Multiple Feed?

[DogPonyShow]

What feed can I give the chickens when most are laying and two others have not started laying yet.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

All Flock/Flock Raiser*. Free choice oyster shell, grit, and fresh clean water all in seperate dishes.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

All Flock/Flock Raiser*. Free choice oyster shell, grit, and fresh clean water all in seperate dishes.

*For our purposes, "All Flock/Flock Raiser" is any feed (regardless of how its labeled) between 18-20% protein, with about 1% +/- Calcium, about 3.5% fat +/-, 0.5% Phosphorus+, 3.5% fiber +/-, and hopefully with Methionine levels of 0.4%+ and Lysine of 0.7%+. In declining order of importance.

It may, in fact, be called "All FLock". Or "grower". Or "starter", or any number of other things. The two most important pieces of information on the bag are the guaranteed nutrion label and the date of manufacture.

 

[DogPonyShow]

I'm just worried that the 7 week old and the 15 week old will get too much calcium.

 

[springvalley123]

I'm just worried that the 7 week old and the 15 week old will get too much calcium.

The feeds that @U_Stormcrow describe, and the calcium levels described, are specifically to provide adequate calcium and other things listed, to chicks. It's thea layer feed which has about 3+% calcium, that would provide too much calcium to chicks. I did the same thing when I had ducks, and I do it today, just as described. Just be sure to provide the oyster shells separately, the laying birds will seek it out. The babies may try the oyster shells, but not to worry, they seem to know what they need.

 

[NatJ]

What feed can I give the chickens when most are laying and two others have not started laying yet.

The same feed they were eating while they were growing.

Just provide a calcium source (oyster shell) in a separate dish. That lets each bird choose how much more calcium she needs. Most chickens are quite good at self-regulating calcium.

"Layer feed" is quite similar to any other chicken feed, except that it contains a higher level of calcium. So if you provide the calcium separately, it is fine for hens to eat "starter" or "grower" for their entire lives. ("Flock Raiser" and "All Flock" are fine too.)