starting layer feed

[QueenMisha]

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

Personally I prefer a crumble to a pellet. Easier for them to eat and digest. But different flocks will prefer different feeds.

Everybody's right, no need to switch to a layer just yet, especially since EEs tend to lay late. Wait at least until they are a mature size (20+ weeks).

Personally I love the Bar Ale brand, however it's only available on the west coast. My only other recommendation for brands would be not Purina. Their stuff just isn't good quality. I've found local, small brands tend to have better quality feed. Not always, but a lot of the time. See if you can find a nearby feed mill who doesn't make a whole lot of feed.

 

[patty922]

Thank you. They are currently on An organic grower so I want the best step to be organic too.

What should the first main ingredients be for a high quality food ?

 

[junebuggena]

It's not really the main ingredients you should be looking at. All feeds will be primarily corn/wheat/soy, or some other grain combination. For chicken feed, the important bit to look at is the protein source. If it is an entirely plant-based feed, they are going to have to add synthetic amino acids to it. Animal proteins meet chickens' requirements in a much more natural and effective manner. But feeds that use animal sourced protein are hard to come by.

 

[MeepBeep]

Thank you. They are currently on An organic grower so I want the best step to be organic too.

What should the first main ingredients be for a high quality food ?

If you can't locate a local organic layer feed and/or you are happy with your existing feed you can always just keep them on the same grower you are already using and simply offer a side of oyster shells or crush limestone so they have the extra calcium for egg shells... There is honestly no magic ingredient in layer feed, it's for all intents the same exact feed mix as starter/grower with just a little extra calcium added and and a little more low protein filler to lower the overall protein a bit... The extra protein in the starter/grower won't hurt the older birds in fact a lot of people prefer the higher protein feeds over the 16% commonly found in layer as it can provide benefits like better feather growth and slightly lower feed consumption...

 

[patty922]

that is a great idea ! thank you meep beep