Start & grow feed vs Flock Raiser

[U_Stormcrow]

I've got a few of those "old school books" not to mention some very interesting advice/opinions/experiences from chicken keepers whose families have been keeping chickens for many generations. There is an awful lot of knowledge that just doesn't feature on modern day chicken keeping sites that to me seems more relevant and accurate than much of todays internet advice.

Much of what I've truly learned thru repeat use about feeding was while looking closely at bad advice offered as homemade feed recipes from youtube and various websites (Garden Betty, I'm looking at you!) SOME of the old info still holds up really well, some I find less useful - either because chickens themselves have changed with modern breeding efforts in the last 50 years, or because the assumptions have changed in the way we keep them - a couple scrawny birds free ranging a homestead with a field of grain and a number of other animals is a lot different than life in a backyard 8x10 run

 

[nkvmdsrs127]

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

Thank you!

 

[nkvmdsrs127]

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

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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.

Very helpful to see the comparison! Thank you