Help decide which feed to give to my chickens...

[Lainey-chick]

I have 10 pullets and 1 cockerel. They are about 14 weeks old and currently eating Nutrena NatureWise Chick Starter Grower 18% feed.

Is 18 weeks the time to switch or should I switch sooner?

I know I shouldn’t put them on layer feed because it could negatively affect the rooster’s health. I also know I need to keep oyster shell on the side for the hens.

My options are to keep them on NatureWise Chick Starter Grower indefinitely. Switch to the NatureWise Feather Fixer 18% feed, which has really good reviews. I have also seen good reviews on Kalmbach Chickhouse Reserve 18% feed, which is appealing because it’s seeds, veggies, and grains. I looked at the All Flock feeds, but they are confusing because I don’t have any other poultry, just chickens.

 

[My Bagurks]

All Flock typically just means it doesn’t have added calcium. 18 weeks is old enough to not need starter. I have not used those feeds personally, but the naturewise feather fixer sounds like a really good option. You can switch now or wait until your current bag is used up.

I feed mine 22% layer feed from Tucker Milling Co. My long term plan involves cycling roosters of different breeds through, so the long-term health effects to the roosters isn’t an issue. They are all happy and healthy. The only time I switch feed is when a hen hatched chicks. I put mama and the babies on a chick starter and keep them separate for a week or two. Once the babies are up and about, I switch the whole flock to an all flock grower mini pellet and offer oyster shells. I give them 3 months or so then switch back to the 22% layer.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can just use the feed you're currently using if you're happy with it.

If you want to switch to the Kalmbach because it has whole grains, you should consider wetting or fermenting it to ensure the birds eat everything in the mix.

With the feather fixer, I know at least one "feather fixer" feed is actually formulated for layers, so check calcium level. It's an easy way to check if any feed is appropriate for your flock regardless of name. Around 4% calcium is for layers, whereas 1% is starter, grower, all flock etc.

 

[Brooks_]

With the feather fixer, I know at least one "feather fixer" feed is actually formulated for layers, so check calcium level. It's an easy way to check if any feed is appropriate for your flock regardless of name. Around 4% calcium is for layers, whereas 1% is starter, grower, all flock etc.

Adding emphasis.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I use all flock with oyster on the side, free choice for my flock of 10 laying hens, 1 rooster, 1 cockerel, 6 non-laying pullets, and 5 laying ducks.

However, the calcium levels were not enough for my ducks, even with the oyster (which they do eat). Two of them have had significant problems due in part to the lack of calcium. I have now started mixing layer feed in. The all flock has 1% calcium. The layer has 4%. I've consulted 3 separate avian specialists, and they all said that should work in the short term until I can separate my ducks.

Tl;dr: All flock is fine, but keep an eye on egg quality and laying health of your hens.

 

[Lainey-chick]

You can just use the feed you're currently using if you're happy with it.

If you want to switch to the Kalmbach because it has whole grains, you should consider wetting or fermenting it to ensure the birds eat everything in the mix.

With the feather fixer, I know at least one "feather fixer" feed is actually formulated for layers, so check calcium level. It's an easy way to check if any feed is appropriate for your flock regardless of name. Around 4% calcium is for layers, whereas 1% is starter, grower, all flock etc.

This is what the website says regarding the Feather Fixer...so, is this too much calcium for the rooster? I assumed it would be okay because of their description below.

NatureWise® Feather Fixer 18% Poultry Feed is crafted with the right balance of protein, amino acids, chelated minerals, and fat to support feather growth during molt as well as keep your birds looking their best all year long. Fortified with vitamin D3 and essential oils for healthier hens and eggs, maximized egg production, superior eggshell strength, and noticeably vibrant egg yolks. It is an excellent choice to keep your hens and roosters looking their best.

