How do I feed just one hen layer feed? Advice please!

[Ridgerunner]

I use the 16% Dumor’s Layer and the 15% Dumor’s Grower/Finisher, not the regular 16% grower. I don't use Flockraiser so I don't have the comparison for that. Here is the breakdown of most of the analysis, given in percent. I only included those that are mentioned in both. And looking at the ingredients, the Grower/Finisher contains only one thing that the Layer does not, calcium pantothenate. Otherwise the contents are identical. The proportions of these contents are changed a little to give the different analysis, but it is the same stuff. For what it is worth, both are ruminant meat and bone meal free.

You can see that there is a little difference in everything, but the only real difference is in calcium. As far as I am concerned, the differences in the rest are not very different from the variation they would get just free ranging and finding most of their own food.

16% Layer 15% Grower
Protein 16 15
Lysine 0.7 0.65
Methionine 0.35 0.29
Crude Fat 2.5 2.7
Crude Fiber 7 5
Min Calcium 3.8 0.6
Max Calcium 4.8 1.1
Phosphorus 0.5 o.6
Min Salt 0.25 0.2
Max Salt 0.75 0.4

You can find this breakdown on the tag sewed to the bag for Dumors. I expect all the different brands have this information somewhere.

 

[Salvadora.Seabright]

So, there's really no reason to seek out "layer" feed if you've got supplemental calcium out for the hens? I spread a big bag of crushed shell on the driveway for the chickens. Gets it out and it looks tidy in the gravel. Also means I don't have to carry the bag up to the coop area!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Look at the cost per bag, considering the cost of the oyster shell, to see what is best. When I can, I feed Layer because it comes in pellets and the Grower comes in crumbles. I find there is less waste with pellets.

I looked up Purina Flock Raiser, just the analysis not the ingredients. You can draw your own conclusions. To me, Flock Raiser is meant for mixed flocks, where some are raised for egg production and some are raised for meat, sort of a happy compromise for the two different end uses. For pure meat birds, you use something higher in protein for faster growth. The 15% -16% Grower or Grower/Developer is meant to most efficiently develop a laying flock, not just cost but also health efficiency. From what I've read, they develop into better layers if they don't grow too fast or get too fat. If you are growing thousands of chickens, this stuff is significant. If you have a small backyard flock, it really doesn't matter that much. It is highly unlikely Flock Raiser will hurt them. In some cases, I'd even recommend it over Grower. If you are feeding them a lot of treats low in protein, then feeding them Flock Raiser will help get the overall protein intake back up where it should be. I free range mine so they are getting a lot of vegetative matter, weed and grass seeds, creepy crawlies, and whatever else they can find, so I think mine are getting a balanced diet with the Grower/Finisher and oyster shell offered on the side. We are all in different situations so we may have different correct answers to the same question.


16% Layer 15% Grower 20% Flock Raiser
Protein 16 15 20
Lysine 0.7 0.65 0.95
Methionine 0.35 0.29 0.35
Crude Fat 2.5 2.7 3.5
Crude Fiber 7 5 5
Min Calcium 3.8 0.6 0.8
Max Calcium 4.8 1.1 1.3
Phosphorus 0.5 o.6 0.7
Min Salt 0.25 0.2 0.35
Max Salt 0.75 0.4 0.85

 

[Carrie Lynn]

Thank you all for the helpful information, I really appreciate it!