Purina flock raiser

[Farmington]

I have 3 chicks that I will be putting out with my 1 year old golden buff next week, as they are pretty well feathered out, and will be 8 weeks old. They have been on starter crumbles, and my other birds (2 will go to freezer camp next week) have been on Layena pellets. Would it be ok to switch over to Flock raiser until my pullets are 16 weeks, and offer free choice oyster shell, so they are all on the same feed? Sure would make things easier.

 

[Odelia]

I have everyone in my coop eat the same thing. They also free range and find in the yard much of what they eat.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I have 3 chicks that I will be putting out with my 1 year old golden buff next week, as they are pretty well feathered out, and will be 8 weeks old. They have been on starter crumbles, and my other birds (2 will go to freezer camp next week) have been on Layena pellets. Would it be ok to switch over to Flock raiser until my pullets are 16 weeks, and offer free choice oyster shell, so they are all on the same feed? Sure would make things easier.

Your plan is a good one.

Layer feed is never "required". It is merely convenient in that the calcium is already added into the feed. This same convenience is also a problem. Non laying birds have no need and potentially harmed by the high rate of calcium in Layer. It especially shouldn't be fed to juveniles as it wreaks havoc in the renal systems.

Shells offered on the side is fine as non laying birds seldom mess with them as their bodies are not craving calcium as a heavy laying female's body does, because it needs it.

 

[AmericanMom]

Your plan is a good one.

Layer feed is never "required". It is merely convenient in that the calcium is already added into the feed. This same convenience is also a problem. Non laying birds have no need and potentially harmed by the high rate of calcium in Layer. It especially shouldn't be fed to juveniles as it wreaks havoc in the renal systems.

Shells offered on the side is fine as non laying birds seldom mess with them as their bodies are not craving calcium as a heavy laying female's body does, because it needs it.

May I add a question to this thread instead of starting a new one??

I did the same thing as the OP, switched from layer to all flock as it seems I am always adding new pullets here and there, Now I also have a broody hen sitting eggs and another hen looking to want to join the fun, I plan to allow the chicks to be raised with the flock but have no way to feed the chick starter to them without the older hens going nuts over it... Will the all flock be sufficient for the chicks? I know the Momma will break it up for them as I have seen a hen do in the past..

 

[Odelia]

May I add a question to this thread instead of starting a new one??

I did the same thing as the OP, switched from layer to all flock as it seems I am always adding new pullets here and there, Now I also have a broody hen sitting eggs and another hen looking to want to join the fun, I plan to allow the chicks to be raised with the flock but have no way to feed the chick starter to them without the older hens going nuts over it... Will the all flock be sufficient for the chicks? I know the Momma will break it up for them as I have seen a hen do in the past..

It isn't going to be medicated to help treat for coccidiosis which you should assume you have in your flock because it is so prevalent. I would recommend feeding them the medicated chick feed for at least a couple of weeks. Hope that helps.

 

[AmericanMom]

It isn't going to be medicated to help treat for coccidiosis which you should assume you have in your flock because it is so prevalent. I would recommend feeding them the medicated chick feed for at least a couple of weeks. Hope that helps.

I don't feed medicated to my flock, other than the chicks I got at the feed store my flock is from my original hens. I am not going to say I wont ever deal with cocci as that is just asking for it to happen, but I will say in the 5 years I have been raising chickens I have yet to deal with it and have never fed them the medicated feed.

 

[Farmington]

ok, thanks!