Layer feed for POL chickens

[Brooks_]

Yeah, nah. I'm Down Under, just the opposite with the daylight.
They have gobbled up almost all of their first bag of feed, little piggies, so I'll get a bag of all flock and switch them over for now.

Some/most say to mix for transition. I've not done it, but thought it should be mentioned.

 

[kmart60]

Fair. I think mine get it through the environment more than either.

Are you free-ranging? We have a large yard for ours to roam in from dawn to dusk, lots of grass, weeds, stumps, worms and bugs. Is that how they'd get extra nutrition? Our shells are good quality, yolks a nice colour, not super-orange but not anaemic.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yeah, nah. I'm Down Under, just the opposite with the daylight.
They have gobbled up almost all of their first bag of feed, little piggies, so I'll get a bag of all flock and switch them over for now.

and... I'll set my drink down now and apologize for assuming you were in the US, even though you've listed your location. I've seen plenty of feed bag photos from across the pond, our friends in the EU - and spoke with a handful of posters in Afrrica and the Middle East where Calcium Diphosphate use is more common, but I don't think I've seen photo of a feed bag from new Zealand or Australia.

I've made an @$$ of myself. Again.

 

[kmart60]

If the label says do not feed to male birds of any age. Avoid feeding to non-laying Pullets for more than two to three weeks, otherwise no worries in my opinion.
GC

OK, I'll check out the label, and if it's that kind, I think they've had enough for now! Not sure how old they are, the sussex are full size and 2 of 3 are laying, the Isas sold as POL, they look a little small to me, compared to my brothers' Isas, but I don't care if they're younger than advertised, just don't want to harm them.

 

[kmart60]

I've made an @$$ of myself. Again.

Not at all! Most of the posters are from the USA, it's a fair assumption. I hope you didn't think I was offended. "Yeah, nah" is an Aussie (I think also NZ) term that is used to disagree in a completely friendly manner.

 

[kmart60]

Some/most say to mix for transition. I've not done it, but thought it should be mentioned.

Will do. Although the piggies aren't fussy eaters...

 

[Brooks_]

Are you free-ranging? We have a large yard for ours to roam in from dawn to dusk, lots of grass, weeds, stumps, worms and bugs. Is that how they'd get extra nutrition? Our shells are good quality, yolks a nice colour, not super-orange but not anaemic.

I let them out for about an hour a day. I think they get most of their calcium from the soil (high limerock content). There are other environmental sources. Mine do eat the oyster shell, just nowhere near the amount I've seen as "average".

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I let them out for about an hour a day. I think they get most of their calcium from the soil (high limerock content). There are other environmental sources. Mine do eat the oyster shell, just nowhere near the amount I've seen as "average".

Bugs, more likely. The shell of many common garden/yard/pasture bugs are decent calcium sources. and yes, the bugs are getting iot from the soil. Some of your greens are likely concentrating it as well.

So yes, its from the soil, but chances are, not directly. You are very fortunate in that way.

 

[1muttsfan]

Sorry, all the location that shows up on my screen is Central West NS... - and Kmart sounds so American Midwest!

My advice would be the same though, and just what I do myself - an All Flock until all the young girls are laying and any young boys have matured.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Does calcium carbonate absorb differently from limestone or oyster shell, which one is typical the hen only feed? I feed chicke feed but I wasn't aware there was a calcium source that was more harmful to nonlauimg birds.

Calcium Carbonate passes quickly through the digestive tract, Oyster Shell and Crushed Limestone stay in the Gizzard till they dissolve to a smaller size.

Most conventional Layer feeds that I've bought have Calcium Carbonate and don't have a warning about Male birds.

Layer feeds with Oyster Shells that I've bought and currently feeding do have a warning.

GC