Layer Feed Suggestions

[Jess-97]

Good morning all - I am fairly new to raising chickens and have a flock of 12 hens. I bought them as pullets and the lady I bought them from was feeding fermented Scratch and Peck. To try to lower the cost, I switched to Home Fresh Extra Egg Layer. They seem to love it, but since the switch I have noticed a change in feathers (just not as shiny and some feather picking) along with some random illnesses.... but that could be our crazy Colorado weather I also can't buy it locally and TSC charges $15+ for shipping.
Would love to hear everyone's favorite brands (or brands to stay away from).... Especially from the experts @azygous @casportpony @Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock

Thank you all!!!

 

[casportpony]

Purina and Nutrena are good. I'm cheap, so I buy my feed store's house brand.
https://farmerswarehouse.com/

 

[Weeg]

I use fermented Scratch and Peck, I love it! I prefer to stay away from any brand that isn't Organic, but thats for my own personal opinions. Theres plenty of controversial opinions on that, and I wont start that debate.
Can you explain what your seeing? I personally do think that S&P is higher quality ingredient wise than most cheeper feeds. That may not be the reason your seeing what your seeing though.
What diseases? Unless your feeding a ton of treats and they have fatty liver disease, feeds wont cause diseases. What is the protein of the feed your using? How large is the space your keeping them in, and how many birds are in it? Feather picking could be caused by a protein deficiency since switching feeds, and now they're eating feathers to get that protein. Or they're bored and the space is to small which is causing bullying.
Some feeds do make feathers shinier. Depends on the ingredients, and quality of the feed. That may have been caused by the switch.

 

[Jess-97]

Purina and Nutrena are good. I'm cheap, so I buy my feed store's house brand.
https://farmerswarehouse.com/
View attachment 3118696

Thank you for the reply!! I really wanted to support our local feed store and buy from them, but they only make a mash which I tried and there was just sooo much waste. Unfortunately they don't make a crumble or pellet. Thank you again for your suggestions =)

 

[Jess-97]

I use fermented Scratch and Peck, I love it! I prefer to stay away from any brand that isn't Organic, but thats for my own personal opinions. Theres plenty of controversial opinions on that, and I wont start that debate.
Can you explain what your seeing? I personally do think that S&P is higher quality ingredient wise than most cheeper feeds. That may not be the reason your seeing what your seeing though.
What diseases? Unless your feeding a ton of treats and they have fatty liver disease, feeds wont cause diseases. What is the protein of the feed your using? How large is the space your keeping them in, and how many birds are in it? Feather picking could be caused by a protein deficiency since switching feeds, and now they're eating feathers to get that protein. Or they're bored and the space is to small which is causing bullying.
Some feeds do make feathers shinier. Depends on the ingredients, and quality of the feed. That may have been caused by the switch.

@Weeg I did love scratch and peck, but its just getting so expensive... $47+/bag here. The feed they are currently on is 16% protein which they have been on solely for about 2.5months... before that I would mix half S&P with the new food to get them used to it. I gave some scratch grains throughout the winter before bed time, but only ~1/2-3/4c for everyone. I did read that feather picking could be due to lack of protein, so I started giving a handful of grubs or i'll scramble 3 eggs for them as a midday snack, but no other treats other than an occasional veggie. As far as space, again we have 12 and their coop is 7'X7', and about 450-500sq ft of run space (150sq ft of which is fully covered and protected from our crazy winds). So I feel like space isn't an issue. I also pick up poop every morning and evening in both the coop and run and deep clean the coop every day. Offer fresh food and water daily, and mix ACV and crush garlic in their water 1-2x/week.
As far as illness... We recently had tapeworms, one hen had sour crop, and some respiratory issues (wheezing and sneezing) which got better with the warmer weather but we just had a 50 degree temp swing which pushed one of my girls back into in, so just got her som Tylan 50 =(

 

[azygous]

Some layer feed has such low protein content that still growing and developing pullets won't get enough for feather maintenance and growth. A feed that has at minimum 18% protein is best. They also shouldn't be getting calcium in their daily feed until after they reach point of lay.

Many of us continue to feed an all flock feed such as Purina Flock Raiser as a convenience and to assure the birds get adequate protein as they continue to develop and fill out until they reach age two. Oyster shell on the side as free choice will take care of calcium needs after the eggs start to come.

 

[Jess-97]

Some layer feed has such low protein content that still growing and developing pullets won't get enough for feather maintenance and growth. A feed that has at minimum 18% protein is best. They also shouldn't be getting calcium in their daily feed until after they reach point of lay.

Many of us continue to feed an all flock feed such as Purina Flock Raiser as a convenience and to assure the birds get adequate protein as they continue to develop and fill out until they reach age two. Oyster shell on the side as free choice will take care of calcium needs after the eggs start to come.

Thank you @azygous I will definitely try a higher protein %!!
They are all a minimum of 15months now and laying, so I offer oyster shells and crushed egg shells free choice, along with their grit.

 

[Eggcessive]

I have used Purina, Nutrina, and Kalmbach feeds with good luck. The layer feed is okay if you have mostly layers. If you are raising chicks, young pullets, and cockerels, along with older birds, all flock/flock raiser is a better choice. The only time my chickens have refused to eat a feed is when I bought a less popular brand at Rural King, and I had to throw out two 50 pound bags.

 

[Weeg]

@Weeg I did love scratch and peck, but its just getting so expensive... $47+/bag here.

That is pricey. Our feed store has it for 32$, which is doable. I wonder if the price rise is due to the fertilizer shortage causing grain prices to go up.

@Weeg I did love scratch and peck, but its just getting so expensive... $47+/bag here. The feed they are currently on is 16% protein which they have been on solely for about 2.5months... before that I would mix half S&P with the new food to get them used to it. I gave some scratch grains throughout the winter before bed time, but only ~1/2-3/4c for everyone. I did read that feather picking could be due to lack of protein, so I started giving a handful of grubs or i'll scramble 3 eggs for them as a midday snack, but no other treats other than an occasional veggie. As far as space, again we have 12 and their coop is 7'X7', and about 450-500sq ft of run space (150sq ft of which is fully covered and protected from our crazy winds). So I feel like space isn't an issue. I also pick up poop every morning and evening in both the coop and run and deep clean the coop every day. Offer fresh food and water daily, and mix ACV and crush garlic in their water 1-2x/week.
As far as illness... We recently had tapeworms, one hen had sour crop, and some respiratory issues (wheezing and sneezing) which got better with the warmer weather but we just had a 50 degree temp swing which pushed one of my girls back into in, so just got her som Tylan 50 =(

@azygous basically summed up when I was going to say about feed. I agree with her on that.
The issues your having could be because of other factors. Nice space! Thats a lot of room, you have some lucky girls.

 

[Jess-97]

That is pricey. Our feed store has it for 32$, which is doable. I wonder if the price rise is due to the fertilizer shortage causing grain prices to go up.

@azygous basically summed up when I was going to say about feed. I agree with her on that.
The issues your having could be because of other factors. Nice space! Thats a lot of room, you have some lucky girls.

Oh man, $32 a bag would be awesome and I would totally keep feeding them it for that price! That's awesome!!

Thank you so much to you and everyone else for the suggestions. I will definitely be upping the protein from here on out! =)