Is it ok to give 22% starter crumbles to older laying hens?

[tavarel]

I am hearing conflicting opinion over this, so would love to know what anyone thinks. I just bought a 50lb sack of Modesto Organic Chick Starter for my 3 chicks. It's 22% protein and the instructions on the sack say to feed up to 9 weeks. When I told the feed store lady that I would never use it all as I only have 3 chicks at 4 weeks, she insisted that people routinely feed this up to 6 months. I have a mixed flock (youngest 4 weeks, oldest 3 years) that I want to feed all together. I know I will have to give the layers free access to oyster shell to make up for calcium lacking in the starter if I give it to them, but overall is 22% protein safe to feed layers??

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's fine, I personally don't feel they need that much protein but it does no harm and the hens will probably enjoy it. I think I bought too much chick starter as well so I'll be feeding that to all my birds until it gets used up.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Some people feed a high Protein feed, especially if they have a mixed flock or free range all day.
Myself I like a 18/20% Protein feed. I am currently feeding a Non-Medicated Start & Grow 18% to my 2 year old hens with Oyster Shells in a separate container.
Why the huge bag for 3 chicks?
You want to use up that feed within 5 months from mill date if stored in your house.
Sooner than that if stored in coop or shed with Fluctuating temps and humidity.
I had feed go bad last month that was 5 months 1 week old, stored in my house.
I would say feed to all your chickens. I would not feed laying hens 22% myself, but they should be fine. GC

 

[tavarel]

I know, it's a lot of feed. The only reason was that I'd driven miles to get to the feed store on my only day off, and it was the only size they had! If I can feed to the entire flock hopefully I'll get through it soon enough.

Some people feed a high Protein feed, especially if they have a mixed flock or free range all day.
Myself I like a 18/20% Protein feed. I am currently feeding a Non-Medicated Start & Grow 18% with Oyster Shells in a separate container.
Why the huge bag for 3 chicks?
You want to use up that feed that feed within 5 months from mill date if stored in your house.
Sooner than that if stored in coop or shed with Fluctuating temps and humidity.
I had feed go bad last month that was 5 months 1 week old, stored in my house.
I would say feed to all your chickens. I would never feed chickens higher than 22% myself, but they should be fine. GC

 

[GC-Raptor]

Feed to all. Use it before it goes bad. GC

 

[blackdog043]

Yes, 22% will be fine. I use a 20% starter/grower all the time.

 

[Mosey2003]

I routinely feed everyone meatbird which is 21-22%. Haven't had any abnormal organs in older birds I've butchered yet. They don't technically need that much protein, but I don't really think it hurts. And they lay more eggs and feather faster after a molt, which is a plus.

 

[Toothpick]

My chickens eat table scraps of every meat and veggie and bread I eat. Plus I feed them layer feed pellets. I think they will survive the chick feed.

 

[lazy gardener]

The bigger issue is that the feed may go rancid before you use it all up if you only feed it to the chicks. Once a grain has been milled, the nutrients start to break down by oxidizing. A well published poultry feed expert states that feed 6 weeks past mill date is well on it's way to being compromised in nutritional quality. When I have chicks in my mixed flock, they all go on unmedicated starter until the chicks enter puberty.