Our local feed store carries starter, grower, all flock, and layer food for chickens. I have the younger chicks (5 weeks to 4 months old) on grower feed. I went in to buy feed for them last week and the store was out of grower. After looking at the different alternatives I realized the game bird feed ("flock specialty") was very similar to the grower, but was 2% higher in protein.
I bought a 50 lb bag until the grower came in, but after thinking about this, is there any reason the chicks shouldn't eat this? What about mixing it with their chick starter?
What about occasionally giving it to the laying hens or mixing it with their layer crumbles? I sometimes give the laying hens treats of dog and cat kibble which they love and which I read is good to help them regrow feathers after a molt. So if they can have that, why not the specialty feed?
By the way, back when I was a kid we had chickens, bantams, ducks and geese and they all ate the same food and free ranged.
I bought a 50 lb bag until the grower came in, but after thinking about this, is there any reason the chicks shouldn't eat this? What about mixing it with their chick starter?
What about occasionally giving it to the laying hens or mixing it with their layer crumbles? I sometimes give the laying hens treats of dog and cat kibble which they love and which I read is good to help them regrow feathers after a molt. So if they can have that, why not the specialty feed?
By the way, back when I was a kid we had chickens, bantams, ducks and geese and they all ate the same food and free ranged.
