Laying mash vs 14% protein layer pellets

[T.Pierre5]

Hi. Someone recently told me that they give their laying hens 14% protein pellets and their hens lay really well. However, I would like to know if I can switch from Laying mash to 14% protein layer pellets. Would there be any adverse effects?

 

[cavemanrich]

Sure you can switch. Sometimes chickens get finicky when they have a change of feed.
14% protein is below my view of ideal feed. I think 16% is bare-bone minimum used by peeps that want to get best monetary return. I use 18% Alfock, but I'm not in it for profit. Pet chickens here only.
WISHING YOU BEST........................... and

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is the protein percentage of your laying mash?
14% is pretty low for hens in production. Usually 16% is recommended for layers and 17% for breeders. Ovulation requires adequate protein so I'm surprised your neighbor's birds are laying well.
An advantage of pellets over mash is that there is usually less waste.
Layer feed usually has roughly the same nutrition whether it be mash, crumbles or pellets. If they are the same line of feed from the same manufacturer, crumbles and pellets are exactly the same. The crumbles are just pelleted feed that has been run through the crumbler.

 

[PirateGirl]

What percent protein is their current mash?
A drop in protein could slow egg production some in theory.
A change in feed could initially cause a drop in production, just because some chickens are picky and sensitive to changes in diet.
Also, the switch from mash to pellets could initially cause a drop in production, again, just chickens being picky/sensitive.
Also, 14% is lower than any laying pellets I have ever seen available... so I question if that is a high enough percentage of protein for actively laying hens... I don't off the top of my head remember what is recommended.

 

[snow5164]

My hens wouldn’t eat pellets , all the minerals are in the pellets so they can get a more complete feed that way , crumbles can have a fine powder at the bottom that can be all the minerals etc.

But if you ferment your feed it doesn’t matter which form you choose ....I’ve also never bought 14% that’s too low I’d say .

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I also question if it is actually 14% protein layer pellets. Like @PirateGirl, I never saw it before. It most likely wouldn't be a local mill because they usually don't own a pelletizer and I can't imagine a major feed manufacturer making a layer feed with only 14% protein.

 

[PirateGirl]

We must check @KikisGirls feed chart! Hang on.

 

[PirateGirl]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1upDVFXEQPK8PUIF6Sj3Bt5CUQfX1PlTEhg799sDT-qM/edit#gid=0

There are 2 I think I found in there at 14% but the vast majority are higher. They aren't brands any of the stores near me carry, so that would explain why I haven't seen them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm having trouble viewing the chart. Are the two at 14% - layer or finisher?

 

[PirateGirl]

I'm having trouble viewing the chart. Are the two at 14% - layer or finisher?

At the bottom are tabs so you can have it show "layer" feeds only. I don't know if you can look at it on a phone/tablet or not.

There are these at 14%
http://seedfactory.com/products/henny-penny/#layer-pellet-blend-231
https://www.hilandnaturals.com/product/whole-grain-layer-14/
http://www.naturesgrownorganics.com/layers