Homemade chicken feed = later laying??

[FrankHomestead]

They are known as field peas or canadian peas

Thank you!

 

[TexasSam]

I like what you are doing and having fun too! Just wanted to say that eggshells and oyster shell should be made available separately from food or treats...so they can decide how much to eat and they will self-regulate...grit should fed separately too...don't need to mix these in! Too much calcium or to little can lead to problems later.

I use A fairly small amount of calcium supplements 3 to 4 cups to A 40lb bag but maybe your right. I am using less than the directions because I thought it seemed to much

 

[FrankHomestead]

I use A fairly small amount of calcium supplements 3 to 4 cups to A 40lb bag but maybe your right. I am using less than the directions because I thought it seemed to much

Do they NEED calcium supplements in their feed if they always have access to os?

 

[Folly's place]

Everyone needs an appropriate vitamin and mineral balance in their ration; laying hens need a lot more calcium for the egg shells. Mary

 

[FrankHomestead]

Everyone needs an appropriate vitamin and mineral balance in their ration; laying hens need a lot more calcium for the egg shells. Mary

OK thank you!

 

[TexasSam]

Do they NEED calcium supplements in their feed if they always have access to os?

They didn't seem to like it so I was being proactive and sneaking it to them

 

[JaeG]

Chickens will eat oyster shell if/when they need to. Hens have different calcium needs so I prefer to offer it separately and then they can self medicate.

I used to mix my own feed but it is more costly. My girls laid just fine on it. Finances don't currently allow for it but my recipe was similar to yours. My girls love their fermented food too!

Commercial foods are an easy 'one size fits all' convenience food. They claim to have balanced nutrition but from an economic standpoint they will be including the bare minimum requirements in the mix which is often based on light breed laying birds (leghorns - not your heavy heritage breeds) so that they are making as much money from you while the ingredients cost them as little as possible. That is why soy is included rather than animal proteins - it's a lot cheaper.

As long as your chickens are getting a very varied diet with access to different greens, some animal protein and a variety of grains then they'll be just fine.

If your production birds are all from the same place then it could well be their genetics that's causing them to start laying later - and that's not necessarily a bad thing where production breeds are concerned.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Chickens will eat oyster shell if/when they need to. Hens have different calcium needs so I prefer to offer it separately and then they can self medicate.

I used to mix my own feed but it is more costly. My girls laid just fine on it. Finances don't currently allow for it but my recipe was similar to yours. My girls love their fermented food too!

Commercial foods are an easy 'one size fits all' convenience food. They claim to have balanced nutrition but from an economic standpoint they will be including the bare minimum requirements in the mix which is often based on light breed laying birds (leghorns - not your heavy heritage breeds) so that they are making as much money from you while the ingredients cost them as little as possible. That is why soy is included rather than animal proteins - it's a lot cheaper.

As long as your chickens are getting a very varied diet with access to different greens, some animal protein and a variety of grains then they'll be just fine.

If your production birds are all from the same place then it could well be their genetics that's causing them to start laying later - and that's not necessarily a bad thing where production breeds are concerned.

Thank you! I'm so glad to hear your birds did well on a homemade feed similar to mine! Ya know what I was thinking...there may not be a grain of truth to this, but...I was wondering if perhaps commercial feeds are specifically formulated to get the hens laying earlier. Or maybe something in it...maybe hens aren't "meant" to mature so soon. kind of like the gmos and hormones in human food making females mature so much faster than they used to....12 yr olds walking around passing for drinking age hahaha

 

[FrankHomestead]

Chickens will eat oyster shell if/when they need to. Hens have different calcium needs so I prefer to offer it separately and then they can self medicate.

I used to mix my own feed but it is more costly. My girls laid just fine on it. Finances don't currently allow for it but my recipe was similar to yours. My girls love their fermented food too!

Commercial foods are an easy 'one size fits all' convenience food. They claim to have balanced nutrition but from an economic standpoint they will be including the bare minimum requirements in the mix which is often based on light breed laying birds (leghorns - not your heavy heritage breeds) so that they are making as much money from you while the ingredients cost them as little as possible. That is why soy is included rather than animal proteins - it's a lot cheaper.

As long as your chickens are getting a very varied diet with access to different greens, some animal protein and a variety of grains then they'll be just fine.

If your production birds are all from the same place then it could well be their genetics that's causing them to start laying later - and that's not necessarily a bad thing where production breeds are concerned.

And I completely agree with the quality of commercial feed. not to mention it's all ground up and loses nutrients quickly that way...though I'm sure there's some type of preservative in there...but why grind then preserve..I'm all for feeding high quality, organic WHOLE foods, while fermenting to allow the birds to better absorb all the wholesome goodness. I feed my family fresh, real, whole foods so why not my flock who (will) provide us with fresh eggs

 

[FrankHomestead]

So I've been feeding the girls twice a day now, first thing in the morning when I bring them out in the tractor, then again at night when bring them back in the coop. And they are not finishing it all either time. so I'm thinking I was not under feeding...I will still feed twice a day but lessen the amount. it really isn't even that much food, maybe 3 cups each time for 6 pullets. But, being it's fermented they fill up faster and eat less. I have been adding a sprinkle of salt, chili powder, garlic powder, and dry milk to use up the little pack I have since the last we talked. I have to admit it smells good enough for me to eat! I know my dogs love it...they gobble up any bit that falls to the ground lol