Feeding older hens

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Folly's place said:
Layer feed is only for actively laying hens. These old ladies should be eating an all-flock feed, with oyster shell on the side. You might have some eggs from them, and they will probably be very large!
Mary
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Oh really?? Interesting, I can definitely get a bag of that all flock feed and mix it in for them. I just got that stuff because that is what my friend had been feeding them. It'll take quite a while to get through that bag with only 3 chickens...but I can get some other stuff. Do you think maybe I should switch them over and save that food for when I have laying hens (it is in an airtight container so it shouldn't go bad) or would it make more sense to get some of the all flock pellets and mix them in with the layer pellets until I have them fed out?
 
Would your friend buy the opened bag of layer from you? It wouldn't be wise storing for too long, feed that sits looses it's nutritional values. If you decide to ferment your feed, that bag will last you even longer.

I have 4BOs that are 10mos old and have been laying for 4mos ... 4 eggs, 4 - 5days a week, 3 eggs otherwise. Lots of benefits fermenting & it's easy ... a bag of feed used to last me about 3mos but lately 2 mos which I think is weather related.
 
ChickNanny13 said:
Would your friend buy the opened bag of layer from you? It wouldn't be wise storing for too long, feed that sits looses it's nutritional values. If you decide to ferment your feed, that bag will last you even longer.

I have 4BOs that are 10mos old and have been laying for 4mos ... 4 eggs, 4 - 5days a week, 3 eggs otherwise. Lots of benefits fermenting & it's easy ... a bag of feed used to last me about 3mos but lately 2 mos which I think is weather related.
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That friend wouldn't need it, she doesn't have replacement chickens yet. She can only have 4 hens at her place and I adopted her 3 so she can get 4 young ones. BUT I can probably find a friend who will take it off my hands. I might even end up getting my new chickens from her so we'll see :D Otherwise I might just feed the rest of this bag out and next bag start them on the other feed.

Glad to hear another vote for fermenting, I need to take some time to look into it. Thanks for your thoughts!
 
Folly's place said:
Some vitamins in the feed degrade over time, as in weeks, not months. This is true regardless of fermenting or whatever. That's why feeding it within six or eight weeks of the mill date matters.
Mary
Click to expand...
Thanks for your thoughts! I will definitely keep this in mind as I figure out what to do for the feed :)
 
Hilarious update (okay maybe not hilarious just amusing): Before I even got a chance to call my friend and ask if she wanted the layer feed I have, she texted me and asked if I wanted some of her hens. SO as soon as I can secure housing for them I'll be getting chickens #4, 5, & 6 who are laying and will eat the layer feed. :D I'll either feed it to all of them or I'll have them separate. Now I'm off to figure out the housing situation.
 
You're better off housing the all together. One larger coop and run is cheaper, has better ventilation, stays cooler in the summer, has more space to escape a bully then 2 smaller coops. As the older group dies, there will be less stress and interruptions to the group. You could easily end up with a single hen in the older group. Then what?
 

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