I only have 16% layer.....will I have to avoid feeding treats?

[Pet Duck Boy]

I live in the suburbs, and I'm quite lucky to live close to 2 feed stores. Unfortunetly, they don't have much of a stock...but carry only whats needed. They only have 16% layer, and chick starter. Now I've read around the forums...and heard that 16% layer is just enough, but if you give any other treats...such as veggies, that it will lower their protein levels. This does make sense. My 5 chicks are mostly for pets...but I would REALLY enjoy getting fresh eggs every morning, and I suspect protein would be important for laying hens. Do I have to refrain from feeding veggies? Or could I simply feed eggs back?

ALSO: As I only have chick starter and layer....at what week can I start to switch to layer? My chicks are almost 7 weeks.

 

[Dar]

they will get protein from treats too... mine LOVE chili...LOL and they get protein from the beans and meat

I would not put them on layer yet wait till they are a little older I usually feed mine starter till they are about 3 - 4 months old (but i tend to be over cautious too)

 

[underground chickenman]

If you worry about their protein when they start laying and you would normally put them on the layer, leave them on the starter and add free choice oyster shell. That will essentially give you a higher protein layer ration. You can also throw in some black oil sunflower seeds for them to scratch in the coop or run. This is what I do, as my birds seem to do better on higher protein.

UGCM

 

[momof2monkeys]

My girls free range our side yard everyday and pull all the yummies out of our compost pile. They had starter until about 3 months old then I went to the layer. They also have oyster shell always available. They get treats ALL the time. I'm a softie.

However, once my only layer started laying she was all of a sudden interested in earthworms. She ate grubs and mealies but never an earthworm until she started laying. I think she just really needs the protein now. Whatever that girl is doing is working. Her eggs had nice thick healthy shells and the yolks are just the most gorgeous shade of orange!

My younger girls aren't laying and so far have shown no interest in the worms either. We'll see what happens.

 

[ranchhand]

For many years I have raised chicks to chickens and had only the selection of feeds that you have. Worked out just fine, lots of eggs.

They did get kitchen scraps and were allowed to free range when I could watch them almost every afternoon.

I switch from starter to layer no earlier than 16 weeks, some advise waiting until you actually get an egg.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Quote:
I have plenty of BOSS. So I can feed laying hens starter, but with free choice oyster shell?

 

[underground chickenman]

Absolutely. I have tried several different feeds and combinations and that is the one that works best for my laying hens. If I just give layer, they tend to pick and eat more feathers.

If you read the labels of start and layer, you will see the main differences are in protein and calcium content. The starter has more protein and the layer more calcium. Oyster shell provides calcium, so if you keep them on starter and give them oyster shell, you end up with a higher protein layer ration. Chickens will only eat the amount of calcium they need, so giving them free-choice oyster shell lets them self-regulate their calcium.

I wouldn't put them on either layer or oyster shell until about 20 weeks or when they lay their first egg, whichever comes first.

UGCM

 

[digitS']

Vegetables can be a little bit of a problem. It depends somewhat on the veggie. Most of them are filled with water, which doesn't much count. But, even if they were dried as dry as chicken feed, then their 9% -10% protein is far from balanced. Trying to balance them takes a PhD in animal nutrition.

Beans & peas are quite high in protein but it is plant protein and requires balancing for a hen to turn it into egg protein. Grass and legumes, like bluegrass & white clover in your backyard lawn, can turn out fairly well as forage. Still, even the great proponent of pastured poultry, Joel Salatin, says you can't reduce the commercial feed consumption by more than 30% - if I remember right. The animal nutritionists usually say about 10% to 20%.

Meat protein is balanced - never throw leftover cooked meat in the garbage, again! Cheese has balanced protein. I just looked at the package in the fridge - it's 30% protein. A laying hen can do a pretty good job with that. They sure enjoy it.

Steve

 

[Jen71]

This site is incredible.
I am amazed that each day I visit this forum, I learn something new.

Here, I have access to "starter", "grower", and "layer" pellets/crumbles. I don't see much of a difference as they progress, except the calcium content goes up and the protein goes down.

I love the idea of keeping them on the "starter" and offering oyster shell for calcium to keep the protein levels high.
Great info guys! THANKS!

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
You should be fine as long as you don't feed a lot of extras like feed store scratch. Feed store scratch is only about 9% protein and will drop the protein of your Layer down fast.
Lets say you feed 90% Layer to 10% scratch the protein of there feed is only 15.30% protein now.
80% Layer to 20% Scratch and now your feed is 14.6% protein.

Now if you are going to feed a higher protein feed watch feeding to much Black Oil Sunflower Seed there only 16% protein and will drop the protein just like scratch...
Lets say you feed a 20% protein feed this is what it work out to.
90% feed to 10% BOSS is now a 19.5% protein feed.
80% feed to 20% BOSS is now a 19.0% protein feed.

Chris