Mixed flock, what to feed?

[GC-Raptor]

You mean you can feed chick starter all the way into their adult life??

I am currently feeding my 3 year old Golden Comets and my 7 month old Barred Rocks a Non-medicated Starter Grower 18%. With Oyster Shells separately.
One of my 3 year olds hasn't laid an egg since last May.
The 9 Chickens that are laying give me 7 to 9 eggs a day. .
The reason I don't feed a 16% layers feed is because when I switched to it with my first Flock, they started to feather pick. So I won't feed less than 18% Protein. 18 to 20 percent is what works for me. GC

 

[sean_wonder]

Yes and it makes so much more sense than feeding layer feed if you ever intend to have young pullets added to the flock. Birds too young to lay eggs yet should never be fed layer. It has calcium it which their bodies can't assimilate. Laying hens need calcium so we leave bowls or hanging containers filled with oyster shell available at feed stores. Young non-laying pullets won't eat them till their bodies start to crave them at the point when they are getting ready to lay.

but won't chick starter lack nutrients in addition to calcium for adult birds?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

but won't chick starter lack nutrients in addition to calcium for adult birds?

No, beyond protein and calcium the other nutrients are all pretty much a wash

 

[debid]

but won't chick starter lack nutrients in addition to calcium for adult birds?

No, starter is generally higher in everything except calcium. The one cause for concern would be medicated feed. I wouldn't give that to adults because the coccidiostat works by blocking absorption of thiamine.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

No, starter is generally higher in everything except calcium. The one cause for concern would be medicated feed. I wouldn't give that to adults because the coccidiostat works by blocking absorption of thiamine.

Good point, as I never use medicated feed I often forget about it in recommending feed.

 

[Cryss]

but won't chick starter lack nutrients in addition to calcium for adult birds?

No, beyond protein and calcium the other nutrients are all pretty much a wash

No, starter is generally higher in everything except calcium. The one cause for concern would be medicated feed. I wouldn't give that to adults because the coccidiostat works by blocking absorption of thiamine.

I think you have your answer. It's everything an adult need except calcium. That should be offered separately. If its in the feed then babies end up without the choice tty o not eat it, and its bad for them.
This gives mixed age flocks everything they need. I really believe experienced chicken raisers never buy layer feed. It's just unnecessary.

 

[debid]

I buy layer sometimes because it's the only fresh feed at the store in winter. I won't buy stale feed even if the protein is 2% higher -- I can always toss them a little kitty kibble for a treat, I can't make stale feed fresh.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I buy layer sometimes because it's the only fresh feed at the store in winter. I won't buy stale feed even if the protein is 2% higher -- I can always toss them a little kitty kibble for a treat, I can't make stale feed fresh.

I am a date checking fool, *that customer* who will refuse the feed (one place I buy from does warehouse load out on all feed, so you cant see it until you've checked out.....) or, when buying where my husband works, crawling around the feed barn and getting the freshest bag. I have at least been able to enlighten them at dh's store on freshness, date stamps, etc so it's getting better as they have changed stocking and ordering processes.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I am a date checking fool, *that customer* who will refuse the feed (one place I buy from does warehouse load out on all feed, so you cant see it until you've checked out.....) or, when buying where my husband works, crawling around the feed barn and getting the freshest bag. I have at least been able to enlighten them at dh's store on freshness, date stamps, etc so it's getting better as they have changed stocking and ordering processes.

Yeah, I used to buy at a local farm and hardware.
But feed was stored in a warehouse.
Pay first, then drive out back and they would put it in your car.
I now buy where I can see and pick before I pay.
I also have 3 feeds from that store that are Crumbles, 18 to 20% Protein. Two Non-medicated Starter Grower and a All-flock/Flock Raiser crumble.
I buy the freshest one that's available when I'm at the store.
My chickens like all 3, Probably because its fresh. GC

 

[Shadrach]

Very mixed free range flock here, roosters, chicks, laying hens, old ladies who may lay a few eggs a year if you're nice to them.
I used to feed fish based layers pellets at 16% protein and 2.5% calcium and the other important ingredient fat or oil at 2%.
This feed became unavailable and what I could get locally was a vegetable/grain based layers feed at 16% protein, 4.8% calcium, and 1% oil/fat.
I had 3 roosters die of 'unexplained' causes. At the time I thought it was a heart problem.The last rooster to die got a rough necropsy from the local vet. He had liver and kidney damage. He went from looking healthy to looking very dead in 3 days and there was nothing I could do.
The likelihood is he died from too much calcium.
I feed a local version of all flock now, 18% protein, 1% calcium, 0.9% fat/oil. I leave calcium carbonate out by each water station (it very rarely gets eaten)