Is there a such thing as feeding too much?

[AlabamaChickenLady]

I feed mine an unlimited supply (keep feeders stocked) of layer grain (pellets) then I throw scratch to them once a day that has cracked corn (and other stuff) in it. I also give them greens and vegies as I have them. I mix oyster shells in with the layer grain for them also.

I have 24 chickens and I go thru about 70 lbs of grain and 30 lbs of scratch every 2 weeks. I've heard that just feeding them corn is not enough for them, so maybe that's why they are sooo hungry all the time.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
If they are layers, there isn't such a thing as leaving feed out too long for them. Now the meat breeds - like cornish - I hear that is a different story. If price is an issue, around here, you can get two-grain scratch for the same price as corn- and the protein count is 10%.

Also, oats are the same price- and the protein is around 13%. So for the money, if you should decide to mix in a couple of other things - same price - and higher protein. Corn is good too!

im on a budget for feed, and i can get a 50lb sack of corn for $6, so thats how feeding was introduced to me. im new to this, not even a week into it. If oats will work for an all around feed, i can easily do that for a similar price. would that be sufficient, with corn, greens, and oyster shells as a background feed?

Around here the corn, oats, and scratch are all $10 per 50 lb bag.

Any one of the grains by themselves is not balanced or sufficient. What they would be missing is the higher protein content of seeds. The layer feed uses soybeans (ROASTED) as the protein source usually. I like seeds better, and if you are interested, see my BYC page for more ideas. I pay more than just buying commercial layer feed per lb., though.

The layer feed is (was- before the gas prices went up) $15 per 50 lb bag. That would really be the cheapest option that I recommend to you. But you sounded like you were sticking to a budget where you didn't want to spend more than what you were already spending on corn, so I mentioned the other grains. They really don't LIKE oats all that much, I can tell you. They do like scratch, which has wheat in it, too (at least mine does).

I hope this helps!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sounds a bit like you sort of backed into chicken keeping, but again, just to catch up you a bit, chickens require a substantial, balanced diet. There are some folks who buy a 7 grain mix, and add various seeds like Black Sun flower seeds, and such to mix their own feed. The ingredients are somewhat costly and the time it takes to mix is a matter of choice. 90% of folks merely buy a complete feed. It's called layer crumbles or layer mash and it is $12 a 50 lb bag at any feed store. The keeping of chickens requires a certain financial commitment, but is offset with eggs to enjoy and eggs to sell. Most folks can break even. There is no cheaper way out, I hate to say. $12 a 50 is about the bottom line. If they can free range to supplement their diet with bugs and worms, all the better. For most folks, however, that is only for 4-6 months a year as there is nothing to eat in the winter.

 

[brownmill609]

okay, thanks to everyone for you help. amazing how quickly ive been able to learn some new stuff for this. will change their diet ASAP. a couple mentioned abouy mash and crumble. what IF i purchased a bag of both and mixed it in with the corn/oyster shell mix? would that be better? than hopefully that would help stretch it out so its lasting a bit longer.

than i could even allow them to roam during the summer, and that too could help cut back on the costs. my only concern is...when theyre roaming the yard, where do they lay the eggs? wil lthe lay them wherever they feel like it or will they go back to the coop to lay them?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Yes you could purchase a bag of layer feed, (the texture is mash crumbles or pellets, and is up to you which one you want) and then you could mix some corn in with it, just not too much, I would offer the oyster shell on the side, as that is not actually a food, but a calcium supplement.

Free-ranging is a good way to cut down on costs too.

They should lay their eggs where they always lay them. They need a secure coop to go into at night and there should be nestboxes in there for them to lay in.



Hope this helps!

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

Quote:
Yes you can blend it together for them to strech it out. I buy the 25lb bag of oyster shells and blend 4-5lbs in with 50 lbs of feed (but I have 24 chickens).

As for the egg laying, if you can keep them pinned up for a couple of weeks so they know this is their new home and where the nest boxes are, the hens should come back to lay their eggs in the nest boxes & coop. Most will lay their eggs in the mornings. Although, they can lay throughout the day.

 

[Fred's Hens]

They also need access to gravel, sand or purchased grit. They don't have teeth and use the gravel or sand to grind their food. With a steady diet of corn, this is very problematic. Corn is extremely hard to grind in their gizzards. Just thought I'd add that. And lots and lots of fresh water, every day.

 

[brownmill609]

Fred's Hens :

They also need access to gravel, sand or purchased grit. They don't have teeth and use the gravel or sand to grind their food. With a steady diet of corn, this is very problematic. Corn is extremely hard to grind in their gizzards. Just thought I'd add that. And lots and lots of fresh water, every day.

cool thankyou, and the grit can be purchased anywhere they sell the feed? water is not an issue, i have 3 watering devices and refreshen them each day.​

 

[bantyhen'sfriend]

Yes. In our feed store, it is next to the oyster shell. What we feed is Agrimaster Layer crumbles, we get it at Farm & Fleet for about $11. We add some broiler feed to it as well (broiler is $12) and put some scratch in too (about $12 also). Corn and oats are a bit more than the scratch per 50lb bag, so scratch is the better way to go for me.

 

[waryyear950]

You can always get a bag of feed for laying hens a sack of corn mix them. Keep a feeder full they'll eat what they want.Feed them greens when you can.If you have extra eggs scramble and fry them ,then feed them back to the chickens Make a feeder with two sides .one side put oyster shells the other put grit. if they are getting insufficient food they'll eat a couple sacks of feed in no time flat but will slow down after that.They will lay much better. Wont eat as much once they get there vitamins and minerals built back up.