Has anyone ever fed their chickens Hog feed?

[scgamecock]

I have had several people in my area tell me that they feed thier chickens a hog feed that my feed and grain grinds up and they love it and lay like a champ.So I ask the person yesterday at the feed store that I've known for a long time and he said I can't recommend it to you but I feed mine with it.He said it's $1.25 per 50 lbs cheaper and the yolks will be richer.

 

[MissPrissy]

There are alot of people who feed hog feed but the hog feed is made for hogs. It is not balanced for a laying flock.

 

[seminolewind]

No but I give them sweetfeed as a treat, mine is high in oats, not in corn

 

[silkiechicken]

They probably do fine in the short term, but long term might not be as good. I guess if you are keeping a laying flock for 2-3 years and rotating hens out, it won't make a difference really, but to save just 1.50 a bag, is it really worth it? 60 bucks less per ton of feed. That's like one meal for two at a restaurant, a single tank of gas or 3 weeks of plain lattes. Now if it was 5 a bag cheaper, maybe I'd consider it for the layers, but not the breeders.

 

[scgamecock]

I don't know if I will try it or not but i know Larry and everyone in town goes to him for advice and help on animals.He knows as much about sick animals as most vets and will make house calls when needed.He has a great business because people trust him and he helps anyway he can.They have a mill and grind their own locally grown grains and bag it up to sell so he knows what is in the feed and trust it for himself.He said the main difference was the suppliments used as fillers in the feed and the ones used for hog feed was stronger than the one's he uses in the laying mash.I use the laying mash he grinds and have no problems with it so I just thought I would get some other perspective's on it.Some people even grow their own corn and he will store it for you in the silo and give deduct it off the price of feed when you buy it.