HELP**I can't find "finisher" chicken food.(Next step up from starter)

[willkatdawson]

OK so I'm trying to follow the advice given but, I can't find the right food. I have a Roo that lives with my 7 hens, some started laying aprox 4 weeks ago. I am still feeding them Purina Start & Grow. I don't want to feed Layer feed as I know from reading countless posts that it can be very bad for the roo to have the xtra calcium in the layer feed. I do give them free choice oyster shells and the hens love it. The problem I'm running into is both of the feed stores I buy form only have Started/grower, Flock raiser(same as S&G), layer and scratch. I know the scratch is a treat and only fed in cold temps. I am not finding the feed for mature birds that both the hens and roo can have. Can anyone help? Please include brand names so I can see if the feed store I use can order it.
Thanks

 

[CUDA]

Let alone being bad for the roosters, it is just as bad for the pullets that aren't laying as well.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Feed them all Purina Flock Feeder. 20% protein. I feed it too chicks, layers, rooster, guineas, and bobwhites. They are all fat and sassy, good sized birds.

I provide oyster shell free choice, and feed back egg shells.

It can also be feed to turkeys, ducks, etc.....

 

[horsejody]

My birds get Purina Flock Raiser, and oyster shell is available in another dish. The flock raiser seems to work well. New hatchlings get chick starter. When they outgrow that they get Flock raiser.

 

[Beekissed]

I feed all ages layer mash and have never had problems. My chickens are all in peak health and have been eating layer mash since arriving in the mail....roos and hens alike. They also have free choice oyster shell. Mine free range, so they have a more varied diet than do penned birds, so this may be the difference.

 

[CUDA]

That's great that the flock raiser works out, but even though it works out well for you, doesn't mean it is the best method. If you tried to feed that level of protein to some breeds of fowl, like oriental breeds, you would have some real problems show up. Different ages, and different breeds have different nutritional requirements, and feeding them accordingly will improve their health, and help them avoid certain nutritional problems that can come from doing so.

 

[willkatdawson]

Quote:
I think I am going to feed the purina flock raiser also. I only have 7 hens and 1 roo so I think it will be OK. I just don't want any of the problem associated with feeding roos layer that I have read about on the forum.
Thanks

 

[Beekissed]

Now I'm curious....what problems have folks had with feeding roos layer rations? I've never had any problems, so I would like to know what is happening with other people.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Sometimes too much calcium in the diet can cause organ problems, kidneys I think.

 

[Beekissed]

Could someone give me a link to these posts that shows that the problems resulted directly from eating laying mash? I want to be able to recognize the symptoms and find out how they know it came from the feed. Did they do post-mortems on their birds and find this out?