Flock Raiser + Oyster shells or Layena?

[homeschoolmama]

My 6 girls are 21 weeks old and at least some have been laying for about a week. I had switched them to Flock Raiser after finishing their first big bag of Starter/Grower since I wanted them off medicated feed. So far their eggs have had nice hard shells, although they are still small. I've been giving them baked and smashed up egg shells for about a week or so. I need to go buy more feed and I'm trying to decide if I should stick w/ Flock Raiser and add oyster shell. They get A LOT of fruit/veggie scraps from us each day and are able to free range in our yard for about 6 hours/day. I was thinking that with using the higher protein Flock Raiser they'd still be getting adequate protein even with all the fruits and veggies. Or should I jut go with the Layena? If so do I still need oyster shells. What do you think?

 

[jjdward]

I would go with the higher protein feed and give them OS on the side, free choice. I have used Layena but I just prefer a higher protein.

 

[DawnSuiter]

My chickens do not like layena so I continue to use Flock Raiser. Yes the shells ARE nice & hard already without added Oyster Shell, but I've read recently that it may not be enough and so could in the future cause problems with laying shell-less eggs and so forth.

So, I'll be putting it back for them just to be on the safe side.

 

[chickiedoodle]

I feed flock raiser and oyster shell free choice. My flock free-ranges most days though, so they don't eat much store-bought food at all and I want to make sure they have enough protein available to them.

 

[codybird]

Mine have Layena and are doing great. Nice eggs.