⠀ Needing advice on feed!

[SizzleQueen]

I mix two different kinds of feeds. My chickens literally sparkle in the sun. I get my feeds from tractor supply and I always have Oyster shells for them and they also have the entire yard to call their own. (We live on a 80 acre farm.) I will post what i feed mine. I actually do not give scraps often but when I do they sure know it. Here are pics of my little angels below. (Some of them)

 

[david hair]

Im fairly new to raising chickens but by trading a lot of hard work and time i aquired some magnificent birds that my friend spent 8 years perfectin on color and build so instead of starting off at square one i aquired top notch birds from the get go. My buddy had 2 massive heart attacts a nd doesnt have the energy he once had to take care of his flock so lucky me inherited his 2 breeds of rare oriental game birds black shamo which he worked so very hard on and a duo of sai pan , i actually have wanted chickens for so long but traveling with my job made it impossible now im centralized. And have time off every week to enjoy my amazing new hobby! Ok now to the subject of feed my children aka my chickens love purina flock feed its a wonderful feed they absolutely prefer over the few feeds ive tried its great for nutrition. Color and their. Tastebuds affordable and very available, i also am big on daily treats, cucumbers bananas,apples,grapes greens ,if its fresh fruit or veggies they love it to death, avoid onions potatoes and avacadoes i read they are harmful graham crackers they love and whole wheat bread a.d after buying black oil sunflower seeds my birds plumage is amazingly brilliant i have a pair of old english bantams blue brassy backs also that look astoundingly vibrant color wise because of the seeds i spread on the ground for them to discover thank u danny for the advice! Im fairly new to this as i said but. For what i lack in experience. I make up in research. Again big props to purina flock feed me and my babies love it, remember fresh fruit and veggies will make an amazing difference in your birds appearance and attitude.

 

[SwampFoot]

I have good results with this feeding regimen than any other. I used to free range my flock of hens in a yard with roosters on tie-cords (game chickens have to be separated.) and I'd only feed corn on the evening, after they've foraged. I wasn't getting good egg production. (Maybe two eggs a week from each hen.)
I'm not sure if my method is the correct method by standard, but a man told me to start a batch of soaked grain for them by mixing four parts water to one part Apple Cider vinegar, and if you have it, add a pinch of brewer's yeast. If using a five gallon bucket, I fill with scratch grain (though I prefer an even mix of whole corn and oats) halfway, fill with water up to about two thirds of the way through then I add about three and a half cups of ACV and stir well. I don't start to feed them this until it's soaked for at least 24hrs, but when I feed them, I mix those soaked grains with layer pellets for a half and half ratio of mushy feed. I feed out of that bucket of soaked grain all week before I run out, so I'm not sure how long you can let the grain sit before they are bad. Once a week, I'll add a handful of high protein dog food into the pellet portion, and soak the pellets in milk or water with red cell added for it to soak up. The only problem I have is that sometimes they get too much protein and their feathers curl a little from year to year, haven't had that problem this year though.
I've experienced good results, the hens lay about every other day, they tolerate molting better, cherry red heads and plump faces, and they seem to "blossom" or really feel good in my hand as far as growth. The scrawny ones even bulked up. We have an old pond that doesn't have fish anymore, but is overrun with snails. I drop a cabbage leaf in there abd by the next morning, It's covered in snails, the chickens love that too.
Oh, it may be a wives tale, but I've witnessed chickens benefiting from being kept near horses, they say something in the manure is good for chickens. I would assume bugs, but I don't know.