Nutrient	Level
Crude Protein, minimum	18.0%
Lysine, minimum	0.75%
Methionine, minimum	0.35%
Crude Fat, minimum	4.0%
Crude Fiber, maximum	6.0%
Calcium, minimum	3.25%
Calcium, maximum	3.75%
Phosphorus, minimum	0.45%
Salt, minimum	0.25%
Salt, maximum	0.65%
Sodium, minimum	0.15%
Sodium, maximum	0.23%
Manganese, minimum	110 ppm
Selenium, minimum	0.30 ppm
Vitamin A, minimum	4,000 IU/lb
Vitamin D3, minimum	2,500 IU/lb
Vitamin E, minimum	20 IU/lb
Lactobacillus acidophilus, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Lactobacillus casei, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Bifidobacterium thermophilum, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Enterococcus Faecium, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB

 

[Lainey-chick]

I feed mine 22% layer feed from Tucker Milling Co. My long term plan involves cycling roosters of different breeds through, so the long-term health effects to the roosters isn’t an issue. They are all happy and healthy. The only time I switch feed is when a hen hatched chicks. I put mama and the babies on a chick starter and keep them separate for a week or two. Once the babies are up and about, I switch the whole flock to an all flock grower mini pellet and offer oyster shells. I give them 3 months or so then switch back to the 22% layer.

How often do you cycle a rooster through? I’d like to get hatching eggs soon and raise more chicks, so I’m sure I’ll get some roosters at that point and need to figure out who to keep.

 

[Brooks_]

This is what the website says regarding the Feather Fixer...so, is this too much calcium for the rooster? I assumed it would be okay because of their description below.

NatureWise® Feather Fixer 18% Poultry Feed is crafted with the right balance of protein, amino acids, chelated minerals, and fat to support feather growth during molt as well as keep your birds looking their best all year long. Fortified with vitamin D3 and essential oils for healthier hens and eggs, maximized egg production, superior eggshell strength, and noticeably vibrant egg yolks. It is an excellent choice to keep your hens and roosters looking their best.

Nutrient	Level
Crude Protein, minimum	18.0%
Lysine, minimum	0.75%
Methionine, minimum	0.35%
Crude Fat, minimum	4.0%
Crude Fiber, maximum	6.0%
Calcium, minimum	3.25%
Calcium, maximum	3.75%
Phosphorus, minimum	0.45%
Salt, minimum	0.25%
Salt, maximum	0.65%
Sodium, minimum	0.15%
Sodium, maximum	0.23%
Manganese, minimum	110 ppm
Selenium, minimum	0.30 ppm
Vitamin A, minimum	4,000 IU/lb
Vitamin D3, minimum	2,500 IU/lb
Vitamin E, minimum	20 IU/lb
Lactobacillus acidophilus, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Lactobacillus casei, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Bifidobacterium thermophilum, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB
Enterococcus Faecium, minimum	5.1 MIL CFU/LB

Yes, too much calcium for long term health of a rooster. I use Purina flock raiser (crumble) with oyster shell on the side. I am very happy with it except for the price. You may be able to find something as good or better for less. There was one posted recently that looked great. All I can remember is it is a sister brand to nutrena or nature's best and available in Pennsylvania. I will edit this post if I find it again.

Edit: I got a couple feeds mixed up. One is pilgrims path (NY) posted by @Iluveggers. The other is kreamer feeds (PA) posted by @affacat with more info by @Cindy in PA, but was a layer feed available (only?) In a one ton tote. Unlikely to be useful to you.

 

[My Bagurks]

How often do you cycle a rooster through? I’d like to get hatching eggs soon and raise more chicks, so I’m sure I’ll get some roosters at that point and need to figure out who to keep.

So far, nature has been doing it for me in the form of hawks, coyote, foxes, and local dogs. But I’d like to get on a two year cycle. It’ll give them two broody seasons and a nice mix of breeds. All of my roosters are Speckled Sussex right now and they and their offspring have been doing very well. But I’d like to incorporate Brahmas into the mix to lean more toward a dual purpose flock where I cycle hens and roosters through.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is what the website says regarding the Feather Fixer...so, is this too much calcium for the rooster? I assumed it would be okay because of their description below.

Calcium is too high for non layers (males, chicks, etc) - you want closer to 1% calcium in that case.