newbie Silkie owner-so confused on feeds-what is the right kind?

I don't know what the "premium poultry feed" is. Does it have a % protein on it? Sometimes the information is on a tag onthe bag instead of printedonthe bag. Maybe it is time to shop at a different place.

This link might help.

Oregon State - Feeding Chickens
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw477/#anchor1132074

At 3 months, they are too young for layer. Layer feed contains more calcium than is good for a growing chick. It can cause liver damage to growing chicks. The scratch grains are very high in calories but very low on anything the chicks need to grow. Treat it like candy, not meat and potatoes. For you, these two are definitely out.

If you are raising them to be a laying flock, at 3 months they need a feed with about 15% to 16% protein. That feed for the meat birds is higher in protein than is really good for them, but many people on here feed growing chickens feeds higher in protein than is good for them. You mention that they are outside. I don't know if that is in a pen with a bare dirt floor or if they have access to grass and such most of the time. If they do have access to grass and such, they will balance their diet some by eating whatever is out there. If you have to shop at that store, I'd look at the premium poultry feed and the feed for the meat birds and get the one that has the lower protein level. But my first choice is to find a feed store that sells Grower, or a mixed Starter/Grower.

 

In a pinch you could see if they have turkey grower, broiler grower....they shouldn;t eat layer yet because they don't need the higher calcium. And scratch grains are just for treats. I would not feed the sweet horse feed either becuase the molasses may give the birds runny poop.

 

I use a 20% crumble for my silkies. There conditon isnt as great when they are on regular layer pellets, plus they lay better on the 20% also.