My (quite short) TSC feed experiment.

[la dee da]

I am just not convinced that forcing bakcyard chicken owners to buy eggs would help the egg company's profits since 1) most of us would rather go without eggs than buy store bought golf balls and 2) from what I hear there are egg shortages in the stores too. I would be interested to know how many backyard chicken owners purchase eggs during the winter. I know I personally have done it once. Last time I ran out of eggs and needed a couple for a recipe I asked my neighbor across the street for a couple since she has half a dozen newly laying RIRs. I would rather go without eggs for a couple days than buy from the store but maybe that's just me?

I had to go twenty years without eating eggs outside of egg-light recipes (no quiche for me), so I can’t compare my willingness to others. However, when my hens slowed to a crawl, we saved the eggs for recipes and my hubby and I went without. My sister did buy some from the store for her kids to tide them over, but she and hers don’t notice the difference as much as my hubby and me do. It probably comes down to why one keeps chickens (they’re my hubby’s and my chickens) and if one doesn’t taste the difference as much.

Personally, I’d probably do what you did and ask my neighbor for eggs if my birds had completely stopped.

 

[NatJ]

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if chickens do well on a higher protein diet than what layer feed gives.

If you want a higher protein food for your layers, just use chick starter.

All Flock and chick starter are very much alike.

Both have more protein than most layer feeds.
Both have low calcium, which is right for chicks and other non-laying birds.
The other nutrients are also in the same range for both of them.

When feeding chick starter or All Flock, you do need to provide oyster shell separately, free-choice, so the hens can get the extra calcium they need. That is not as important when feeding layer feed, because layer feed has about 3 times as much calcium as chick starter or All Flock feed.

 

[la dee da]

If you want a higher protein food for your layers, just use chick starter.

All Flock and chick starter are very much alike.

Both have more protein than most layer feeds.
Both have low calcium, which is right for chicks and other non-laying birds.
The other nutrients are also in the same range for both of them.

When feeding chick starter or All Flock, you do need to provide oyster shell separately, free-choice, so the hens can get the extra calcium they need. That is not as important when feeding layer feed, because layer feed has about 3 times as much calcium as chick starter or All Flock feed.

Chick starter only comes in crumbles here, which, when I fed it during my pullets’ growth period, made my chickens act like they were always starving. They are a lot happier with pellets. I also can’t get flock raiser in pellets here .

The good news is the chickens seem to get whatever else they need when they free range our 12 acres, so all is good until I can get a higher protein pellet or supplement (which I plan to do anyway, because chickens love goodies). I am relieved, however, to know that what I’ve read about a higher than 16% protein diet is deadly to chickens is wrong. When I start those mealworm and black soldier fly farms, I’ll be able to feed with far less worry. For that, I thank you.

I also already offer free choice oyster shell, so that won’t change a bit .

 

[NatJ]

Chick starter only comes in crumbles here...

...all is good until I can get a higher protein pellet or supplement (which I plan to do anyway, because chickens love goodies).

If you want to use chick starter as a supplement, you can put some in a bowl with water to make a wet mash. Chickens usually love it, and it tends to stay in the bowl better than dry crumbles (harder for them to throw around.)

But if your chickens are fine with the current food, there is no real need to change anything.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I've also read the theory that in addition to Producer's Pride that all Purina food are tainted by the government to stop laying so we are forced to buy store eggs. And Dumor. Because The Man.

 

[CKfarm22]

I've also read the theory that in addition to Producer's Pride that all Purina food are tainted by the government to stop laying so we are forced to buy store eggs. And Dumor. Because The Man.

I wouldn’t doubt it. My almost 2 year old hens stopped laying but that’s because they went through a molt, now their back to normal.

 

[countrybumpkin5]

Hey everyone! I’m not sure how many of you have heard the “Tractor Supply chicken food is bad” rumor, but when I first stumbled on a video warning me that my Producer’s Pride mini pellets (40lb bag) feed is why my chickens had a weird molt and stopped laying this winter, I got to thinking.

Background: I live in Missouri about an hour east of Springfield, and I have Buff Orpingtons from Cackle Hatchery. When I lived in Virginia, I’d owned red sexlink, gold sexlink, heritage RIR, and heritage Black Java, and I’d fed them Dumor brand feed. None of my previous chickens had stopped laying like these girls did this year. This is my first year with Orpington hens, but I also have five laying-age pullets that my hens hatched. I have seven hens and five pullets (and a rooster).

