Official BYC Poll: What Factors Affect Your Chicken Feed Buying Decisions?

[Show Sebright]

My chickens get a LOT of deficiencies. So looking for all the vitamins and minerals is very important for me. I need the 18-20% layer protein for my bantams. And the 16% for my large. Chicks have medicated 18% protein. I feed a high protein diet for my birds. I hate buying 3 million supplements so I get a feed with them all. Purina has a great feed for all. Layer, game layer, game starter medicated.

 

[Show Sebright]

I like to see a list of ingredients, since I want to know what they’re eating.

My mom said what they eat is what comes out. She jokes that if we gave them only fruit they would get sweet eggs. But my girls eat their own poop. So I am never so sure.

 

[21hens-incharge]

For me it's the protein level and the minerals.

Freshness counts A LOT. I always check the mill dates.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Fresh feed is a huge factor for me as I feel it's extremely important. Type of feed (pellet vs crumbles) is another very important factor. I have several boys around here and they've made it obvious that they prefer pellet feed. I purchase pellets for all of my roosters (LF and bantam), big girls and ducks (LF and bantam). My bantam hens prefer Crumbles, so I purchase Crumbles for them and also use the Crumbles to make everyone's nightly mash, so I'll end up going through all of my feed at the same rate; much too fast Protein/fat/fiber is another factor that I look into and base my feed purchase decisions on. I usually try to stick with a feed whenever I find one that fits the bill since there are multiple factors and that makes these decisions more difficult.

 

[micstrachan]

For me it's the protein level and the minerals.

Freshness counts A LOT. I always check the mill dates.

Me, too!

 

[Silexian]

Over the years I have tried a lot of different feeds. From custom in house mixes “They just picked out what they liked and scattered the rest on the floor” to high end “for the cost of the feed, my chickens better start laying Golden eggs” to low end “no wonder it is so cheap, half the bag is dust and chaff”. I have settled on a brand that is carried by my local family owned feed mill. It offers every kind of feed that I need. Whether I’m starting chicks, feeding broilers or maintaining laying hens. It fits my budget, has good quality, keeps my chickens in good shape and they don’t waste it.

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I always look for a 20k sack of Poultry Gold. It's a non-medicated all flock feed. It's a mix of limestone, oyster shell, layers supplement, corn, grit and wheat (and mayne more idk

 

[WIchickMama]

Feeding the flock is hands down the most important part of raising and keeping poultry, And choosing which feed to buy for your birds can be a complex process with many variables. There are so many choices involved in feeding your flock and it can be difficult to decide what to feed them. In this poll we would like to find out: What Factors Affect Your Chicken Feed Buying Decisions?

Please place your vote above (select up to 5 options), and elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

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Further Reading:

• Feeding Chickens: An Introductory Guide
• Feeding Options At Different Life Stages
• Everything You Need To Know About Raising Baby Chicks

(Check out mor

I really try and buy local so if our local feed store has the stuff they make available I will choose that first

e Official BYC Polls HERE!

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Here's the link if anyone wanted kore info. My chickens love it- and the important bit is that they're kept healthy... Which they are
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Copdock-...KG-kf7xuY6xdqYO62Aa_RKmry8fQkFNBoCaWsQAvD_BwE

 

[Liz Birdlover]

All of those factors are important but also freshness & storage...I got a moldy bag of feed once, nasty, stinky crap! Hit my nose when I opened the bag! There's 1 particular store I avoid now, bad feed & bad wood flakes!!! It's an upsetting waste of my time when I have to go back to that store to return stuff like that, because it's gotten wet & wasn't stored properly. We are what we eat & I'm not going to jeopardize my sweet flock's health! Mold & aspergillosis are bad news!!!