Feeding chickens and hens

[sparkydog]

I am currently feeding a meat bird crumble because someone mentioned that egg layer feed shortens the life span of hens. Also, all my chickens (hens and roosters) and peacocks eat together.

Should I be feeding them a egg layer feed? I guess I do not know which is the best to feed. There is so much info out there.

Grit - do they need it if they roam the yard?
Egg layer - good or bad for hens and roosters?
Meat Bird feed - is there a better choice?

What is the difference between crumble and scratch?

I am really confused on what to feed.

We also give them veggy scraps from dinners.

Thank you,
Michelle

 

[Fred's Hens]

Michelle, it isn't that hard. You have laying hens, right? My advice is only for laying hens.

If you have laying hens, then layer pellets or crumbles is designed to meet their diet completely. It has the calcium they need and other nutrients for laying hens. Grower is OK, but you'd have to supply the calcium by buying additional ground shell to put out at all times.

I prefer just the layer pellets because the other method ends up costing more, in my area.

Scratch is a term for mixed grains. It varies greatly from mill to mill, as to whether it has just 3, 4 or 5 grains. It is not a dietary complete formula. It's fine for a cup or two, thrown out, in the afternoon, for the birds to scratch around and enjoy, but that is all it is.
Grit. If they have access to dirt, pebbles, sand and such, no additional grit is needed. Especially since most of their diet is layer pellets.
Hope that helps.

 

[Pinky]

Layer feed is fine for them, especially if you have laying hens

It shouldn't hurt your roosters.

 

[dsqard]

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I have never heard that egg layer feed shortens the lives of chickens.

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If they are laying then you can feed them layer feed. You can also leave them on the higher protien flock raiser and offer oyster shell for the additional calcium they need for making eggs. The layer feed will not hurt a rooster and I have no idea what peacocks should eat.

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No
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Crumble is food, scratch is treats. I make my own scratch out of whole corn, BOSS, peanuts and apple.

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Good for them but again, use like a treat so that the majority of their food is chicken feed for the nutrition they need.

Hope this helps!

 

[sparkydog]

Thanks for all the replies.

I got it. I am not sure why the person I got some of my chickens from said not to feed egg layer feed.

I will slowly switch over.

Michelle