Name-Brand Start vs. Milled?

[FMAFarms]

I ran around to three different feed stores today, including TSC, to see what kind of chick starter they've got. TSC has their DuMor plus Purena and some other name brands. Our town's feed store (well, the closest one to us, that is) can special-order Purina but tried to push their own special mix of milled chick starter. The feed store in the next town over has plenty of Purina in stock (they have the "Chow" symbol very prominently on their building) but also blends their own chick starter right there at their mill. We're torn as to which way to go... support the local industry or go with a name we can trust. What do you all think?

 

[tobin123]

We use tsc dumar because it is 20% must others are 18% protein .

 

[FMAFarms]

Dumor Chick Starter for chicks and ducks is 20 %; they have a 24% Starter that has a picture of a chick on it, but it's only for quail and turkey and partridge chicks. Purina is 20% for its Start and Grow. The one at our town feed store is 23 %, the one at the next town is 24%. They all have grit and calcium. I'm just not sure what to do... I want to support our local mill and feed store, but Purina has a great reputation. Too bad I can't conduct a taste test!

 

[tobin123]

i would go with the one you want to a lot can be a fator price ,some of the larger protein is for meat chicks so just read i fead purina for a while but is $5 MORE WHERE I LIVE SO I WENT THE OTHER WAY/

 

[cairopd1069]

Does it say on the Dumor 24% that it is for quail, turkey and partiridge? I just bought a bag for some chicks that are being shipped by Stromberg's and are due Friday am.

 

[FMAFarms]

I'm not sure that it says on the DuMor 24% bag that it's for chukar, quail, etc. But I did go to the Tractor Supply Company site to read about the DuMor line, and they don't even mention ducklings or chicken chicks for the 24%, just the other breeds. The 20% talks mentions chicks and ducklings; TSC also says that after 8 weeks, the turkeys/chukars/partridges can switch to the 20%.

 

[LeftFootFarm]

What is the price difference? What are you comfortable paying? You can always buy one bag and just see what you think.

 

[FMAFarms]

TSC sells Purina Start & Grow Medicated for about $14 for a 50-lb bag; the feed stores sell the same thing for $4 more. One feed store sells its organic, home-made layer hen feed for $19 for a 50-lb bag; the DuMor and Purina Layenas go for about $15. I think we're going to try a bag of organic to see how we (and the chickens) like it.