layena vs flockraiser

[UGAchick]

My flock raiser (purina) comes in both crumbles and pellets at my local feed store

 

[bantam_n00b]

Yeah i think it just depends on where you live mainly, I'm in California and my bag was crumbles, the only thing i hate about it is the dust in the bag it wastes a lot of the feed. Other than that i think it's good to feed the chicks and the whole flock flockraiser from day 1 or day 3 whenever that start to eat up to when they start laying and then i would supplement with oyster shells.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
It depends on where you live I think. Here in central AR I can only get crumbles - --- that is my ONLY complaint about it.

 

[UGAchick]

How do you feed the pellets? I use crumbles because I put them into a PVC pipe feeder that I made.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Quote:
Same way you do.

 

[JennB]

my chicks are only a week old, i am feeding them medicated starter. when i switch them to a flock raiser i plan to get it from a local farm feed store. they make it themselves, what percentages of protein and calcium should i make sure it has. i have heard its really good feed, i just need to know if i need to supplement anything.

also my ladies seem to go crazy running everywhere, chasing each other and jumping to the perches between 9 and 10, is this normal?

 

[jennh]

I feed Layena, but mostly because it has tagetes (marigold)in it. Also, I thought the flock raiser was more for ducks and turkeys, but now I'm gonna try it

Jen

 

[Tala]

Quote:
What we are talking about is Purina brand Flock Raiser. It is a grower feed for various kinds of birds of various ages. It does not have the extra calcium that "layer" feed has in it for the hens to produce eggshells, that is why we supplement with oyster shell on the side, free choice so that only the hens who are laying have to eat it. Too much calcium is not good for younger birds.

Something a local feed store makes themselves will not be the same thing, although it could be based on the same idea. You will have to figure out what is in it before you will know if you need to supplement something, but if it has a good reputation among other chicken keepers then it's probably good stuff.

Personally, I always offer free choice oyster shell, no matter what type of feed I'm using, because it's a cheap way to ensure that they have enough of what they need.

 

[bantam_n00b]

Quote:
I'm currently using both flockraiser and the start n grow medicated starter, flockraiser is higher in protein i believe its 20% protein compared to start n grow's 18%. You can switch them whenever you want but what i've done a couple of times is around week 2 or so i start mixing 50/50 starter and flockraiser and eventually switch to flockraiser, this way the chick's immune system is more developed while on the medicated feed. Feeding flockraiser you do not need to supplement it with anything it is a good base feed. Unless you have pullets or hens that are laying you want to give them oyster shells along with the flockraiser. The only drawback on flockraiser would be the dust if you get the crumbles and the fact that it has no animal protein other than that its a good feed. Treats every now and then would be good too just don't over do it with the treats.

 

[jennh]

Quote:
I'm currently using both flockraiser and the start n grow medicated starter, flockraiser is higher in protein i believe its 20% protein compared to start n grow's 18%. You can switch them whenever you want but what i've done a couple of times is around week 2 or so i start mixing 50/50 starter and flockraiser and eventually switch to flockraiser, this way the chick's immune system is more developed while on the medicated feed. Feeding flockraiser you do not need to supplement it with anything it is a good base feed. Unless you have pullets or hens that are laying you want to give them oyster shells along with the flockraiser. The only drawback on flockraiser would be the dust if you get the crumbles and the fact that it has no animal protein other than that its a good feed. Treats every now and then would be good too just don't over do it with the treats.

I like the fact that there is no animal protein and just vegetable protein in Layena. There are a couple of feed mill stores in my area, but they have animal protein in theirs, and I like to know where the animal protein came from. Ruminants? Diseased cows, horses?

JMHO,
Jen