starter grower or laying crumble

[keljonma]

Quote:
NO Layer feed - no matter if it is mash, crumbles or pellet form - is NOT good for young chicks. You can start to change from start/grow to layer at about 14 to 18 weeks of age.

We feed Purina SunFresh Flock Raiser - so this is the info I have. http://poultry.purinamills.com/OURPRODUCTS/Products/CompleteProductList/default.aspx

Start & Grow feed (from the Purina site) An 18%-protein ration perfect for raising laying chicks from hatch to laying age (18-20 weeks). Made from natural plant-based ingredients FREE of all animal proteins and fats, it contains all the quality nutrients necessary to produce strong, healthy, beautifully colored birds.

Layena feed(from the Purina site) A 16%-protein high-calcium ration formulated for top-producing laying birds once they reach 18 weeks of age. Made from natural plant-based ingredients FREE of all animal proteins and fats, it contains all the quality nutrients laying hens need to produce lots of strong-shelled, healthy, golden-yolked eggs.

Flock Raiser feed (from the Purina site) 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides top starting, growing and finishing nutrition for a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks) and for turkeys from 8-10 weeks until laying age of 18-20 weeks.
Made from natural plant-based ingredients FREE of all animal proteins and fats, it contains all the quality nutrients necessary to raise strong, healthy, beautifully colored chickens, ducks and geese from hatch, through growth and to laying age - all in one bag.

 

[irinuca]

Can someone please tell me what is the laying mash? The feed store I go to seems to have just crumbles and pallets and I bought some chickens that were fed mash. What is that?

 

[keljonma]

Mash is chicken feed in a finer format. The particles are smaller than crumbles.

The type of feed you use (pellets, crumbles or mash) is a personal preference and what you have available to you in your area.

Our flock refuses to eat pellets, they just bill it out and waste it. We have better results with crumbles or mash. Currently we are feeding Flock Raiser crumbles for our flock which ranges from ages 7 weeks to 2+ years.

 

[irinuca]

Thank you so much for your answer.
So if I'd find a way to grind the crumbles, could I say that is mash?

I'm pretty new to English terminology when it comes to raising chickens. So I go and I buy 3 and the guy tells me he feeds them "mash". I didn't want to sound stupid so didn't ask anymore. I call the feed store and they tell me yes, they have mash. I go there and he askes me pallets or crumbles. At that point I was beyond confused.
To me this is all so strange though because the chickens in my grandma's back yard back home eat nothing but grains and cooked potatoes and whatever grass they find. And of course the treats of the farm like cheese and food scaps... And believe me they have been and are healthy, big, fat, laying just fine.
But I'm all pro advancement in technology so I'll stick to the laying feed...

 

[carlsaSC]

I have a hen that went broody in early April. She and her chicks are ready to move in with the big girls. She looks so good after eating starter/grower for 3 months that I am considering changing the laying flock to that feed for the higher protein. Of course, it may be that she is looking good because she has not had to lay eggs for 12 plus weeks. Nor, has she had any of the other hens pecking on her. But, anyway, I think it would be worth a try. The rest of the flock has been laying about a year. This forum seems to say it is an OK idea as long as supplemental calcium is given.