Layers' Food?

[Stands With A Fiddle]

Hi -- So I am still new to this. I am using regular poultry mix to feed my girls. I also give them scraps from the garden and other food scraps. May question is whether or not I should be using a laying hen blend of food? What makes that stuff different from the regular poultry food mix, anyway?

They are pullets (except one that is a little older and lays). So, my girls should be laying any day now. I'm getting impatient.

 

[gottalovemychickens]

Step 1 . Waiting will pay off PROMISE

Step 2 . I would stick with layer feed only , only because i stopped feeding layers their own feed and they stopped laying eggs for me .

Step 3 . Snacks are ok just not to many .

Step 4 . Enjoy your chickens !!!!

 

[flymamma]

When you say you have them on poultry mix , do you mean poultry grains ie, scratch or are you getting your chick food from IFA ?I am in SLC , if you can tell me what brand and type you are using I can give you some pointers ... You want to make sure that they are getting at least 16% protien and higher is better . Also if you have one laying you should be offering oyster shells free choice ... The primary difference in feeds is the protien levels , you should feed them chick starter till about 10 weeks then swithch to a grower feed till 20 weeks or when they start laying start lay feed.. Some people never switch to the lay feed , instead they just add the oysters shells once laying starts . BTW if you buy your food at AA Calisters they have a stamp card , if you buy seven bags of food you get the 8th free . Also utah co-op in 19th and redwood has CHEAP organic yogurt , my chicks love it !

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

Quote:
Thanks... I am buying the Poultry Mix in the blue bag from IFA. I am also feeding oyster shells and feeding them egg shells (since my dad who had chickens growing up said you should feed them egg shells for their minerals).

Where is an AA Calister's in SLC?

Also, see my post in the Utah thread of Locations? I am trying to get together some chicken folks to talk shop over lunch on Saturday the 5th. Emigration Market (13th South and 17th East) around 1:15PM. Are you available???

 

[Stands With A Fiddle]

Oh, and to answer your other question... They are well over 20 weeks so they are past needing chick start.