Layer feed??!! Mixed age flock.

[Chickensarecool123]

As a vet i am used to reading nutrition labels and i am learning that what is academia does not always translate to real life. I am mostly looking for practical solutions to my questions. I am curious as to what has worked (or not worked) for others in my position.. a busy professional that also happens to love chickens and ducks, and someone that lives on the border of the suburban and the country.
As such i am considering all flock feeds but wanting to make sure that all of my girls are provided for in order to provide maximal (although laxadisical) production.

My two buff Orpington pullets hate the All flock pellets, we suspect it’s because of the size, considering they are only 15 and 7 weeks old, do you have a recommendation to any food in general? We already have oyster shells so we don’t need layer feed necessarily, thanks in advance

 

[rosemarythyme]

My two buff Orpington pullets hate the All flock pellets, we suspect it’s because of the size, considering they are only 15 and 7 weeks old, do you have a recommendation to any food in general?

Have you tried serving it wet or crushing it slightly into smaller pieces?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Can I jump in here with another question - what is the type of feeding bin that people prefer? I cannot land on anything that seems to really work and stick.

A simple gravity feeder like this one https://www.amazon.com/Harris-Farms-1000290-Plastic-Hanging/dp/B006ZJHDXC?th=1 works fine for me, for dry feed. Easy to fill, and I don't have an issue with a lot of feed being billed out.

Wet or fermented feed needs to be fed in open containers.

 

[Chickensarecool123]

Have you tried serving it wet or crushing it slightly into smaller pieces?

Not wet, kind of tried crushing it they still didn’t like it at all, by wet do you mean butting it in water or?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Not wet, kind of tried crushing it they still didn’t like it at all, by wet do you mean butting it in water or?

Just add a bit of water and the pellets will soak it up, you'll end up with something like oatmeal or grits in consistency. Many chickens prefer wet feed, but I'd just do a small amount at first to see if they'll eat it.

 

[Chickensarecool123]

Just add a bit of water and the pellets will soak it up, you'll end up with something like oatmeal or grits in consistency. Many chickens prefer wet feed, but I'd just do a small amount at first to see if they'll eat it.

Thanks a T O N for the advice will try tmr for sure!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Thanks a T O N for the advice will try tmr for sure!

This worked for me, although it took a while.

Chickens can be fantastically stubborn!

 

[LtDanFan]

Can I jump in here with another question - what is the type of feeding bin that people prefer? I cannot land on anything that seems to really work and stick.

https://www.amazon.com/‎Tgeyd-Chicken-Galvanized-Feeding-Chickens/dp/B0D3KZMRT6

I like this one because i do not have food and water inside their coop. It’s strictly a night time dwelling and a laying place. Because i feed outside, i wanted a more protected feeder. The ladies (and gentleman) have no problem eating from it when they are not scratching and pecking on the ground.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Can I feed all flock feed with oyster shells on the side for their whole life even if i have a mixed flock (one pullet 7 weeks older then the other two?)

Yes. Many of us do.

and often recommend.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As a vet i am used to reading nutrition labels and i am learning that what is academia does not always translate to real life. I am mostly looking for practical solutions to my questions. I am curious as to what has worked (or not worked) for others in my position.. a busy professional that also happens to love chickens and ducks, and someone that lives on the border of the suburban and the country.
As such i am considering all flock feeds but wanting to make sure that all of my girls are provided for in order to provide maximal (although laxadisical) production.

@LtDanFan , I find a decent all flock, all the time, with free choice fresh clean water, and a calcium source (i.e. oyster shell) results in good early growth, reasonably fast, lower stress molts, and excellent egg production w/ good viability.

In theory, an "All Flock"-type feed will contain extra niacin (the ducks need). The excess won't hurt your chickens. May still not be enough niacin if you are raising Pekins, their needs are about the highest (easy to fix w/ some nutritional yeast). Sadly, Niacin is not required to appear on a guaranteed feed label. One of our fellow BYC members contacted Purina and Nutrina about their Flock Raiser / All Flock formulations a few years ago, confirmed they had adequate Niacin amounts for adult Pekins (55mg/kg feed). If you use a local mill, you will need to check with them. We assume (possibly erroneously) Purina and Nutrena haven't altered their nutritional targets too much since.