Layer feeds

[ChickenWhisperer$]

Im still new to this, does anyone know how to not get my younger chickens to eat egg laying feed because they still don't lay eggs and they want to eat the egg laying feed not the chick feed and the adults want the chick feed, any suggestions?

 

[featheredplanets]

I don’t believe there is a way to get them to eat separate feeds, I would recommend feeding everyone grower and offering free choice oyster shell.

 

[rebrascora]

You can use a hanging feeder with layer feed and lift it so that it is too high for the younger ones to reach and but still at a comfortable level for the laying hens and make a chick creep feeder for the younger ones where you make a cage and chock it up off the ground by 2-3 inches so that the younger ones can duck underneath and get inside the cage but the adult chickens can't and place the chick crumb in there for the chicks. You need to place the feeder far enough away from the sides of the cage that the adult birds cannot reach under with their heads and still access the feed though.

Having said that, by far the easiest solution is just to feed them all a grower or flock raiser feed and provide a dish of oyster shell on the side for the laying birds to help themselves to as they need it.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Put everyone on starter, grower or all life stage ration such as flock raiser or all flock. Provide calcium on the side for the laying birds to take as needed

 

[blackdog043]

Put everyone on starter, grower or all life stage ration such as flock raiser or all flock. Provide calcium on the side for the laying birds to take as needed

You can keep your flock on one of these feeds, with calcium in a separate dish forever if you choose. Then you never have to change feed, when adding new chicks. The difference in layer feed is, it has more calcium and less protein (generally). I feed Starter/Grower 20% all the time.
And welcome to BYC

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I too feed an all-flock feed to everyone, with separate oyster shell. I use Flock Raiser from Purina, which is 20% protein, and always fresh where I shop.
Mary

 

[ChickenWhisperer$]

Thank you helps lot!

 

[IndianaGreg]

Welcome! I too feed an all-flock feed to everyone, with separate oyster shell. I use Flock Raiser from Purina, which is 20% protein, and always fresh where I shop.
Mary

I am currently using 18% layer all Non-GMO. but possibly rethinking that. What does a 20% bag of Purina cost you? I am paying about $23 for a40 lb bag.

 

[Folly's place]

That's one reason why I'm buying Flock Raiser; it's $16 for 50 pounds! A very good product, for a good price, and available fresh where I shop.
I eat GMO products every day myself, and don't worry about feeding it to my chickens.
Mary

 

[IndianaGreg]

That's one reason why I'm buying Flock Raiser; it's $16 for 50 pounds! A very good product, for a good price, and available fresh where I shop.
I eat GMO products every day myself, and don't worry about feeding it to my chickens.
Mary

That is great. Whereabouts do you shop? I live in NW Indiana and for that kind of price difference it may be worth it to drive to Michigan and buy in bulk. thanks.