Start & grow feed vs Flock Raiser

[nkvmdsrs127]

I have 4, 9 week old teenagers (pullets), who I am about to integrate with 2 hens (1 year olds).
They have been together outside for 3 weeks-but separated 24/7 by a fence.

Feeding question- Ok to feed Start & Grow crumbles to the adult girls, with oyster shell on the side? Or should I get Flock Raiser for everybody?
I have a big bag of Start & Grow crumbles I’d like to use up-but not that big a deal to get another food.

Thanks!

 

[MadGardener]

Your adults can eat starter just fine with calcium on the side. Good luck with your integration!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Finish out your start and grow. You can feed either to all your birds, all your lives.

The real way to compare? Set the Guaranteed Nutritional Labels side by side. You will see why many of us used "Start & Grow" when we couldn't find "Flock Raiser" during the pandemic, or "Flock Raiser" when we couldn't find "Start & Grow".


Lets pick on Purina, shall we?
Start & Grow
Flock Raiser

Flock Raiser is actually the superior feed, based on headline numbers. In my view, the only reasons to buy S&G are:

Flock Raiser is out of Stock
Flock Raiser is only available locally as pellet (if you have chicks)
You need Medicated (FR is available Medicated, but I've never seen it stocked)
You have a tiny flock, and 50# of FR will go bad before they can eat it, while 10# of S&G will not.

 

[DavidReaves]

Lets pick on Purina, shall we?
Start & Grow
Flock Raiser

View attachment 3137163

Purina is what I'm feeding my first hatching group. From those numbers, it looks like either one should probably have supplemental calcium available. I need to go look at the numbers for layer feed. I'm guessing it has higher calcium-- these two only have a 0.05% difference!

 

[NatJ]

Purina is what I'm feeding my first hatching group. From those numbers, it looks like either one should probably have supplemental calcium available. I need to go look at the numbers for layer feed. I'm guessing it has higher calcium-- these two only have a 0.05% difference!

Those feeds have an amount of calcium that is appropriate for roosters, young chicks, and any other chicken that is not laying.

Hens that are laying need MUCH more calcium each day.
So yes, a separate source of calcium should be provided with either of those foods, which lets the laying hens get enough while the chicks avoid overdosing.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Exactly so.


You should always have (seperately) a source of grit, a source of supplimental calcium, and at least one source of good clean water available at all times. (You can skip the calcium for the chicks. 1% +/- is adequate for their needs. Broilers like CX may need a bit more due to their ferocious growth rates (I'd need to check my notes, i don't raise them), but to raise them optimally, they need a specialized feed regardless. They can be raised adequately of FlockRaiser. The extra P helps with bone formation.

 

[Shadrach]

Finish out your start and grow. You can feed either to all your birds, all your lives.

The real way to compare? Set the Guaranteed Nutritional Labels side by side. You will see why many of us used "Start & Grow" when we couldn't find "Flock Raiser" during the pandemic, or "Flock Raiser" when we couldn't find "Start & Grow".


Lets pick on Purina, shall we?
Start & Grow
Flock Raiser

View attachment 3137163
Flock Raiser is actually the superior feed, based on headline numbers. In my view, the only reasons to buy S&G are:

Flock Raiser is out of Stock
Flock Raiser is only available locally as pellet (if you have chicks)
You need Medicated (FR is available Medicated, but I've never seen it stocked)
You have a tiny flock, and 50# of FR will go bad before they can eat it, while 10# of S&G will not.

Why exactly is it you consider Flock Raiser the superior feed?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Why exactly is it you consider Flock Raiser the superior feed?

See nutritional guarantees above.

Methionine and Lysine levels are higher - both are key (particularly for growing birds) in formation of robust digestive/intestinal tracts (adds feed efficiency/nutrient absorbtion all their lives), other connective tissues (like skin and tendons), breast meat (the Lysine), while the little bit of extra phosphorus helps make use of the calcium for bone formation. The extra protein overall provides a bit of a boost during molt, as well. and while the mechanism isn't well understood (may relate to the improvide digestive tract), the additional key aminos are also associated with improved disease and bacterial resistance.

Apart from that? No reason.

 

[Shadrach]

See nutritional guarantees above.

Methionine and Lysine levels are higher - both are key (particularly for growing birds) in formation of robust digestive/intestinal tracts (adds feed efficiency/nutrient absorbtion all their lives), other connective tissues (like skin and tendons), breast meat (the Lysine), while the little bit of extra phosphorus helps make use of the calcium for bone formation. The extra protein overall provides a bit of a boost during molt, as well. and while the mechanism isn't well understood (may relate to the improvide digestive tract), the additional key aminos are also associated with improved disease and bacterial resistance.

Apart from that? No reason.

I did read the charts which is why I wondered about your conclusion.
Don't chickens have a recommended daily intake of nutriants much like humans? More of something isn't necessarily better and with some chemicals can be harmful.
From what I've seen in the nurtitional analysis most fall into a fairly small range, the largest variations being Calcium and Protein.
I'm trying to learn a bit about the RDA measures for chickens and it does seem to be a quite complex subject. For example from what little I've read it's recommended to give hard feathered fowl extra protein while the RDA for laying hens ranges from 15% to 18%.
I'm just curious and not after an arguement.

 

[NatJ]

Don't chickens have a recommended daily intake of nutriants much like humans?

Yes, but it is usually expressed as a percent of the food, and assumes each chicken will eat a certain amount of food each day relative to how much the chicken weighs.

More of something isn't necessarily better and with some chemicals can be harmful.

Yes, too much can be a problem. But lysine, methionine, and protein in general tend to be some of the most expensive ingredients in chicken feed. So most feeds target the very bottom end of the acceptable range. As long as you're looking at commercial foods labeled for chickens, you are quite unlikely to find a level high enough to be harmful.