Question about Feed & eating eggs over easy....

[Rockergirl]

Hi! Currently I'm still feeding my 4 pullets organic grower feed (from Scratch & Peck). They are all now officially laying eggs (last one started about a week ago ) Some people said they prefer to stay on grower and just supplement with oyster shells. What are your thoughts? I had already purchased a bag of laying pellets from Scratch & Peck (Unopened). If I move to layer feed, do I still supplement with oyster shells? Their layer feed is 16% protein. They also have one at 18% protein. Why would I use one vs the other? Also, between pellets & seeds. I'd like to give them the seed version vs the pellets. Any reason one would be better/worse than the other (or, could I mix them, best of both worlds)? I'm also considering looking into making my own feed....makes me nervous I will miss something.

And...the question about eating eggs. I've always been a lover of the over easy egg. I love the runny yolk. However, since I started raising my own chicks and getting my first eggs over the past couple of months. For some reason, I'm scared to eat a runny yolk.....I feel like I have to cook it well done. Why am I more nervous about eating an over easy egg from my chickens? I raise them 100% organic (no med, shots, etc). Maybe I feel like there is more chance of salmonella or some other bacteria vs the store bought ones? Is there anything different to worry about? Please help me feel good about the over easy egg again. I miss them so badly....

 

[Percheron chick]

If they are only consuming feed, the 16% will meet their needs. If you let them free range where they can feast on just plants, or you give them vegetable and fruit treats, then the 18%will help balance out the lower protein levels they are consuming. If they are molting the higher levels will help grow feathers. Chickens tend to pick out their favorite seeds when offered so often the feeder is left full of the vitamin/mineral/protein pellets. Some chickens can be very wasteful and empty out the feeder searching for the last yummy crumb. Defeats the purpose.
As far as the eating part, you're going to have to work on that. There are some on here who can't eat or even bake with home grown eggs. Your hens are under more sanitary conditions, better fed, better managed and the eggs are fresher than any commercial egg could ever be. Dip them in a bleach solution then store them in the fridge if that calms your fear. I'm an OE eater as well. Can't imagine having to eat OH eggs every morning. What's the toast for?

 

[nuthatched]

Good morning, I'll answer your questions the best I can.
If I move to layer feed, do I still supplement with oyster shells? Their layer feed is 16% protein. They also have one at 18% protein. Why would I use one vs the other? Also, between pellets & seeds. I'd like to give them the seed version vs the pellets.
You typically don't have to give them shells if they're on layer feed, there's plenty or calcium in the feed and you don't want to overload them.
Buy the 18% protein one, more protein is better for laying hens, since 16% is the lowest amount of protein they can survive on. Eggs, tissue, feathers and hormones need protein to be healthy and chickens have a lot of all of it. Or you could keep them on the grower and use oyster shell on the side.
The pellet version is your better option, birds always pick out the seeds they like best, resulting in not eating everything and not getting the full nutrition from the feed.
I'm scared to eat a runny yolk.....I feel like I have to cook it well done. Why am I more nervous about eating an over easy egg from my chickens? I raise them 100% organic (no med, shots, etc). Maybe I feel like there is more chance of salmonella or some other bacteria vs the store bought ones?
You actually have a greater chance of getting bacteria and salmonella from store eggs. It's usually when eggs are mishandled, tempertures kept unstable and old enough to reduce moisture content do they get bacteria and since you know how how fresh and how you handle your eggs and they aren't weeks/months old like at the store. You're perfectly fine to have the yolks runny. Go make yourself a drippy egg sandwich. :]

 

[nuthatched]

Oh and as for making your own feed....
You can feed yourself better and cheaper by making your own food over buying prepacked food but not so much with chickens.
Poultry feed is one one the most heavily researched agricultural areas on the planet, what you buy at the feed store is formulated to provide all the necessary nutrition, most effectively.
Mixing your feed is possible but it's very expensive ($3-$7 a pound). There are several threads on it here if you want to search, the member U_Stormcrow is the best at calculating feed and nutrition from recipes.
If you do want to go that route, please stay on byc to find advice on formulating, 95% of feed recipes on the Internet are complete jokes in terms of nutrition.
This is a peer reviewed, open resource website with people who can walk you through the process scientifically. ;]

 

[Rockergirl]

Oh and as for making your own feed....
You can feed yourself better and cheaper by making your own food over buying prepacked food but not so much with chickens.
Poultry feed is one one the most heavily researched agricultural areas on the planet, what you buy at the feed store is formulated to provide all the necessary nutrition, most effectively.
Mixing your feed is possible but it's very expensive ($3-$7 a pound). There are several threads on it here if you want to search, the member U_Stormcrow is the best at calculating feed and nutrition from recipes.
If you do want to go that route, please stay on byc to find advice on formulating, 95% of feed recipes on the Internet are complete jokes in terms of nutrition.
This is a peer reviewed, open resource website with people who can walk you through the process scientifically. ;]

Ok, so maybe I'll stay out of the feed making business, ha! I was just thinking it would be healthier for them and maybe a touch cheaper. I see it a lot on homesteading videos. I do buy a good quality feed, so I guess I'll stick to that for now.

