Needing Feeding Advice

[c_martin96]

I agree that you need to do a gradual change and mix the 2 feeds together, if you decide to go off the Kalmbach.

(I briefly switched to Kalmbach a couple of years ago when my regular feed store closed down. My hens never adjusted to it, and so now I use the Naturewise All Flock from Nutrena that I buy at TSC. My hens are thriving on that.)

That’s actually what the group told me to use but I can’t find it in a crumble and my birds don’t care for the pellets it seems. They just throw them out.

 

[FrostRanger]

That’s actually what the group told me to use but I can’t find it in a crumble and my birds don’t care for the pellets it seems. They just throw them out.

Nutrena is good feed too, I had considered it too but tractor supply only had it in 40lb bags rather than 50. Why they would hate kalmbach but endorse nutrena baffles me

 

[Debbie292d]

We raise and breed silkie chickens.

They have been on Kalmbach's Flock Maker crumbles for years. They get Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve as their scratch. There's a dish of oyster shell any pen or coop that has hens.

I highly doubt the HHR layer feed killed your pullet, but a calcium overdose can affect the kidneys. Their leg nerves run through their kidneys, and in extreme cases, could go lame.

I'd stick to BYC and not FB when you have any issues with your chickens.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I'd stick to BYC and not FB when you have any issues with your chickens.

this. I have seen some very odd advice on fb.

 

[Bsmac]

this. I have seen some very odd advice on fb.

Absolutely!!

 

[Indio Gigante Lover]

My flock is mixed, hens, chicks at times & a couple roos. Been feeding Kalmback Flock Maintainer 16% pellets for years to everyone. They love it & it seems to agree with all of them. Chicks get supplemented with Kalmbach Flock Maker crumbles, but start eating the pellet crumbs as soon as they can fit them in their little beaks. I give daily treat of Nutrena Feather Fixer pellets. I crush up egg shells & mix with oyster shell. Hens lay plenty of eggs with good shells that hatch healthy chicks. So I'd say Kalmbach is a good feed in my experience

 

[YessaJessa16]

I have had my flock on Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve with crumbles, my flock was crazy over it. I have a mixed flock of older laying hens with younger non-laying hens. I had a young hen go downhill quickly. I posted in the poultry vet advice group and was told it was my feed. I treated her and she got better but then suddenly passed. Most of my young hens in there currently were hatched around 10/28/25, which makes them around 18-20 weeks. I charged feed to my local mills all flock crumble. My flock is not a fan and now my older hens eggs are becoming misshaped and the shells are cracking when I pick them up. I have free choice oyster shells and they don’t seem to be interested. I’m not sure what to do. I’m also not 100% sure it was my feed. Curious what others think or suggest, any help is greatly appreciated!

I bag the eggs we use, then grind them up and the give them back to the girls! They love it and even the Roo's eat it. Plus, its free! Win win.. I too feed my crew the Kalmbach feed. I mix it up the hen house reserve and the new one thats mixed in with crumbles. Every, now and then I will give them the flock block and they get the corn etc. I do find the love to eat mostly the black sunflower seeds first out of it lol. When I started out I was feeding them Scratch N' Peck feeds but it got very pricy for the return I was getting. As far as the hen who passed, maybe she was deficient in a specific vitamin or mineral that her body just doesnt absorb properly like the others. Throw in some rooster booster to the water for the rest of the flock just to keep everyone up to date as far as adequate vitamin and mineral intake! Good luck

 

[Ann in Wyoming]

I have had my flock on Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve with crumbles, my flock was crazy over it. I have a mixed flock of older laying hens with younger non-laying hens. I had a young hen go downhill quickly. I posted in the poultry vet advice group and was told it was my feed. I treated her and she got better but then suddenly passed. Most of my young hens in there currently were hatched around 10/28/25, which makes them around 18-20 weeks. I charged feed to my local mills all flock crumble. My flock is not a fan and now my older hens eggs are becoming misshaped and the shells are cracking when I pick them up. I have free choice oyster shells and they don’t seem to be interested. I’m not sure what to do. I’m also not 100% sure it was my feed. Curious what others think or suggest, any help is greatly appreciated!

 

[Ann in Wyoming]

I have had my flock on Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve with crumbles, my flock was crazy over it. I have a mixed flock of older laying hens with younger non-laying hens. I had a young hen go downhill quickly. I posted in the poultry vet advice group and was told it was my feed. I treated her and she got better but then suddenly passed. Most of my young hens in there currently were hatched around 10/28/25, which makes them around 18-20 weeks. I charged feed to my local mills all flock crumble. My flock is not a fan and now my older hens eggs are becoming misshaped and the shells are cracking when I pick them up. I have free choice oyster shells and they don’t seem to be interested. I’m not sure what to do. I’m also not 100% sure it was my feed. Curious what others think or suggest, any help is greatly appreciated!

I give mine Black Soldier Fly Larvae because it gives them the calcium and magnesium they need.No issues with egg shapes or shells.

 

[TMurphey]

Kalmbach is a really good feed, I wonder what their problem is.
Facebook is such a hive of misinformation

I use Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve along with layer pellets mixed together. I also provide Oyster shell on the side. I don't believe it's the feed. You said that your hens aren't interested in the oyster shells. Try mixing some of the Oyster shell with the feed to get them to eat some of it. Then maybe they will start eating it from the provision on the side. Not enough Calcium is what it sounds like to me.