Should I feed Anyways?

[Chickenupho]

The first reason listed in that link is "the guy at the feed store said we don't need to".



Maybe 50 years ago most birds became dinner before the heath detriments became issues too.

There is a reason that chick started exists. It isn't about money.....It costs the same as layer feed.

I mean, it’s not about money but my nearest TSC is 40 minutes away and the nearest feed store is 30. My dad recently got into a car accident so he needs to rest and my mom works in Carlsbad which is a two hour drive from where we live and back so she never has time... mY bRotHeR jUst sTarTed sChoOl aT UC Berkeley so my parents are focused on paying the tuition for now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can have feed delivered, though it's not cheap. But at least it's an option.

I wouldn't feed them layer but my chickens are pets so I want them to live long, healthy lives.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

I wouldn't feed layer until they're laying. If the evidence your dad has is a blog post, I have a few wonderful bridges for sale....

Maybe you can get a friend to drive you? Or contact another chicken keeper and see if they have some for you to borrow?

 

[Ebony Rose]

When chicks are fed excessive calcium, over time, some of them manifest the toes and legs bent in an abnormal direction and final inability to walk in proportion to the dose of calcium. The leg abnormality of chicks fed excessive calcium resembled the symptom of chicks fed a vitamin D-deficient diet. In the radiograph of chicks fed excessive calcium, definite radiolucent area were found in all the bone joints related with poor mineralization. Furthermore, a slight elevation of calcium concentration, a decrease in inorganic phosphorous concentration and a remarkable increase in alkaline phosphatase activity were found in the blood tests of the chicks fed excessive calcium. In these chicks were observed the hypertrophic cartilage at the end of bones and an increase in osteoid seams at the diaphysis in the non-decalcified bone section. The findings described above suggested that an excessive calcium supply to chicks might cause a disturbance in metabolism and produce hypophosphatemic rickets.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

People people...... we're talking about 1 bag of feed. Come on!

Besides, some folks see no wrong in feeding layer either...... I'm one of them.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Hi y’all! My chicks are on their fifth week now, and their back of chick starter is almost gone. My dad recently bought a 50 pound bag of food for LAYING HENS *cough cough. Without my knowledge he mixed about 3 cups of the feed to the remaining chick starter. Should I just feed it anyways?

Just tape up the bag of layer feed and save it for later.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Just tape up the bag of layer feed and save it for later.

That's quite awhile to wait to feed it; they shouldn't be on layer until they are laying; another 6 months or so. Perhaps stuff it in a freezer if you have the space.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That's quite awhile to wait to feed it; they shouldn't be on layer until they are laying; another 6 months or so. Perhaps stuff it in a freezer if you have the space.

Or maybe trade it with a friend or neighbor for a bag of chick crumble.....