I don't know. I'm not sure I like the price on some of those ones mentioned though especially for so little feed so I may try something better but still cheaper like naturewise or something but I don't know. Or maybe mix the foods. I'm not sure ot really matters much though.

 

[Leigti]

Thank you again for the help. I think I will continue with this for a while. Although the only thing is I didn't realize (and the guy didn't either) that it's starter/grower. He had said most feed the medicated to 8 weeks but I read the tag and realized it's grower too and I don't think I want to feed medicated all the way to 16 weeks so we will see. They are eating a lot and I've wasted I bunch from them pooping in it and.me just dumping it or them tipping it but both happen less now. Well actually tipping just started cause they're heavy now lol but yeah. Probably will waste it anyway unless they can eat a ton. Maybe will give it away or something so someone else can use it if they don't eat it.

But yeah, I was looking at those brands and may add Coyote Creek too or try NatureSmart or NatureWise occasionally just for something cheaper. I don't know.

I didn't realize though that it was only 20-25 pounds and still that price. i wouldn't mind if it was that much and 30 or 40, even 50, pounds but it seems kind.of steep for 20 or 25 pounds but I guess it's fresh. With 8 though it may go faster as opposed to only 2-4 or something but supposedly they also eat less of it because these are supposed to be better quality feeds and I think I might free range them too so hopefully that will help with the feed consumption and price and they'll go through less. But we'll see and if not that's why I'm adding the cheaper foods

Right now I only have two chickens. But I'm going to have 10 relatively quickly. I think I am going to ferment it. They will eat a lot less food that way, plus when they free range they also eat a lot less food. there is no way I could buy that food and feed it to them if that's the only thing they ate and if I don't ferment it. Check out the fermenting threats. They are interested. But don't start at the beginning because they are so long just look at the last two or three pages. I am going to use the one container method because it is the easiest. I did try it but my chickens really wouldn't eat it, it was suggested that with only two of them there's really not much competition. So when I get more in January I will try it again and see if the competition works better. That and the yard is pretty slim pickings now that it froze and snowed. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Right now I only have two chickens. But I'm going to have 10 relatively quickly. I think I am going to ferment it. They will eat a lot less food that way, plus when they free range they also eat a lot less food. there is no way I could buy that food and feed it to them if that's the only thing they ate and if I don't ferment it. Check out the fermenting threats. They are interested. But don't start at the beginning because they are so long just look at the last two or three pages. I am going to use the one container method because it is the easiest. I did try it but my chickens really wouldn't eat it, it was suggested that with only two of them there's really not much competition. So when I get more in January I will try it again and see if the competition works better. That and the yard is pretty slim pickings now that it froze and snowed. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ohhhh, that makes more sense then. I think I went on one of the fermenting threads one time but.not to the end and I never read the end pages. I don't know, it just seems like kind of a lot of work. I'm sure it's probably not but just buying the very specific kind of ACV and all that and the ratioz of stuff and waiting and I don't know, I'm lazy and/or would probably lose interest. I just want to feed them lol plus I've heard people say they ate less on this better food as is anyway but probably still eat a lot. I am definitely going to try free ranging though and giving them scraps. But aw yeah, I'm sure it will probably work now with all those factors. Although also aren't you supposed to take other sources of food away? I know you're supposed to for switching to water nipples but don't know about the fodo

 

[Leigti]

Ohhhh, that makes more sense then. I think I went on one of the fermenting threads one time but.not to the end and I never read the end pages. I don't know, it just seems like kind of a lot of work. I'm sure it's probably not but just buying the very specific kind of ACV and all that and the ratioz of stuff and waiting and I don't know, I'm lazy and/or would probably lose interest. I just want to feed them lol plus I've heard people say they ate less on this better food as is anyway but probably still eat a lot. I am definitely going to try free ranging though and giving them scraps. But aw yeah, I'm sure it will probably work now with all those factors. Although also aren't you supposed to take other sources of food away? I know you're supposed to for switching to water nipples but don't know about the fodo

Near the end of one of the fermenting threads recently is a link, sorry I don't know how to put it here but it is tick tock something or other. It is the absolute easiest way. Put in one part food one part water stir. You don't need to add anything else. Stir it a couple times a day, have it loosely covered, wait about three days until it smells a little bit like pickles, and it's done. Scoop out what you need for your chickens that day then add more food and water and it will be ready by the next day then you just keep it going, kind of like a sourdough bread mixture. No waiting after the initial three days. Just don't use metal containers or feed troughs. That's it. And they do say to take away the dry food but they can still free forage all they want to. Don't worry about the methods with three buckets etc. etc. Pain in the butt. And if you have a lot of chickens you just use a larger container, like a 5 gallon bucket. I am definitely going to try it when I get some more chickens.

 

[Leigti]

Here is a screenshot of the link. Sorry I don't know how to put it in here any other way. But it is very useful.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Wow that sounds so much easier! Thank you so much! I never heard the three containers thing but always thought you needed ACV. wow thanks so much, I'll have to try that. Although it still seems like work hah and wait what container do you use then

 

[Leigti]

With my two chickens I just used a mason jar. But when I get more I think I will look for a food grade bucket, I've heard sometimes grocery stores will give them away, one or 2 gallon sizes. But you could use anything plastic or glass.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thanks for the tips. Ill look into that. So do you feed with that though or just to make it?

 

[Leigti]

I feed it to them in a rubber feed bowl. People use troughs plastic ones of course, or just throw it on the ground or dog bowls etc. I like the black feed pans. It won't work in one of those gravity feeders. I saw one that I think I will try to build, it was just a 6 inch PVC pipe cut in half. It wasn't even hooked up to anything, just laying there on the ground with the open side up. It would be easy to clean. Or people have used vinyl gutters also. Just as long as nothing is metal.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I feed it to them in a rubber feed bowl. People use troughs plastic ones of course, or just throw it on the ground or dog bowls etc. I like the black feed pans. It won't work in one of those gravity feeders. I saw one that I think I will try to build, it was just a 6 inch PVC pipe cut in half. It wasn't even hooked up to anything, just laying there on the ground with the open side up. It would be easy to clean. Or people have used vinyl gutters also. Just as long as nothing is metal.

Thanks for the tips. All do sohmd great except mine poop in it so not sure open one would work but maybe would if they ate it fast.