I can certainly understand your concern. For me, in this crazy hatching season, when integrating the younger flock with my hens and other animals, I feed the entire flock Purina Flock Raiser
The young and older chickens can eat it. I know a lot of people on BYC who use Purina Flock Raiser and are very satisfied. Once they reach the laying age, then you can switch them to lay pellets if that is what you would like to do. Some people continue to feed Flock Raiser as a daily feed.
Feed Form: Pellets or Crumbles
How and When to Feed:
1.Feed Purina Mills
Flock Raiser
SunFresh
Recipe as the sole ration to free-range and confined chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks).
2.For free-range and confined turkeys, first feed Purina Mills
Game Bird Chow
Startena
as the sole ration from hatch until 8-10 weeks old. Then feed them Purina Mills
Flock Raiser
SunFresh
Recipe until laying age (18-20 weeks).
3.At 18-20 weeks of age, feed Purina Mills
Layena
SunFresh
Recipe free-choice to chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese.
4.Always provide shelter and a constant supply of fresh, clean water.
5.Consumption will vary depending upon season of the year, nutritional needs of the animals and availability of other foods.
Important:
A feeding program is only as effective as the management practices. Actual results can vary depending upon feed intake, environmental conditions and the quality of management practices.
Caution:
Store in a dry, well-ventilated area free from rodents and insects. Never use moldy or insect-infested feed.
Guaranteed Analysis
Protein, not less than 20.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.95%
Methionine, not less than 0.35%
Fat, not less than 3.5%
Fiber, not more than 5.0%
Calcium, not less than 0.8%
Calcium, not more than 1.3%
Phosphorus, not less than 0.7%
Salt, not less than 0.35%
Salt, not more than 0.85%
Vitamin A 7,000 IU/lb
Vitamin E 14 IU/lb
As far as the BOSS, Rice Grains and Scratch, I don't feed the younger ones BOSS until they are about 4 months old but I do throw in a little rice grains every now and then. However, I am sure as long as you have Oyster shell, the BOSS will be ok to feed the younger ones. The older hens get BOSS and Rice Grains every day. I mix it with the daily feed. The BOSS and Rice Grain along with Lay pellets is in the large hanging feeder in the raised coop and a few other coops that only house the older hens. The young ones don't ever get into the raised coop to eat the lay pellet mixture. I don't think they even notice the high coop.
I feel that the BOSS also helps with egg production. BOSS is so expensive nowadays. I went to
TSC yesterday and noticed that a 40lb bag of BOSS is $27.00.
I was lucky enough to find 1 - 40lb bag of BOSS for $20.00 (it was reduced for some reason) and with my in-house coupon, it was only $19.00. The 20 lb bags of BOSS have increased from $9.99 to $14.99. OUTRAGEOUS!
