Flock Raiser Feed for Older Hens?

[GRB73]

I have three hens, each is approximately 3.5 years old. One of the hens lays 1 egg per week/month. She took early retirement I guess. The other 2 hens lay 5 to 6 eggs per week, when they're not molting. I decided to switch to an All Flock feed and continue to offer oyster shells on the side so my one hen doesn't get too much calcium. Problem is, I can't find All Flock crumbles and crumbles are all my girls will eat.
I found a bag of Flock Raiser crumbles at TSC. It has little calcium, but I noticed protein is 20% compared to 16% in their regular layer feed. I plan to use this now as they go through their molt and are not laying. My question is, can I use Flock Raiser long-term or is the extra protein bad for them?

Thank

 

[RoosterML]

I feed all flock pellets, along with flock raiser. You are fine long term, short term, doesn’t matter. Oyster shell on the side and your good to go. I did start adding 25% layer feed to the all flock to help shell quality. I was not happy with shell quality on just all flock and oyster shell. I prefer pellet over crumbles.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd love to find Flock Raiser pelleted feed here, although with chicks also being fed, the crumbles are perfect. I have a feeder with oyster shell only in the coop too, for the laying hens, and except for an older hen who lays an occasional thin shelled egg, all is well.
Mary

 

[RoosterML]

I'd love to find Flock Raiser pelleted

Not likely to happen as it’s a starter feed. All flock pellets yes as that is meant for full grown birds. Flock “Raiser” is meant for chicks. I know a lot of people say flock raiser as an all Flock product but it’s really just a starter feed.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Not likely to happen as it’s a starter feed. All flock pellets yes as that is meant for full grown birds. Flock “Raiser” is meant for chicks. I know a lot of people say flock raiser as an all Flock product but it’s really just a starter feed.

I buy Flock Raiser pellets at my local feed store. It definitely is an all flock product.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, it's an all flock feed, that can be fed from hatching through old age. That's why I like it!
Mary

 

[cmom]

The feed store I buy my feed at doesn't sell a flock raiser. During the summer months here when it's hot out, I feed the birds layer but when they molt and getting ready for breeding season, I buy Game Bird Breeder which is higher in protein. It helps when the birds are molting because the feathers are mostly made of protein. For the younger birds I get grower pellets. The company that makes my feed used to have other feeds that they discontinued. Depending on how large you flock is you can always break up the pellets and make crumbles. I go through around 300 pounds of feed weekly. I use the pellets because they waste less than with the crumbles.

 

[Mosey2003]

If all the birds had available were pellets, they would eventually give in and eat them rather than starve.

You can feed the Flock Raiser though. If you wanted to cut the protein on it down, you could do that by also offering scratch, especially since they'll eat the scratch first. If you wanted the overall ration to be 16% protein, you would feed 2/3 crumbles and 1/3 scratch, by weight. That's estimating the scratch's protein percent is 8%, which might be a titch low but works for this kind of math.

Three hens should be eating approximately 0.75lbs of feed per day, give or take. Which is nice, because that breaks up into 3 very easily, you'd give them half a pound of feed and a quarter pound of scratch.

Or, you could just not worry about them being on 20% protein. It's not that big of a deal. Or you could force them to assimilate to eating pellets. Up to you

 

[GC-Raptor]

Flock Raiser pellets are at my local TSC.

GC

 

[Folly's place]

Nice! We have crumble only around here. It's fine too, although I'd rather have the pelleted feed when the chicks are big enough to eat it.
Mary