Lets talk about layer feed...

[shelbylewis]

Everything is perfect for me now, I just went out to the coop and told my two Roosters in a stern voice, " Don't you even think of eating layer feed" they both crowed and walked away from the feeder. I knew they would listen!!

Well, I would be doing away with the layer feed all together, I understand that it would be impossible to keep the roosters away from the layer feed if I was still supplying it in my coop. I know us chicken newbies have silly questions sometimes compared to people that have been doing this for a long time but to us every bit of information is very important and I would much rather learn from somebody else's mistakes. I guess my main concern is whether or not an all flock feed and oyster shells will be ENOUGH for my laying hens and will not harm them/deprive them of important nutrients. I was given some informative links on this thread so I will look into those tonight and decide what's best.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Well, I would be doing away with the layer feed all together, I understand that it would be impossible to keep the roosters away from the layer feed if I was still supplying it in my coop. I know us chicken newbies have silly questions sometimes compared to people that have been doing this for a long time but to us every bit of information is very important and I would much rather learn from somebody else's mistakes. I guess my main concern is whether or not an all flock feed and oyster shells will be ENOUGH for my laying hens and will not harm them/deprive them of important nutrients. I was given some informative links on this thread so I will look into those tonight and decide what's best.

I would use the layer feed you have and as @RoosterML posted, mix it half and half with the AF till it is gone. 2.5% is what it will net and not enough to hurt the rooster short term.
It will also give the pullets more of a pre-lay diet and time to acquire more calcium in the medullary bone while they transition to picking up from the source of oyster shell.

A couple other things to do are to provide different feeders for the two sexes. A hanging feeder for roosters that hens can't reach and a hen feeder that a rooster can't fit its head into.
Or keep roosters in a bachelor pen and allow conjugal visits once a week or so.

If you read the link from purina they recommend AF and OS in a separate container.
I'm concerned that most AF feed is too high in protein for some of my birds. While it isn't ideal, I supplement them with more scratch grains to cut the protein and up their nutrients with some Nurti-Drench occasionally.

 

[RoosterML]

Well, I would be doing away with the layer feed all together, I understand that it would be impossible to keep the roosters away from the layer feed if I was still supplying it in my coop. I know us chicken newbies have silly questions sometimes compared to people that have been doing this for a long time but to us every bit of information is very important and I would much rather learn from somebody else's mistakes. I guess my main concern is whether or not an all flock feed and oyster shells will be ENOUGH for my laying hens and will not harm them/deprive them of important nutrients. I was given some informative links on this thread so I will look into those tonight and decide what's best.

I only started early this year with chickens myself so my experience is very limited but I would like to think in my short chicken keeping time frame I have learned a fair amount of stuff.
I believe I will be sticking with the 50/50 mix of grower and layer feed as it puts the calcium in the 2% range and would address your concern of what if they don't eat or eat enough oyster shells.
Also I just had a Necropsy done on a young rooster that had been eating layer feed for roughly 4 of his 6 month life. While it is not a long time frame there was no mention of kidney damage due to high calcium levels in the results.

 

[shelbylewis]

I only started early this year with chickens myself so my experience is very limited but I would like to think in my short chicken keeping time frame I have learned a fair amount of stuff.
I believe I will be sticking with the 50/50 mix of grower and layer feed as it puts the calcium in the 2% range and would address your concern of what if they don't eat or eat enough oyster shells.
Also I just had a Necropsy done on a young rooster that had been eating layer feed for roughly 4 of his 6 month life. While it is not a long time frame there was no mention of kidney damage due to high calcium levels in the results.

Great, I will try the 50/50. Whew - thank goodness for this website! I'll post a photo of the all flock that I ordered

 

[Cindy in PA]

Now that I have added 2 Roosters to my flock and this week needed to buy more food I purchased a bag of grower/finisher (calcium under 1%) along with a bag of layer (calcium 3.5%). I will mix both bags together so that the calcium will average out to be in the area of 2.25%. Poulin Grain does not carry an all flock product so by mixing the 2 products I think I will have the best of both worlds. One thing I really like about the Poulin Grain layer feed is that they add marigold extract. Gives a really deep orange color to the yolks. So for those who do not have an all flock product in your feed brand of choice available this may be a way to achieve the same end result.

Poulin grain does have a turkey/gamebird finisher pellet at 20% protein & 1.10-1.60% calcium. I don't see any layer at 3.5% calcium (only the minimum, but the max goes higher). Are you using the 15% pullet grower with the layer?

 

[RoosterML]

Poulin grain does have a turkey/gamebird finisher pellet at 20% protein & 1.10-1.60% calcium. I don't see any layer at 3.5% calcium (only the minimum, but the max goes higher). Are you using the 15% pullet grower with the layer?

Yes using the 15% grower/finisher (.85-1.35 cal.) Correct the layer production plus had alittle lower ( 3.4-4.4 cal.) I looked at the Turkey/Gamebird finisher but it lacks the Marigold extract I really like. I may give that a go in the future also. I am averaging 2.49 calcium. I would think those are pretty safe levels.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes using the 15% grower/finisher (.85-1.35 cal.) Correct the layer production plus had alittle lower ( 3.4-4.4 cal.) I looked at the Turkey/Gamebird finisher but it lacks the Marigold extract I really like. I may give that a go in the future also. I am averaging 2.49 calcium. I would think those are pretty safe levels.

You could also add other things with carotenes like pumpkin/squash, sweet potatoes, spinach, etc. to make the yolk darker.

 

[aart]

As to your question about the best all-flock feed. That would be the one your local feed store carries.

This^^^ Wherever you can get the freshest, look for the mill date on the nutrition tag or sewband.

 

[fur-mum]

@Texas Kiki has a fantastic link on her signature to some spreadsheets she made with different feeds and their nutrient percentages.

 

[Kiki]

Feed Comparison Spreadsheet