Armed with the new feed information, I decided to do a little experiment. I bought some local feed and gave that to my chickens for a week, and the results were outstanding! I went from getting 1 egg a day (every once in a while 2) to getting 5-6 by the end of the week! I was thrilled, but I also knew this was after Winter Solstice, and it could be coincidence. So I fed them the PP feed for a week. The eggs dropped a bit in size, but production stayed the same. I wanted to try one more time for two weeks each feed, but I got sick for a week and the kids had to feed the chickens. Both bags were getting low, and the kids just alternated depending on which bag was easiest to get into (they’re still kind of young). The TSC food ran out. I bought two bags of local feed because it turns out to be cheaper and I like its scent better. Also, I like big eggs.

During the time I got sick, the egg production lessened again to 3-4 a day. I’m still only getting 3-4 a day, though they’re a decent size and my chickens have only had local feed for the past week. I wasn’t sure why production dropped again when I’ve been giving them food from the very bag that potentially got them laying 5-6, so I asked my neighbor about her experience. She’s been feeding her 40 laying pullets (and three roosters) the local feed all winter, and they also stopped laying--about a month after mine stopped, and are only just starting up again a month after mine did. So, with all this information, I have a new theory that it’s the weird weather causing the egg problems.

One thing people often forget about is that this year’s Autumn and Winter have been crazy; I think it’s that that caused the weird egg problems, not the food. If it is the food, chances are it wasn’t done on purpose. Why would large feed companies sabotage themselves when they know there are tons of local companies we can turn to?

So, have you done any experiments with your chicken feed? If so, what did you do and what were the results? If you want to try an experiment, please feel free to post and update it here!

I live about 2 hrs or so w/nw from you it seems. My weather here has been the same nonsensical annoying fall and winter weather as always, with the crazy 50 degree day and then a 10 degree with 35 mph north wind. But, it's always been that way, some winters worse than others with longer chilly spells, but never has it affected first year pullets, FOR ME, like this year. As well, our spring weather is just the same with very cold below freezing days interspersed with very warm days, and usually all very windy. No idea what that means.

 

[countrybumpkin5]

I've also read the theory that in addition to Producer's Pride that all Purina food are tainted by the government to stop laying so we are forced to buy store eggs. And Dumor. Because The Man.

And the problem with that is that it makes the people who have serious legitimate concerns be included in the "crazies" so that all of the claims are readily dismissed. Everyone should be very familiar with that method. I still can't say how many or whom has those serious legitimate concerns and what lengths they have gone to in order to narrow down the possible causes. I don't think anyone can unless you hear it from the horses mouth.

 

[la dee da]

I live about 2 hrs or so w/nw from you it seems. My weather here has been the same nonsensical annoying fall and winter weather as always, with the crazy 50 degree day and then a 10 degree with 35 mph north wind. But, it's always been that way, some winters worse than others with longer chilly spells, but never has it affected first year pullets, FOR ME, like this year. As well, our spring weather is just the same with very cold below freezing days interspersed with very warm days, and usually all very windy. No idea what that means.

It’s interesting that the weather hasn’t been strange for you, but I’ve also noticed that east of I-44 trends differently than west of it. Animals seem to adjust to whatever is the norm where they live, so maybe your birds are more used to it than mine?

It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if it is the food causing the egg-laying problems, but it would very much surprise me if it was done on purpose. Since my neighbor experienced an identical drop in egg production, just a month different from mine, I think that for me it was just the weird weather. If you suspect your feed of being the problem, I highly recommend testing it.

 

[sdm111]

In my opinion, you can disagree me with all you want. But here’s my take, Producer Pride is more available than a local company…. i don’t have “local companies” by me that sells chicken feed. Prices of eggs went up, so in their minds they turned to backyard chicken owners and said hey let’s make this food toxic so they can’t get eggs either and are forced to pay for store bought.

A lot of people are unaware what to actually feed their chickens. So they get laying pullets and think “hey i’ll by it the cheapest ‘layer feed’ i can find” aka TSC. Readily available and pretty cheap. And ik this is a fact because i’ve myself educated a lot of people on here alone that you shouldn’t be feeding your chickens anything under 18%.

Now, i made the same mistake when i first got my chickens. I bought Producer Pride layer feed because it was cheap. After reading on here ab what other people fed theirs i changed the food to Purina All Flock 20%. As soon as i changed the feed, egg shells got stronger, yolks were more orange, they were laying a lot more frequently, and i noticed my birds had more energy.

Call me crazy but NO ONE should be feeding their chickens producer pride, and should turn more towards something 18% and above if you want good eggs.

I've been feeding 16% forever and have great eggs, plumage, weight and feel in hand. Saying to not feed under 18% is nonsense