Food for 2nd Stage

[MLE]

Just got our chicks a few days ago and using medicated crumbles I’m considering a few different foods for next stage and wondered if anybody has used Grubbly Farms products and if so thoughts?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

More important than the brand name is the guaranteed analysis. Most manufacturers make feed that is at least adequate for the birds of the age it is intended to feed. Depending on age, crude protein % and calcium % are of primary importance. For growing chicken chicks about 18-20% protein is good and under 1.5% calcium.
Lysine, methionine, vitamin A, D and E should be as high as you can find in a prepared feed.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I keep everyone on chick starter or all flock with oyster shell on the side. I haven’t looked into that particular brand but buy from a more local mill.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

More important than the brand name is the guaranteed analysis. Most manufacturers make feed that is at least adequate for the birds of the age it is intended to feed. Depending on age, crude protein % and calcium % are of primary importance. For growing chicken chicks about 18-20% protein is good and under 1.5% calcium.
Lysine, methionine, vitamin A, D and E should be as high as you can find in a prepared feed.

Since all feeds are adequate for growth, an easier thing to focus on is the mill date on the bag of feed before you purchase it.
It is best if the feed had been milled within a month of use. That is rarely possible but at least try to stay newer than 3 months.
Amino acds, vitamins and fats age and lose their potency quickly. A fresh average feed is better than a superior feed that is 4 or 5 months old.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I go straight from starter to layer feed (pellets). If the medication concerns you then after the first six weeks you can go to a non-medicated starter if you can find it. They get starter until I find the first egg then I begin mixing the starter and the layer feed until the starter is used up. Mix a little oyster shell into the feed. Don't need a lot.

I've gone both ways on supplements of any kind. Pretty much all I do along those lines anymore is to once a day put some finely chopped greens in a broad shallow dish. It may take them a day or two to realize it's good, but after that they'll clean them up quick. I only put in as much as they can clean up in an hour. Otherwise I want them to eat their balanced ration.