Purina vs Albers vs Manna Pro Feed for Layers

[wsdareme]

I have a question about feeds. How important is 1% protein for layers in the overall scheme of things?

Purina Layena Crumbles has 16% protein.
Albers Country Layer Crumble has 15% protein.
Family Farm Egg Maker 15 (Manna Pro) has 15% protein.

But here is the REALLY big difference -- the prices. All are for 40 bags:
Purina is $15.70 from my local feed store.

Albers is $11.65 from my local feed store.

Family Farm (Manna Pro) is $10.92 from my local Walmart.

The difference of almost $5 per bag is really a bid deal. But is that 1% protein important enough to pay an extra $5?

My gut is telling me no.........

 

[the1honeycomb]

well you have to think about if they will eat it also I bought the more expensive feed for my birds and they wouldn't eat it. I gave half a bag away to a friend!! when I went back to the cheaper stuff they were all over it and they all still lay every day. They don't seem to mind the cold! Good quality eggs

 

[WoodlandWoman]

What is the difference in ingredients?

 

[EweSheep]

I think alot of it is due to name brands. The more generic you go, the more you would have to pay in MORE feed per week or per month.

I have 10 chickens, four LF and six bantams.

When I buy generic or store name brand, I ended up buying MORE per week for my girls to lay and the poop and smell was horrible. Feed intake to feed outtake was very very poor.

When I buy Purina, I can get by with one bag of feed per three to four weeks, feed intake and feed outtake are great. Poop and smell are smaller, more digestible and hens are in great shape. The egg yolk colors are much more yellower.

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I think it depends on the quailty of the ingredients they have in the mix. I'm sure with Purina you're paying a little extra for the name brand. But how good of quality "protein" are they putting in the feed? I personally try to find feeds with fish meal in it, especially for my ducks. I know some purina feeds have no animal proteins, which in the winter when they aren't eating bugs, worms and small critters doesn't seem right to me.

 

[ailurophile23]

I have been using the Purina feeds for my chickens which aren't quite a year old yet. What I have noticed is that feather picking is a problem if they are on just the Layena. So I have started mixing Layena and Flock Raiser (higher protein) and no more feather picking. I have considered going with just the Flock Raiser as it would be simpler than having to mix the two feeds. I just make sure they have access to plenty of oyster shell.