Should I switch my chicken feed?

[SilkieSisters]

When I first started raising chickens I had them on Tractor Supply's brand of layer feed (Dumor). A year ago I switched them to a feed that is organic and non-GMO and not layer. This is what it looks like...

Here's the nutrition label...

I really like the feed, but my chickens go through it quickly. When I was unable to get more feed and had to buy some layer feed from tractor supply, they ate it much closer (maybe because they werent used to it). It makes no difference to me whether the feed I give them is organic or non-GMO or not . . . I just dont know whether this feed may be almost like a treat to them because it ends up to be more expensive.

 

[Mtnboomer]

I don't see anything that would make that a "bad" feed other than the price as you imply. It does appear to contain a lot of corn and looks Similar to the scratch grains i give my gals once a week for a treat.
Its not worth breaking the bank over as most chickens do very well on cheaper feeds like Purina or Dumor (both of which i have fed to my birds). I have dual purpose birds so i mix a 22% protein "meat bird" feed with 16% layer feed and provide oyster shells on the side. I prefer to only buy pellets if possible as I have found the crumbles have too many fines and the adult birds do not care for it as much.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's more expensive because it's organic. If you really don't care about feeding organic, no real reason to buy organic feed.

If you do want to continue using feed of this type (whole grain) I'd suggest fermenting it or at least wetting it. Feeding it dry leads to waste because chickens will pick out their preferred pieces and bill out the rest, plus that also means they're not consuming the protein and vitamin fines.

 

[SilkieSisters]

I don't see anything that would make that a "bad" feed other than the price as you imply. It does appear to contain a lot of corn and looks Similar to the scratch grains i give my gals once a week for a treat.
Its not worth breaking the bank over as most chickens do very well on cheaper feeds like Purina or Dumor (both of which i have fed to my birds). I have dual purpose birds so i mix a 22% protein "meat bird" feed with 16% layer feed and provide oyster shells on the side. I prefer to only buy pellets if possible as I have found the crumbles have too many fines and the adult birds do not care for it as much.

Is there a process to switch feed such as giving them to it slowly at a time or does it not matter how I switch it.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Im not sure if there is a standard practice, but I did. When I made the decision to go from layer feed to a mix, I took the last 25lbs of layer feed (equals about 5 feedings) and added 1/2lb of meat bird feed with each feeding until it was a 50/50 mix (eyeball only. I didn't actually weigh anything).
Now they get their 50/50 mix with every feeding. I have another harvest scheduled in 3 weeks. I will compare the body weights to see if it has made a difference.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is there a process to switch feed such as giving them to it slowly at a time or does it not matter how I switch it.

I know you'll get different advice on this, but I switch all at once. The reason being, with a slow transition I find that they'll eat around the new feed in favor of the old feed. They'll probably be upset for a few days from the change, but this way they're being forced to try the new food.