I'm back [and will try to return to the prior pace of Commenting]

[U_Stormcrow]

apologies for my absence, a computer blew up and that was just the start of household troubles (and expenses). Still in process of moving stuff from the old machine to the new (which has started spontaneously rebooting, at less than a week old... hopefully something loose from assembly - will check when I install the additional hard drive later tonight).

Have missed the BYC community.

[and yes, this isn't really the place for this post, excepting that comments on the feed forums are what I'm known for. I hope the Admins will forgive, and my fellow posters are understanding of my recent silence]

Picture of part of the most recent hatch, by way of apology.

Look at that bird at front right - starting to show some appearance near successes in my culling project. Have high hopes for this boy!

 

[OnlySympathy]

Welcome back! Hope everything with the new computer and anything else going on ends up okay

Cute chicks too!

 

[TioBollio]

a computer blew up and that was just the start of household troubles (and expenses). Still in process of moving stuff from the old machine to the new (which has started spontaneously rebooting, at less than a week old...

I feel your pain.
I would rather walk barefoot in a tub of angry scorpions before going into BIOS again!
Very healthy looking birds!

 

[Sally PB]

Sorry for the computer issues. Computers are like the

... little girl
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.

When she was good,
She was very good indeed,
But when she was bad she was horrid.

--Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

[FrostRanger]

Welcome back! And adorable chicks

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Stormcrow, I have been reading and searching this forum trying to find the best feed for my flock. I have 10 young laying hens. They are currently on a 20 percent protein pellet feed recommended by the local feed store. I supplement with lots of fresh vegetables and occasional treats like mealworms and sardines. Occasional - maybe a handful once a week.
I don't care to spend more for organic because I don't think it's necessarily better (ducking flying arrows). I think they need approximately 3.5 percent met and ,85 lysine - correct?
Questions: is it bad for corn to be the first ingredient?
Do you have any other suggestions?
You mentioned somewhere a good feed milled in Texas. I can't find that reference for the life of me. Could you please repeat it?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

.3 Met and .7 Lys are the old NRC recommended minimums (jump to p5) for adult laying production hens based on a 100g/day diet. If you want to read the whole of the old paper, India maintains a copy here (slow download).

Based on my readings, and my flock's purpose, my own targets are about 15% higher. 0.35% Met, 0.85% Lys. Yes. Those numbers come from a number of assumptions on my part, and some blending of various bird "purposes", in that my birds are layers, breeders of the next generation, and are used for ancillary meat production.

And "West Feeds" is what you are looking for. @West Feeds

[EDIT] It appears feed makers like West, Tucker, Harrell, others are limited in what they can post. I was unaware. Now that I give it some thought, if I ran BYC, I might make the same moderation decision myself. [end EDIT]

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Thank you so much!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

.3 Met and .7 Lys are the old NRC recommended minimums (jump to p5) for adult laying production hens based on a 100g/day diet. If you want to read the whole of the old paper, India maintains a copy here (slow download).

Based on my readings, and my flock's purpose, my own targets are about 15% higher. 0.35% Met, 0.85% Lys. Yes. Those numbers come from a number of assumptions on my part, and some blending of various bird "purposes", in that my birds are layers, breeders of the next generation, and are used for ancillary meat production.

And "West Feeds" is what you are looking for. @West Feeds (Not active since initial account creation, sadly. Wish more local mills would become involved. This means you, Tucker Milling, and you Harrell Milling!)

This one, right?

https://westfeeds.com/product-category/chicken-feed/

 

[U_Stormcrow]

This one, right?

https://westfeeds.com/product-category/chicken-feed/

That's the one.

and happy to share, that's what BYC is for.