should i switch to layer feed or stick to my regular feed?

[chimken_]

hello, so my hen chickpea started laying 2 weeks ago maybe more but where i live we don't have layer feed, in fact we don't have grower or chick feed or grit and any of that stuff here, my country is kinda of small and there's only 1 type of chicken feed i can find it's in a clear bag no name no nothing and it doesn't say what it has it comes in pellets and crumble that's what everybody uses here but I tried it and she loves it, it made her grow and have nice feathers and be healthy. if I were to buy feed online it would cost me a lot of money + the shipping (the regular feed I use is 1-2bhd feed online can go up to 60 bhd which is 159usd!!!for one bag) only concern with my regular feed is that her comb and waddle was pretty pale at some point but then I gave her more eggshells and more time outside and it got darker again, also her eggs look fine they're kinda small compared to regular eggs but they're getting bigger and maybe it's just because shes new/young it could also be because she is smaller size not super small but smaller than those big chunky chickens most people have, I didn't see her have any squishy or weird eggs, so what I'm trying to get at is should I just continue with this feed plus some eggshells and maybe some calcium rich foods or oyster shells or should i try to find some layer feed and slowly switch to it? is the egg size normal or is this a calcium issue? or should I stick with my regular feed if it's working just fine? i was thinking of manna pro or ifa but manna pro is really expensive online and ifa has me blocked for whatever reason even though this is my first time searching them up, I also have some concerns about it being unhealthy or dangerous like some people say but idk if they're just fear mongering ( ik ppl said its only bad for chicks / roosters but i heard some say for laying hens or hens that stopped laying) shes a pet so i don't really care about eggs that much i just wanna know if it's unhealthy for her to go on without layer feed.

 

[Debbie292d]

A couple of considerations:

Layer feed is higher in calcium. That can be supplemented for the hens with oyster shells in a separate dish even if you bought this. That's about the only difference between layer feed and an all-flock type feed which is what I assume yours is. The latter is lower calcium, higher protein.

New layers usually lay smaller eggs. Sometimes they can even be strange looking, shelless, fairy eggs, etc. That straightens out in a week or two.

Manna Pro is fine. Most folks complaining don't even realize there are over a week's worth of eggs inside of a hen, yet they'd say they changed feed, and the next day, they started laying. That was a mere coincidence.

If purchasing feed outside of what you get is so astronomically expensive, I think you could continue with that feed you're feeding and yes, just now and then supplement with some scrambled eggs as those are great nutritionally. You could also try pick up sometime some poultry vitamins for their water or to mix in their feed.

 

[chimken_]

A couple of considerations:

Layer feed is higher in calcium. That can be supplemented for the hens with oyster shells in a separate dish even if you bought this. That's about the only difference between layer feed and an all-flock type feed which is what I assume yours is. The latter is lower calcium, higher protein.

New layers usually lay smaller eggs. Sometimes they can even be strange looking, shelless, fairy eggs, etc. That straightens out in a week or two.

Manna Pro is fine. Most folks complaining don't even realize there are over a week's worth of eggs inside of a hen, yet they'd say they changed feed, and the next day, they started laying. That was a mere coincidence.

If purchasing feed outside of what you get is so astronomically expensive, I think you could continue with that feed you're feeding and yes, just now and then supplement with some scrambled eggs as those are great nutritionally. You could also try pick up sometime some poultry vitamins for their water or to mix in their feed.

Ok thanks! I guess for now I'll stick to my regular feed +egg and eggshells and some poultry vitamins and maybe some oyster shells when I get some (is yogurt good or too much calcium to give them all at once?) for now but I'll still look for layer feed for the future is ifa layer feed (16%)good because its the only one I can find with a reasonable price with the shipping and also its big I guess I'll just figure a way to get unblocked or something, also is it better to buy feed that not medicated and stuff?
And random question: is it bad to feed chickens egg shells (store bought) without cooking them first (but rinsed with water)? I just accidentally did that then Realized it might've been stupid of me

Thanks for the help

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would feed them what you can find reasonably in your country/region. Even if you try to import expensive feed it might be quite old and not necessarily better than what you're already feeding.

Crushed eggshells from store bought eggs should be fine as a source of calcium to supplement the feed. I'd rather bake them or boil them first, to make me feel better about them being "clean" but I don't think it's required. Not my first preference (oyster shell or other mollusk shell is a better source of calcium) but better than not having any additional calcium at all.

 

[chimken_]

I would feed them what you can find reasonably in your country/region. Even if you try to import expensive feed it might be quite old and not necessarily better than what you're already feeding.

Crushed eggshells from store bought eggs should be fine as a source of calcium to supplement the feed. I'd rather bake them or boil them first, to make me feel better about them being "clean" but I don't think it's required. Not my first preference (oyster shell or other mollusk shell is a better source of calcium) but better than not having any additional calcium at all.

Ok thanks i bought some oyster shells for them hopefully they like it, I’ll keep cooking the shells first to ease my mind but I’m glad it’s not a big deal i was worried lol
Thanks for the help

 

[TooCheep]

@chimken_ Looks like you have some good advice above. I'd like to recommend that you put your general location in your profile. It makes it easier to answer your questions if we have some idea of your climate, pests/predators, location, etc.

 

[chimken_]

@chimken_ Looks like you have some good advice above. I'd like to recommend that you put your general location in your profile. It makes it easier to answer your questions if we have some idea of your climate, pests/predators, location, etc.

Ok thanks will do