Im looking for my chicks new food

[Chickensarecool123]

Hi I currently have 2 buff orpington’s one 15 weeks, the other 7 weeks, the last food I gave them they didn’t like, dumor all flock pellets, maybe because its too big for them I dont know, do you guys have any recommendations? I already have oyster shells so I kind of want one that I can feed for the rest of their lives, also crumbles if possible, and can I give them chick feed all their life with oyster shells? Thanks in advance

 

[coach723]

They don't need oyster shells until they are laying. They do need to have grit (crushed granite) available all the time. Grit comes in two sizes, one for chicks, one for grown birds. You can feed all of them an all flock/flock raiser type feed. I start my chicks on chick starter/grower and once they've gone through one big bag, they are switched to flock raiser, that's what I feed mine. Purina makes one that is pretty widely available, and is a crumble. Flock raiser feeds do not have the extra calcium in them, better for chicks, roosters, older hens that don't lay anymore, and birds out of lay due to season, molt, etc. I feed flock raiser and have oyster shell in separate feeders all the time. If the flock raiser is out of stock, I will get chick starter/grower and feed that to every body until the other is back in stock. I never feed layer feed anymore, I have so many mixed ages, and multiple roosters. My birds don't care for Dumor, and they prefer crumbles as well.

 

[Chickensarecool123]

They don't need oyster shells until they are laying. They do need to have grit (crushed granite) available all the time. Grit comes in two sizes, one for chicks, one for grown birds. You can feed all of them an all flock/flock raiser type feed. I start my chicks on chick starter/grower and once they've gone through one big bag, they are switched to flock raiser, that's what I feed mine. Purina makes one that is pretty widely available, and is a crumble. Flock raiser feeds do not have the extra calcium in them, better for chicks, roosters, older hens that don't lay anymore, and birds out of lay due to season, molt, etc. I feed flock raiser and have oyster shell in separate feeders all the time. If the flock raiser is out of stock, I will get chick starter/grower and feed that to every body until the other is back in stock. I never feed layer feed anymore, I have so many mixed ages, and multiple roosters. My birds don't care for Dumor, and they prefer crumbles as well.

I have plenty of grit and oyster shells available if needed, but can i feed flock raisers if i have calcium when they start laying? I also noticed my chickens dont like anything dumor unless it is grit or oyster shells

 

[coach723]

Yes, you can feed flock raiser their whole lives, just have the grit and oyster shell available all the time in separate feeders. They will take what they need when they need it. That is how many of us feed our flocks.

 

[Chickensarecool123]

Yes, you can feed flock raiser their whole lives, just have the grit and oyster shell available all the time in separate feeders. They will take what they need when they need it. That is how many of us feed our flocks.

Do you recommend any brand in particular?

 

[Chickensarecool123]

Yes, you can feed flock raiser their whole lives, just have the grit and oyster shell available all the time in separate feeders. They will take what they need when they need it. That is how many of us feed our flocks.

Also thanks a ton

 

[nuthatched]

Nutrena feeds are good.

 

[Chickensarecool123]

Nutrena feeds are good.

Will try thanks~

 

[coach723]

Nutrena, Purina, Kalmbach, there are loads of brands, it mostly depends on what you can find available locally, or if you want to deal with shipping. If you find something, try it, get a small bag if available, if the birds like it and seem to do well on it, then you've found one.

 

[Folly's place]

Agree completely! Look at mill dates on each bag, and buy what's fresh where you shop. Here it's Flock Raiser, best price over Nutrena, and the store who has Kalmbach stores it outside in an open shed, not safe from weather or rodents.
Mary