⠀ Organic oyster-shell ????

[UtePassChickens]

i been trying to find small solar shed light for the coop, however I can find the Lm produced but not the nm produced by the LED...if i even explained this properly! lol this is what i was thinking about getting for the coop.. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017ECP3H6/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1UF0G2AASOV0Q or if you dont like clicking links it is the ROXY-G2 Solar if you search amazon for it - it'll pop right up. I am trying to keep it cheap as possible, would appreciate any thoughts you have!

 

[junebuggena]

Magpies will chase off most aerial predators.

 

[cavemanrich]

i been trying to find small solar shed light for the coop, however I can find the Lm produced but not the nm produced by the LED...if i even explained this properly! lol this is what i was thinking about getting for the coop.. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017ECP3H6/ref=ox_sc_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1UF0G2AASOV0Q or if you dont like clicking links it is the ROXY-G2 Solar if you search amazon for it - it'll pop right up. I am trying to keep it cheap as possible, would appreciate any thoughts you have!

I looked at it and here is what I think. Get it and see how it works out. It's not going to break the bank. At least you will have some light and free from connecting to house current. Even if it does not really increase egg production, It will make navigation for you or your chickens easier. I use CFL's in my winter housing for chickens and pigeons. (pigeons are there year round) I have it set up on a 12 hour timer cycle year round. It gives the birds visible light so they can find their food and water. When it's dark, they all sleep. During winter my egg production is way down. A couple other facts about my flock. Small,,,,,,,, Pets only........ They live until they go naturally............ Many old and no longer lay...... (oldest almost 11 years).......... A few pullets that have yet to start........ Egg production not that important to me............. Just enjoy having them as pets..

 

[ShrekDawg]

Okay, not to take over thread, but question, i saw above mentioned that if they're not producing they should be put on grower or all flock and not layer feed, but does this even apply to adults? I'm wondering because I've heard before to switch chickens feed in the winter when they stop laying and assumed people just fed layer to them all year and they would just resume production again in the spring and be fine so I really am curious now. Do a couple months in the winter really make that much of a difference or be that harmful? My birds have slowed to only 2 or 3 eggs a day out of 8 birds (though one has been bullied and hasnt laid for months anyways and they already slowed some) so does this mean that I should switch them to grower until spring???? Or would that hinder production even more? Will they be fine if I don't switch?

 

[junebuggena]

Okay, not to take over thread, but question, i saw above mentioned that if they're not producing they should be put on grower or all flock and not layer feed, but does this even apply to adults? I'm wondering because I've heard before to switch chickens feed in the winter when they stop laying and assumed people just fed layer to them all year and they would just resume production again in the spring and be fine so I really am curious now. Do a couple months in the winter really make that much of a difference or be that harmful? My birds have slowed to only 2 or 3 eggs a day out of 8 birds (though one has been bullied and hasnt laid for months anyways and they already slowed some) so does this mean that I should switch them to grower until spring???? Or would that hinder production even more? Will they be fine if I don't switch?

Layer feed is for actively laying birds only. The calcium levels in layer feed are harmful to birds that aren't producing eggshells. The excess calcium builds up in the kidneys, eventually causing them to fail. Chickens have three segments in each kidney. A chicken can seem perfectly fine as long as two segments of the kidneys still function. Once the last segments fail, death occurs within 24 hours.
It makes things much simpler to not even bother with feeding layer. Grower and all flock rations are safe for all ages, stages, and genders. And the higher protein content actually improves production, helps get birds through molting quicker, and helps to prevent feather picking and egg eating.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Layer feed is for actively laying birds only. The calcium levels in layer feed are harmful to birds that aren't producing eggshells. The excess calcium builds up in the kidneys, eventually causing them to fail. Chickens have three segments in each kidney. A chicken can seem perfectly fine as long as two segments of the kidneys still function. Once the last segments fail, death occurs within 24 hours.  
It makes things much simpler to not even bother with feeding layer. Grower and all flock rations are safe for all ages, stages, and genders. And the higher protein content actually improves production, helps get birds through molting quicker, and helps to prevent feather picking and egg eating.

Thanks for all the info! It's definitely useful.

But okay, genuine question here, if all that is true, which I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just using poor wording I guess, and the information is out there, then why do people still just feed layer feed and only layer all the time? Or like you have to feed it or they'll die? I'm not sure I'm explaining what I mean properly but surely you know what I'm referring to or the attitude? It's like grower till 18 weeks then layer layer layer till death but that's actually bad??? It just seems kind of complicated to change feeds but maybe like you said, having them on something different entirely might be better

 

[junebuggena]

Thanks for all the info! It's definitely useful.

