is it really worth buying? or not?

[Kiki]

you don't even have to actually ferment the feed...just soaking it down some with water helps them to not waste and fling it around so much and it helps them to take in more water during the summer heat.

 

[lazy gardener]

What should I feed my 5 month old hens and rooster? I have scratch but that's it do I need layer feed and grit?? And oyster shells?

Your flock should be on either layer feed or multi flock. Scratch is only to be used as an occasional treat, not as a regular part of their diet. If they get out into your yard, and have access to soil/gravel, they should be ok in the grit department. If you have them on layer, they don't need oyster shell. BUT, if all you've been giving them is scratch, you should pick up some oyster shell for them and offer it free choice, no matter what feed you choose to give them.

 

[lazy gardener]

Thanks so much, I just want them healthy is grower feed ok? Or flock feed better?

I do not buy grower, b/c it is only 15% protein at the store I buy from. You need 16 - 18% protein

What percentage of protein and calcium should I get ?

Check the calcium content on a bag of layer. I think it's about 3.5%. What ever it is, that's a good starting place for a pullet or hen of laying age. If you buy something other than layer, you will notice that the calcium content is less. So, if you are not using layer, it's important that you offer oyster shell in a separate dish, so they can eat it as they need it. You can also recycle your egg shells, but if all you offer for a calcium supplement is their own egg shells, eventually you will run into a calcium deficit in your flock. A bag of oyster shells is cheap insurance to ensure that your egg shells stay nice and strong. Calcium is required for many body functions, not just making egg shells, so if your birds are short on calcium, they will rob from their bones to build those shells and to take care of the rest of their physiological needs.

 

[auroaSfarm]

Thanks so much!! Ok layer feed or flock feed and oyster shells. Ok I got it I'll buy it tomorrow thanks again!!

 

[misschickenlover]

If you don't know how much food you should be going through, then you don't know if a new feeder is warranted. So many on here think their chickens are eating too much only to find chickens do eat quite a lot. Figure out how much feed your "handful" should go through by multiplying the # of hens by .25 or .33 lbs. to get the feed per day. HTH

... will be watching how much they eat in the future!... i have to feed all of my feeders daily so would it benefit to only fill the feeders with xactly how much they need for that day (like #chickens x .33lbs)? what are the pros and cons of this...

 

[JaeG]

X2 on Fermenting the feed.
I have ZERO waste.
No spilled feed.

x3 from me!

 

[lazy gardener]

FYI, the poultry feed brochure put out by Blue Seal states that a LF layer is expected to eat .20 - .25# of feed/day. By switching to FF, my feed conversion rate was .18 - .19#/day/bird. This was in the winter, when there was no forage available.

 

[Kiki]

My ratio is under the .25 amount too with the fermented feed. I also don't use more then 2 quarts of water a day for 8 hens...notice where I live.