How do you pick the feed that is right for your flock?

[glewis121]

Over the years I have fed my flock feeds from almost every company Blue seal, Southern States, Agway, Poulin, Nutrena, Ventura Grain etc.

How does everyone select the feed that is best for their flocks?

There are some feeds that my flock just didn't like to eat and then others seemed to cause health issues ranging from lost feathers to reduced egg laying etc.

Most recently I have been feeding laying pellets from a local feed mill (Ventura Grain in Taunton Massachusetts) and my birds have been loving it and so has my wallet (it is the least expensive feed I have found!)! They have been laying more eggs and been more active since I switched from Poulin.

So the question for all of you is HOW do you pick what company you feed?

 

[CascadiaRiver]

We have just kept with the brand that we had been feeding them since chicks, we have varied a bit recently for the quail and pigeons and gave leftovers to the chickens but the only reason we got a different brand for the other birds was for the high protein. We pretty much stick with the same brand for scratch and feed; both layer and starter

 

[Pork Pie]

Local availability and protein levels are what I look for. Where I live, growers food is lower in protein than layers food so I prefer to feed my flock with layers (from around 4 months old).

 

[debid]

I read labels. It's hard to find chicken feed with any animal protein in it anymore but that's something I actually look for (chickens are omnivores, after all). This and an appropriate nutrient mix for their age. TSC had a 20% starter/grower crumble that I picked up to try this last time. I'd normally get Flock Raiser when I picked up chicks but the store brand had animal protein AND was cheaper! The chickens seem to like it. I'd rather get feed at the co-op but they only had medicated the last time I asked.