Ok I made a mistake this is what we feed our birds

[ChrisisaGirl]

It's still not the right kind of food but, it's better than it originally sounded. And I will get them all flock

 

[nuthatched]

Are you asking of this is ok to feed all your poultry or just chickens?

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

in my crumbles thread, I accidentally told ya'all they eat scratch grain only. No. this is what they eat, they get scratch too, but we have a roo, and we have babies, so they need an all flock. not just laying support. feed

Are you asking of this is ok to feed all your poultry or just chickens?

 

[nuthatched]

Yes, flock mix is best for roosters, laying feeds have too much calcium in it for them. Flock mix and oyster shell for the laying hens

 

[PioneerChicks]

You and me both, @ChrisisaGirl. I fed my whole flock of chickens Layer Feed when over half of them were not yet laying or roosters for a couple of months before figuring out about All Flock Feed. I'm just glad BYC is here to help us figure out what we do wrong and how to fix it!

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

YES! me too. or to re assure me I am going to be considered their friend one day not the tall scary thing forever.

You and me both, @ChrisisaGirl. I fed my whole flock of chickens Layer Feed when over half of them were not yet laying or roosters for a couple of months before figuring out about All Flock Feed. I'm just glad BYC is here to help us figure out what we do wrong and how to fix it!

 

[PioneerChicks]

YES! me too. or to re assure me I am going to be considered their friend one day not the tall scary thing forever.

You don't seem scary to me!

 

[ChrisisaGirl]

I laughed so hard at that, thank you but you're not a tiny chicken I want to sit with and talk to. To them we're the tall things that keep trying to talk to them)

You don't seem scary to me!

 

[PioneerChicks]

I laughed so hard at that, thank you but you're not a tiny chicken I want to sit with and talk to. To them we're the tall things that keep trying to talk to them)

Yeah, I sort of wanna see the world from a chicken's eyes for just one day.

 

[TooCheep]

Thanks for checking. BYC is a great resource for info like this. Here are the feed basics:

• Crumbles vs pellets: Chicks need the smaller feed. Larger birds can use either, but most people feed pellets.
• Chick feed isn't much different from the others except: it is always crumbles, has higher protein (generally 18%) to help with growth and some have medication to prevent coccidiosis. Not everyone uses medicated (I didn't) because they will also be exposed to it naturally when outdoors.
• Basic feed: Maintains the minimum recommended protein (16%+). Has calcium sufficient for all chickens except laying hens. Can work fine for laying hens when separate calcium available on the side.
• Layer feed: Basic feed + extra calcium that laying hens only need to help them lay eggs. If they don't get enough calcium then they drain it from their bones and end up producing thin-shelled, easily broken eggs. Feeding this to other chickens may result in problems like gout (a very painful joint condition).
• Flock raiser: Higher protein feed (18%+) with lower levels of calcium that is okay for all chickens and other farm birds (ducks, geese, etc). Can use calcium on the side for laying hens in a mixed flock.
• Scratch grains: Generally made from whole or cracked corn. This is a relatively low nutrition, high carbohydrate feed. Many birds love them, so use them more as a treat (~10% of food).
• Organic: Any of the feed types above can also be organic. This is a statement that the grains are not raised/produced with unacceptable chemicals. It is harder to raise organic, so these feeds are more expensive. The argument in their favor is that they should include less toxic chemicals.

About the protein: Although 16% has been well-researched as the minimum amount needed to raise healthy chickens, there is a definite argument that more protein provides benefits. For example, molting chickens need more protein to grow their feathers back quicker, it is good for general growth like for chicks or for raising cockerels to full size for harvesting. This is an area of some contention, so do as you see fit. Higher protein feed is somewhat more expensive.