Info needed from you smart people that understand this stuff

[Countrywife]

70% corn and 30% wheat mix - this is what a man near me is selling, at a really great price. But what would I need to supplement this with for my layers? Is this a good mix or just a waste of money.

Thanks!

 

[cap1717]

I think you need a lot more protien in your hen's diet, if they are to remain healthy and lay well. Is the nutrient content of that mix analyzed?

 

[seminolewind]

It's not a good mix. You need layer. The stuff you have is like dessert. A chicken I got with a broken leg from the neighbor never saw layer or calcium, ended up with rickets, and brittle bones and broke her leg just jumping off a 4 foot perch.

 

[Keri78]

You would need to add PROTEIN...I feed my hens scratch grains(combination of a few different things&corn) but I mix it half and half with black oil sunflower seeds for protein. I also give them a scoop of oyster shell on top for calcium. They also free range daily so they get lots of protein that way and I give table scraps(lots of bean left overs(high protein & sometimes protein pasta). They are doing GREAT and laying GREAT! It could be done but you would have to add a few things. I have a rubbermaid storage container and I can fit 100 lbs. of feed in it and mix it myself. Nothing would stop you from tossing in some "layer feed" as well. Are they free range?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
The Grain mix you posted 70% corn and 30% wheat would be around 10% protein and not a good feed by itself for chickens.
As for the question

But what would I need to supplement this with for my layers

I would say quite a bit. You are lacking Proteins, Amino Acids, Minerals and so on.
What you could do is,
Mix 60 lbs of your ( corn/ wheat mix ) and 40 lbs of a good 38% protein poultry supplement/ mixer.
That mix should get you to around a 18% protein.

Chris​

 

[Countrywife]

All my hens are free range, year round. Get the scraps too, but not as much as a lot of you, cause they share with the dog and the goats. I am not currently feeding this, I currently feed Dumor, but it has gone up to 12 for a bag. This is 7.50 for 50 pounds. If I can mix it, it might be worth it. If I have to add a bunch, then not so much worth it, and I should stick to Dumor. I did try the Purina- I get a much better egg rate with Dumor than Purina, and I have no idea why.

 

[seminolewind]

I get alot better hatch rate with Layena too. Nutrena is good, but it makes their poo real stinky.
I personally feed good stuff because I feel it will keep them healthier. My neighbor next door has chickens that eat scratch, and they have skin problems, molts that last forever, and god knows what else. The hen I got from him was skinny.
If yours free range like mine, they go thru alot less feed in the spring summer fall because there's more stuff to graze on. My food pots stay full longer when they have alot to eat outside.