⠀ Leyena for mixed flocks

[Dwen]

Do you recommend feeding Leyena to flocks of both laying and non-laying birds? Such as ducks and drakes, or laying hens and bantams? What about during molts? It's hard to make sure everyone is getting proper nutrition when they all seem to have different needs.

Thanks,
Dwen

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If any birds in the flock aren't actively making egg shells, they shouldn't be getting 4% calcium, which is what is in layer feeds.
Give a grower or all flock feed and provide oyster shell in a separate container.
Easy peasy.

 

[DrMikelleRoeder]

Ah, you have hit on the hardest thing about raising birds -- different ages and species all seem to have different nutritional needs. Generally, all laying birds will do very well on Layena. We recommend that non-laying birds (be they males or molting adults) be fed Flock Raiser or Start&Grow. Flock Raiser is higher in protein (to support feather regrowth) and energy (making it optimal for cold winter climates), while Start& Grow might be preferred in milder climates or for birds that tend to gain weight when not laying. Hopefully that helps simplify it a bit for you!

 

[Dwen]

So if you have five hens and one roo or drake, how do you feed them separate? I have tried flock raiser with supplemented oyster shell, but went month without any eggs until recently switching to Leyena.

A separate question, would you recommend flock raiser or start and grow as a maintenance for geese?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Calcium in the diet won't cause the hens to lay eggs. It merely replaces that lost in the medullary bones when the egg is in the shell gland.

The month without eggs was likely due to stress (predator, molt, changes in environment, etc.) not the feed. Other than the calcium, phosphorus and protein percentage, there's not a significant difference in the feeds. Higher protein would have the effect of more eggs, not less.

 

[DrMikelleRoeder]

For geese, I would recommend Flock Raiser first, but Start&Grow will certainly suffice and would be the product of choice if your geese tend to get too fat. As for going a month without eggs, ChickenCanoe is correct that it could have been due to any number of reasons (though a month oud be a very short molt). Stress is likely, and if this occurred during the heat of summer, heat stress would be very likely. When it is hot and humid, hens tend to eat less, sometimes a lot less, and this will negatively impact egg production, sometimes bringing it to a complete halt for a while. A simple lack of calcium would at first manifest as weak egg shells and then maybe no egg shell -- just the shell-less egg.

Yes, it is sometimes very difficult to feed males separately, and even if you offer Flock Raiser and supplemental oyster shell, there are no guarantees that the roo or drake isn't also eating the oyster shell.

 

[Dwen]

My bad, that was suppose to read six months without eggs.

 

[DrMikelleRoeder]

Oh, yeah, that would probably be a molt.