 

[Rockergirl]

If they are only consuming feed, the 16% will meet their needs. If you let them free range where they can feast on just plants, or you give them vegetable and fruit treats, then the 18%will help balance out the lower protein levels they are consuming. If they are molting the higher levels will help grow feathers. Chickens tend to pick out their favorite seeds when offered so often the feeder is left full of the vitamin/mineral/protein pellets. Some chickens can be very wasteful and empty out the feeder searching for the last yummy crumb. Defeats the purpose.
As far as the eating part, you're going to have to work on that. There are some on here who can't eat or even bake with home grown eggs. Your hens are under more sanitary conditions, better fed, better managed and the eggs are fresher than any commercial egg could ever be. Dip them in a bleach solution then store them in the fridge if that calms your fear. I'm an OE eater as well. Can't imagine having to eat OH eggs every morning. What's the toast for?

Thank you. I don't let them free range but come this spring I'm going to add an extended open air run (with a good amount of room) to their already covered run so that I can let them roam a little more and peck around at grass, plant etc during the day, while keeping them some what safer from predators vs free ranging. I'm terrified of overhead predators during the day (I'll be putting netting over their "open air" run). Based on this and what nuthatched said, I'll probably go with 18% and pellets. I may give them treats of fermented seeds periodically during the week.

 

[Rockergirl]

Good morning, I'll answer your questions the best I can.
If I move to layer feed, do I still supplement with oyster shells? Their layer feed is 16% protein. They also have one at 18% protein. Why would I use one vs the other? Also, between pellets & seeds. I'd like to give them the seed version vs the pellets.
You typically don't have to give them shells if they're on layer feed, there's plenty or calcium in the feed and you don't want to overload them.
Buy the 18% protein one, more protein is better for laying hens, since 16% is the lowest amount of protein they can survive on. Eggs, tissue, feathers and hormones need protein to be healthy and chickens have a lot of all of it. Or you could keep them on the grower and use oyster shell on the side.
The pellet version is your better option, birds always pick out the seeds they like best, resulting in not eating everything and not getting the full nutrition from the feed.
I'm scared to eat a runny yolk.....I feel like I have to cook it well done. Why am I more nervous about eating an over easy egg from my chickens? I raise them 100% organic (no med, shots, etc). Maybe I feel like there is more chance of salmonella or some other bacteria vs the store bought ones?
You actually have a greater chance of getting bacteria and salmonella from store eggs. It's usually when eggs are mishandled, tempertures kept unstable and old enough to reduce moisture content do they get bacteria and since you know how how fresh and how you handle your eggs and they aren't weeks/months old like at the store. You're perfectly fine to have the yolks runny. Go make yourself a drippy egg sandwich. :]

Thanks! Sounds like 18% is the way to go! That does help regarding the over easy eggs. I've been craving poached and runny eggs with toast!!!!!

 

[Rockergirl]

If they are only consuming feed, the 16% will meet their needs. If you let them free range where they can feast on just plants, or you give them vegetable and fruit treats, then the 18%will help balance out the lower protein levels they are consuming. If they are molting the higher levels will help grow feathers. Chickens tend to pick out their favorite seeds when offered so often the feeder is left full of the vitamin/mineral/protein pellets. Some chickens can be very wasteful and empty out the feeder searching for the last yummy crumb. Defeats the purpose.
As far as the eating part, you're going to have to work on that. There are some on here who can't eat or even bake with home grown eggs. Your hens are under more sanitary conditions, better fed, better managed and the eggs are fresher than any commercial egg could ever be. Dip them in a bleach solution then store them in the fridge if that calms your fear. I'm an OE eater as well. Can't imagine having to eat OH eggs every morning. What's the toast for?

Oh, and exactly!!!! What is toast for without an OE egg!!!!! I've been so sad without it!

 

[nuthatched]

Ok, so maybe I'll stay out of the feed making business, ha! I was just thinking it would be healthier for them and maybe a touch cheaper. I see it a lot on homesteading videos. I do buy a good quality feed, so I guess I'll stick to that for now.

Those videos are great to spring off from but most of the feeds aren't nutritionally sound, if the recipe has sunflower seeds, cat food or no obvious protein source in the recipe, just skip it. :]

 

[I Love Feather Babies]

If they are only consuming feed, the 16% will meet their needs. If you let them free range where they can feast on just plants, or you give them vegetable and fruit treats, then the 18%will help balance out the lower protein levels they are consuming. If they are molting the higher levels will help grow feathers. Chickens tend to pick out their favorite seeds when offered so often the feeder is left full of the vitamin/mineral/protein pellets. Some chickens can be very wasteful and empty out the feeder searching for the last yummy crumb. Defeats the purpose.
As far as the eating part, you're going to have to work on that. There are some on here who can't eat or even bake with home grown eggs. Your hens are under more sanitary conditions, better fed, better managed and the eggs are fresher than any commercial egg could ever be. Dip them in a bleach solution then store them in the fridge if that calms your fear. I'm an OE eater as well. Can't imagine having to eat OH eggs every morning. What's the toast for?

My husband loves his yokes over easy has well. I like my yoke well done. The toast is for that wonderful homemade apple butter.