Pellets or Crumbles

[Marineshooter]

So our chickens are being delayed on delivery. I was hoping to be up and going by now. However, going down the rabbit hole again. I know K.I.S.S. So here are my questions 1- Pellets or crumble after the chick stage, if you choose one over the other why? So many different brands to choose from with very mixed reviews. 2- Which brand has been PROVEN for best nutrients, egg production and quality on personal experience without breaking the bank. Any advise or guidance would be greatly appreciate. Thank you in advance.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I personally prefer crumble, to me it seems that the girls have a hard time eating pellets.
I love Kalmbach feeds. My 11 hens have laid well over 100 eggs this year so far. Ever since I switched over to Kalmbach there was a noticeable difference. What are you feeding them now?

 

[Marineshooter]

We have not gotten them yet. Probably not for another month and a half. I have not heard of Kalmbach feeds.

 

[swamphiker]

I use pellets with my adult chickens because it reduces feed waste. I haven't noticed much of a difference between brands, though I don't pay for organic or GMO-freed feed. When looking at feed, I look at the manufacture date (fresher is better) and things like the % of protein.

 

[SueT]

I have given all my chickens of all ages 20% all flock crumbles, and have used Kalmbach Flock Maker or Purina Flock raiser. They like the high protein feed, I think this is key.
However, I got pellets by mistake and they ate it just fine. Gave them a choice, and there was no preference. (had no young chicks at the time, they would need crumbles). Now I'm going back to pellets as they are less messy.
Purina makes a high protein layer pellet which I have tried, and my flock likes that. (18%).
(The previous 20% protein feeds were all-flock, which doesn't contain extra calcium, but you give oyster shell on the side. )

 

[Marineshooter]

Thank you. I was looking at staying with the 18% and start off with crumble chick feed followed up with crumble layer until about a year old then transition to pellets after 1 year of age. Adding scratch when they are about 5 months old.

 

[Marineshooter]

I have given all my chickens of all ages 20% all flock crumbles, and have used Kalmbach Flock Maker or Purina Flock raiser. They like the high protein feed, I think this is key.
However, I got pellets by mistake and they ate it just fine. Gave them a choice, and there was no preference. (had no young chicks at the time, they would need crumbles). Now I'm going back to pellets as they are less messy.
Purina makes a high protein layer pellet which I have tried, and my flock likes that. (18%).
(The previous 20% protein feeds were all-flock, which doesn't contain extra calcium, but you give oyster shell on the side. )

That is the other thing that I wanted to consider was less of a mess with certain feeds that I neglected to mention in my first post.

 

[Rock17]

I prefer pellets. Less food waste. My flock is completely organic fed (where I live organic food is actually cheaper than non organic pellets)

 

[Marineshooter]

That's an answer that I can get behind. Less food waste. Food waste= more money out of pocket.

 

[Ridgerunner]

1- Pellets or crumble after the chick stage, if you choose one over the other why? So many different brands to choose from with very mixed reviews.

The way they make chicken feed is to gather all ingredients and grind them to a powder. That's called Mash. It is often fed wet so the individual ingredients do not separate out and cause an unbalanced diet. To make pellets they wet mash with water, extrude it through a die, and flash dry it. To make crumble the slightly crush pellets. The form of the feed has nothing to do with nutrition, that depends on what ingredients you grind up to start with.

I use crumble because I typically have chicks raised with the flock 4 or 5 different times a year. I feed them all the same thing with oyster shell on the side for the ones laying eggs. The chicks can't manage the pellets so they all get crumble.

2- Which brand has been PROVEN for best nutrients, egg production and quality on personal experience without breaking the bank. Any advise or guidance would be greatly appreciate.

I don't worry about brands. I look at the Analysis on the label and get the feed that suits my wants. I do prefer at least some of the proteins are animal proteins as that seems most natural. Mine forage for enough of their food that I've given up the ability to micromanage every bite they eat anyway.