Should I change the food my chickens eat?

[Morgan Singh]

Ever since I got my chickens I have been feeding them the same food ( pic below shows it ). They are around 2-3 months old now, should I change there food? ( If I should anyone got any recommendations? )

 

[DobieLover]

Ever since I got my chickens I have been feeding them the same food ( pic below shows it ). They are around 2-3 months old now, should I change there food? ( If I should anyone got any recommendations? )

You can continue to feed them that or switch them to Flock Raiser or All Flock. Just put out a container or two of oyster shell when they hit 18-20 weeks old and you're set for life.

 

[Tonyroo]

I fed mine with this:

 

[3KillerBs]

I agree. All-flock with oystershell on the side suits my flock's needs well.

I can't get unmedicated chick starter at the local farm store so I switched this batch to all-flock as soon as I finished the first bag of medicated chick starter. But I could have continued chick starter forever if it met my criteria of protein/freshness/cost optimization.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

add my name to the chorus recommending All Flock/Flock Raiser with free choice oyster shell on the side, all their lives. For the typical backyard owner, of the typical backyard flock, with typical backyard management - its the best practice for your ease and their nutritional health.

No, I don't feed my own birds that way, but I have neither the typical backyard flock, nor the typical backyard management practices. and even then, my actual practice is pretty close.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I fed my 8 chicks Start & Grow 18% till first eggs from each breed, RIR 20 weeks and Barred Rocks 21 weeks old.
I then mixed with Layer feed 16% 50/50 till Start & Grow was gone.
They are 23 weeks old now and getting 5 eggs daily.
I offered Oyster Shells separately at 15 weeks old. GC

 

[Fontaine]

You can continue to feed them that or switch them to Flock Raiser or All Flock. Just put out a container or two of oyster shell when they hit 18-20 weeks old and you're set for life.

I love when you post so I can admire that beautiful dog of yours!

 

[DobieLover]

I love when you post so I can admire that beautiful dog of yours!

Here ya go...

 

[U_Stormcrow]

@GC-Raptor is a well respected poster here on BYC, and one of the few active on the feed forum who uses Layer Feed. GC is not wrong, but unsaid, GC's flock is of the breeds that the original studies around which layer feed is based where formulated for - high-production "large egg" layers in their prime. Note also that the flock eating Layer is all hens, and at or past point of lay. I don't recall how long GC normally keeps birds before replacing with new layers, but that's also a factor to consider in determining which feed methods best fit one's needs.

There is no one right answer for everyone - but there are thousands of wrong ones. On the subject of feed, there is room for reasonable differences in opinion.