But okay, genuine question here, if all that is true, which I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just using poor wording I guess, and the information is out there, then why do people still just feed layer feed and only layer all the time? Or like you have to feed it or they'll die? I'm not sure I'm explaining what I mean properly but surely you know what I'm referring to or the attitude? It's like grower till 18 weeks then layer layer layer till death but that's actually bad??? It just seems kind of complicated to change feeds but maybe like you said, having them on something different entirely might be better

Feeding layer exclusively, and never switching in the 'off' season, will significantly shorten the life span. Some individuals are more or less sensitive to the effects of too much calcium. This means that one bird in a flock can drop dead after just a few weeks of being fed layer while not producing and others can live for 5 or more years without issue. Layer feed is a lower protein content feed, and as such, has a lower price tag. This is the primary reason why people choose layer feed. But there are risks. And only ever feeding layer can be seriously detrimental to the long term health of a flock.
http://www.worldpoultry.net/Breeder...-damage-is-emerging-in-laying-hens-WP008719W/
It is a very well researched topic. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding the effects of too much calcium in the diet.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Thanks for all the info! It's definitely useful.

But okay, genuine question here, if all that is true, which I'm not saying it isn't, I'm just using poor wording I guess, and the information is out there, then why do people still just feed layer feed and only layer all the time? Or like you have to feed it or they'll die? I'm not sure I'm explaining what I mean properly but surely you know what I'm referring to or the attitude? It's like grower till 18 weeks then layer layer layer till death but that's actually bad??? It just seems kind of complicated to change feeds but maybe like you said, having them on something different entirely might be better

Hi.

That is the standard feed that the industry tells you. 18 weeks is rediculous when many birds will not lay before 20 weeks and I have some that aren't at 26 weeks. They don't raise roosters. And they don't keep hens past molt. If they do surely they don't keep them for their 10 year lifespan. Many people will never know why their bird died unless they get a necropsy. While I haven't yet had this issue, I have actually chatted with someone on BYC who did and said it was terrible.

I have a mixed age and gender flock often including chicks. I feed Purina Flock Raiser which is 20% protein and 1% calcium with OS free choice on the side. By going with the flock raiser I don't have to worry about anybody not getting enough protein or too much calcium. I feed the same thing all year long with no need to change. And for me is the same cost as layer feed.

I'm with junebuggena 100% on this!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Feeding layer exclusively, and never switching in the 'off' season, will significantly shorten the life span. Some individuals are more or less sensitive to the effects of too much calcium. This means that one bird in a flock can drop dead after just a few weeks of being fed layer while not producing and others can live for 5 or more years without issue. Layer feed is a lower protein content feed, and as such, has a lower price tag. This is the primary reason why people choose layer feed. But there are risks. And only ever feeding layer can be seriously detrimental to the long term health of a flock.
http://www.worldpoultry.net/Breeder...-damage-is-emerging-in-laying-hens-WP008719W/
It is a very well researched topic. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding the effects of too much calcium in the diet. 

Thanks for all the info! I never thought of it like this or realized there was anything wrong with layer or whatever. But I also learned from BYC that switching to layer at 18 weeks wasn't necessarily the best and to switch back to grower until the first egg so i did after 2 weeks on layer and kept them on it till like 22 weeks till the first egg. So i guess what I'm saying is I've learned a lot from this site so even more new info shouldn't be surprising.

The price tag thing makes sense, never thought of that either.

I feed mine a little bit higher protein though already, I feed them this because at the time I found it I was feeding lots of scraps and had heard it could lower overall protein so I wanted something a little higher than most layer feeds, it's 18%.

http://m.nutrenaworld.com/products/poultry/naturewise-poultry/hearty-hen-layer-feed/index.jsp

But maybe I will have to go buy some starter/grower or all flock for the off season or permanently?

My parents will probably think I'm crazy for switching feeds or doing something other than layer or will probably say they are "fine" on layer but with this new info, i want the best for them. I don't want "fine", i want them 100% healthy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hi. 

That is the standard feed that the industry tells you. 18 weeks is rediculous when many birds will not lay before 20 weeks and I have some that aren't at 26 weeks. They don't raise roosters. And they don't keep hens past molt. If they do surely they don't keep them for their 10 year lifespan. Many people will never know why their bird died unless they get a necropsy. While I haven't yet had this issue, I have actually chatted with someone on BYC who did and said it was terrible.

I have a mixed age and gender flock often including chicks. I feed Purina Flock Raiser which is 20% protein and 1% calcium with OS free choice on the side. By going with the flock raiser I don't have to worry about anybody not getting enough protein or too much calcium. I feed the same thing all year long with no need to change. And for me is the same cost as layer feed.

I'm with junebuggena 100% on this!

Thanks to you both for all your help!! That makes sense that it would be the industry saying that.

I actually did hear from someone to put them back on layer until the first egg and so i did, around 22 weeks or so it was, some took a few weeks longer. Now they turned a year old last month.

Seems like I should switch feeds then. I have yet to determine if it will be permanently or just for the off season but I definitely don't want sick birds and if they can live for 10 years instead of say 5, I want that! Especially since they're also pets.

I was unsure about Purina but it seems like a fine food. Besides, TSC only has a few Nutrena feeds (chick starter grower, layer pellets and crumbles, feather fixer, and i think now maybe mest bird, it's mostly Purina, so I could only get Flock Raiser, my local store now carries lots of Nutrena and likely carries their All Flock but we know the manager and now most workers and I've been getting Hearty Hen for months now that I am too nervous to ask for a different feed lol