Grubbly Farms vs. Scratch and Peck

[Jbyrd212]

i have given my hens both and they prefer Grubbly farms. I mix Grubbly with Kalmbach organic feed that I get from Chewy. I like to mix the two because the ingredients are differerent and I like giving them a variety. Just thought I would put my two cents in!

Do you get the Grubbly crumble and mix with the Kalmbach organic crumble? Or do you think it’d be fine if I mix Kalmbach pellets with the Grubbly crumble? I just don’t like the feeds with other bits in it or they would pick through for the additives. Hence my preference for the Grubbly crumble form.

My chickens like both feed textures. Crumble and pellets.

Also, can you please provide the specific Kalmbach organic. They have so many different feeds, haha.

 

[Lrnadoon]

When I feed them both products at the same time I just use the crumbles. I use the Kalmbach Organic 17% layer crumbles. When it is really hot here in North Texas I tend to only give them the Grubbly Farms. The "experts" say to not give them corn when it is hot and that is the first ingredient in Kalmbach. I think we all just do what is best for our chickens depending on where we live and what type of enclosure or no enclosure that we may have our chickens in! I know Grubblies is WAY expensive but I have been told that our eggs taste fantastic. Good Luck!

 

[FrostRanger]

Honestly, the nutrition label and mill date is far more important than the brand. You particularly want to be cautious with organic feeds as a lot of them have the absolute bare minimum of protein, lysine and especially methionine

I personally feed kalmbach flock maker pellets which while relatively inexpensive has good nutrition, but again, nutrition is more important than brand

 

[Jbyrd212]

When I feed them both products at the same time I just use the crumbles. I use the Kalmbach Organic 17% layer crumbles. When it is really hot here in North Texas I tend to only give them the Grubbly Farms. The "experts" say to not give them corn when it is hot and that is the first ingredient in Kalmbach. I think we all just do what is best for our chickens depending on where we live and what type of enclosure or no enclosure that we may have our chickens in! I know Grubblies is WAY expensive but I have been told that our eggs taste fantastic. Good Luck!

I’ll be honest. Just transitioned my birds to Grubblies a few days ago. They are adjusting to the feed change. Right off the bat…the shells off some of my smaller birds are remarkably larger.
My mom tells me I’m silly for blowing money, but I have already noticed a near immediate difference.

Getting hot here in Chicagoland. Yup, I was looking at the ingredients. I give them sunflower seeds this time of year.
I might go to a semi-local feed store tomorrow and see if they offer their own or Illinois-based feed. Unfortunately, that’ll probably include corn and/or soy.

Thank you for your prompt response.

 

[Jbyrd212]

Honestly, the nutrition label and mill date is far more important than the brand. You particularly want to be cautious with organic feeds as a lot of them have the absolute bare minimum of protein, lysine and especially methionine

I personally feed kalmbach flock maker pellets which while relatively inexpensive has good nutrition, but again, nutrition is more important than brand

Thank you for your valuable insight. Unfortunately, my 16 hens live in suburbia. The dogs next door would go after them. Point is…I can’t let them free range all day. Has to be under my supervision.
Thus, they do rely on feed more than anything. I’d like it to be the best of the best.

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you for your valuable insight. Unfortunately, my 16 hens live in suburbia. The dogs next door would go after them. Point is…I can’t let them free range all day. Has to be under my supervision.
Thus, they do rely on feed more than anything. I’d like it to be the best of the best.

I don't free range that often myself, they almost exclusively eat commercial feed (I don't believe I mentioned anything about free ranging at all in my original post though). My point is expensive doesn't always mean better and you have to pay attention to what the nutrition label on the feed is saying especially with organic feeds as since organic ingredients are more expensive the companies often just provide the bare minimum of certain nutrients to prevent the prices from being higher than what they already are else less people will buy it

 

[Jbyrd212]

I don't free range that often myself, they almost exclusively eat commercial feed (I don't believe I mentioned anything about free ranging at all in my original post though). My point is expensive doesn't always mean better and you have to pay attention to what the nutrition label on the feed is saying especially with organic feeds as since organic ingredients are more expensive the companies often just provide the bare minimum of certain nutrients to prevent the prices from being higher than what they already are else less people will buy it

Yes, I apologize for the confusing response. I’m saying I thank you for this as it will assist me with n considering the best feed for them…as their nutritional intake is almost solely based off of what feed they are eating. And the fact that you listed the specific feed you use is invaluable.
So, I’ll look over Grubblies analysis again. I really do like that they use their grubs as a protein source. I know the con is more fat. I’ll look and see if they are lacking in the ingredients you listed.
I try to avoid corn and soy, too. That’s why Kalmbach would probably be a maybe.

 

[Jbyrd212]

Honestly, the nutrition label and mill date is far more important than the brand. You particularly want to be cautious with organic feeds as a lot of them have the absolute bare minimum of protein, lysine and especially methionine

I personally feed kalmbach flock maker pellets which while relatively inexpensive has good nutrition, but again, nutrition is more important than brand

I see what you mean

 

[FrostRanger]

I see what you mean

The grubly farms one doesn't look too bad although the protein is lower than what I'd like (too little protein can make certain behaviors such as feather picking, egg eating and general aggression more likely. 16% is the bare minimum required but that's not quite enough for some birds). The only thing to remember if you feed the one I use or any other all flock or chick starter is you have to provide crushed oyster shell on the side for any birds laying (which you should provide anyways, it's just even more important with those types of feeds). The advantage of feeding chick starter or all flock allwitg oyster shell on the side the time is you don't have to worry about who's laying or not as layer feed is bad for any bird not laying (which includes roosters, chicks and hens on break because they're molting or broody and whatnot) due to the extra calcium in the feed. No need to switch feeds because your flock changes

 

[Lrnadoon]

I feel like it's a constant juggle of protein for chickens. One could always give your chickens too much protein and then there is a problem on that side as well! I feed them grubbly farms mostly but I also give them protein treats. Just a note on oyster shell, My girls will only eat the Oyster shavings. I have found my egg shells got much better after I switched to Scratch and Peck Oyster shavings. Cheers!