Just feeding whatever...

[Lilion]

I can't find the answer, so...

I've not gotten a single brand of food and stuck with it. For a while we fed grower, then we switched to layer pellets when the chickens were older, but paid no attention to brand. I normally get food from a local feed store. It's Purina layer pellets. But if I think if it on a weekend when they're closed, I've grabbed whatever was cheapest from TSC. I mean, I've switched it up a few times. I want to go to all flock since I have a rooster but my husband picked up layer last time again.

Is it bad for them if I switch feed a lot, just buying wherever I am? Do I need to find a certain feed and stick with it? I'm getting an egg a day from 2 of my girls and 5 a week from the 3rd. They've been totally healthy. I do feed them scraps and even some scratch as treats.

 

[Sally PB]

I want to go to all flock since I have a rooster but my husband picked up layer last time again.

I would stick to all flock, with oyster shell and/or egg shells on the side. Plenty of protein, and a source of calcium for the layers.

 

[Lilion]

I would stick to all flock, with oyster shell and/or egg shells on the side. Plenty of protein, and a source of calcium for the layers.

That was the plan. I'm actually more concerned with switching brands frequently. Does it really matter?

 

[Sally PB]

You might find your chickens taking a few days to get used to the new bag of feed, if they're different. Like, pellets versus crumble, or if there are whole grains versus ground feed. Maybe mixing the end of one bag with the beginning of the next?

 

[Luv Ducks]

I also buy whatever is on sale for my 14 Ducks. If I am in Rural King and they have a sale they will get that brand and if TSC and find a bargain they will get that brand. However they do get a scoop of layer, all flock, duck food and scratch grains. I mix it all together. The All flock is granular and the rest is pellets except of course for the scratch grains. I have never had a sick duck or any problems with any of them so I don't see any harm in doing that with my own flock. Good luck with yours.

 

[ptrusselle]

That was the plan. I'm actually more concerned with switching brands frequently. Does it really matter?

Layers have different needs then youngers or roos. Stick with layer types for your big girls, anything for roos, All Flock just has extra Niacin for Ducks which require more niacin as babies. Roos dont need much cater to your big girls first.

 

[Lilion]

Layers have different needs then youngers or roos. Stick with layer types for your big girls, anything for roos, All Flock just has extra Niacin for Ducks which require more niacin as babies. Roos dont need much cater to your big girls first.

It's not like I'm feeding them separately. I have 1 rooster and 3 hens. I've read that layer isn't good for roosters and the all-flock protein is good for everyone, so best to feed all flock and offer oyster shell on the side.

But that's not really my question. My question was if there was some problem just buying a bag of different brands whenever or if one brand should be stuck to.

 

[AntiqueB]

Like others have said, they may take a while to acclimate to new feed. Other than that, I would look at the nutrition of each bag, and decide what levels you want of each nutrient. Most people want a certain level of (usually) protein, so they tend to stick to the brand that has levels they want.

 

[NatJ]

My question was if there was some problem just buying a bag of different brands whenever or if one brand should be stuck to.

If your chickens eat each kind of food, and seem to do fine, then the brand-switching is not a problem.

Most brands of chicken food are quite similar. If you match a few important nutrition points (like percent protein), they are even fewer differences from one brand to another.

Switching from chick starter to layer may be a bigger difference than switching from one brand of layer to another brand of layer, or one brand of chick starter to another brand of chick starter.

 

[Luv Ducks]

My flock of 14 ducks have never cared if I got the feed at Rural King or TSC. As long as they get fed which they surely do it doesn't matter to them where it came from. They have all stayed healthy so I haven't really paid that much attention to what is in each other than to make sure they get Niacin for their legs. I did loan some of them out for a University study on Duck Feed and the student I let have them was trying all sorts of different feeds on them. Interesting enough none of the flock he had, part of mine and part of another person's in Michigan would touch the Mauzi Water Fowl food which was supposed to be one of the best. I think I spelled the feed wrong but most people's ducks love it. Mine and the rest of the flock from someone else would not touch it. That was the only feed they would never touch. Sorry I jumped in here, I know you have chickens but I know they are all birds.