Supplementing Organic Feed??? Please help a newbie :)

[yay4chickens]

Hello! Please excuse my little knowledge on the subject, as I am new to raising chickens (for eggs). I also apologize if this question has been answered here before, but after some searching, I couldn't find the answer.

I have nine 5-6 week old chicks (of different breeds). I have been feeding them Magill Ranch Cascade Organic starter feed (soy and corn free) since I got them at about 1 week old. I am getting ready to switch over to the grower feed, and I will also start adding DE to their feed. (Can I just sprinkle DE on top of the feeder, or do I need to mix it in well??) I also plan on giving them kitchen scraps from time to time (is this considered a "treat"?). What other treats are good for chickens?

I've been reading about supplementing, and I think I'm going to get some Fertrell Nutri-balancer (the organic kind). Do I need the Fertrell Nutri-balancer, or is the feed enough?? Do I need to supplement with oyster shells (or chicken egg shells) too??? Do I need "scratch" feed too??? What is scratch used for? Is it mixed in with their regular feed? Do I also need to mix in some flaxseed into their feed?

And do I need to start supplementing with these things ASAP or wait until I start them on the layer feed when they're 16 weeks old?


Here's the ingredient/nutrition info:

Cascade Grower feed:

Ingredients: Organic Peas, Organic Barley, Organic Wheat, Fish Meal, Organic Flax Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dehydrated Seaweed Meal, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Wheat Middlings, Vitamin A supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitmain E supplement, Menadione Nicotinamide Bisulfite, Riboflavin Supplement, )-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrchloride, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Aspergillus oryzac Fermentation Extract, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dried fermentaion product of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried fermentation produt of Lactobacillus casei, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus planatum, Dried fermentation product of Enterococcus faecium, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus coagulans, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus Licheniformis, and Dried fermentation product of Baccilus Subtilis, Dried Asperfillus Niger Germentation Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Nutrient Name Amount
Crude Protein min 16.00%
Lysine min 0.77%
Methionine min 0.30%
Crude Fat min 5.60%
Crude Fiber max 5.15%
Calcium min 1.05%
Calcium max 1.08%
Phosphorus 0.87%
Salt min 0.32%
Salt max 0.39%


Cascade Layer Feed:

Ingredients: Organic Peas, Organic Barley, Organic Wheat, Fish Meal, Organic Flax Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Dehydrated Seaweed Meal, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Wheat Middlings, Vitamin A supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitmain E supplement, Menadione Nicotinamide Bisulfite, Riboflavin Supplement, )-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hydrochloride, Pyridoxine Hydrchloride, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Aspergillus oryzac Fermentation Extract, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dried fermentaion product of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried fermentation produt of Lactobacillus casei, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus planatum, Dried fermentation product of Enterococcus faecium, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus coagulans, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus Licheniformis, and Dried fermentation product of Baccilus Subtilis, Dried Asperfillus Niger Germentation Extract.
Guaranteed Analysis
Nutrient Name Amount
Crude Protein min 16.24%
Lysine min 0.82%
Methionine min 0.31%
Crude Fat min 5.50%
Crude Fiber max 4.70%
Calcium min 4.02%
Calcium max 4.10%
Phosphorus 0.94%
Salt min 0.34%
Salt max 0.41%


Fertrell Organic Nutri-balancer:

Guaranteed Analysis:
Calcium (min) 12.5%
Calcium (max) 14.5%
Phosphorus (min) 10%
Salt (min) 10%
Salt (max) 12%
Selenium (min) 10 ppm
Vitamin A (min) 140,000 IU/LB
Vitamin D (min) 50,000 IU/LB
Vitamin E (min) 600 IU/LB
Lactic Acid Bacteria (min) 50 Million CFU/LB (Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Loactobacillus Lactis, Enterococcus faecium)
Bacillus Bacteria (min) 25 Millin CFU/LB (Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Licheniformis)
Ingredients: Dicalcium Phosphate, Dehydrated Seaweed Meal, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Menadione Dimethypryrimidinol Bisulfite Riboflavin Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenic Acid, Niacin Supplement, Choline Chloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Thiamine Hydrochloried, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Dried Aspergillus oryzae Fermentation Extract, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Dried Fermentation product of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus casei, Dried fermentation product of Lactobacillus plantarum, Dried fermentation product of Enterococcus faecium, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus coagulans, Dried fermentation product of Bacillus licheniformis, and Dried fermentation product of Bacillus subtilis.
Directions: Poultry Nutri Balancer is to be mixed with grains and protein sources at a rate of 60 lbs. per Ton. Layers and Breeder Flocks will require and addition of 175 lbs. of Calcium per Ton. Chick and Turkey Starters and Grower feeds will require the addition of 25 lbs. of Calcium per Ton.


(If I need the Fertrell Nutri-balancer, how much do I need to add to my 50 lb bag of feed?)

Additional info if it helps: I live in Utah with hot summers and cold snowy winters. My chicks were just put into the outside coop with run after being in the brooder. I plan to free range them, though I don't have a fenced yard, so I'm a little weary of that...?

Thanks so much for your help!!!

 

[Clay Mudd]

Pretty much everything the Nutri-Balancer supplies is already in the Cascade feed. The feed is formulated as a complete feed, whereas the Nutri-Balancer is intended as a vitamin and mineral supplement for people who are mixing their own feed.


In fact, I just took a look on McGill's web site and read this:


Quote:

We pride ourselves that we make Complete feeds. Our feeds are formulated for chickens complete nutritional needs based on their development , We use Fertrells Organic Nutri—Balancer that has pro-biotics that help with health issues that occur in poultry. For the added calcium in the layer mix we use Calcium Carbonate which is ground limestone. So it is natural from the earth.

http://www.magillranch.com/Cascade-Feeds.html

Flax seed is optional, as is scratch.

The layer feed theoretically has enough calcium, but lots of people like to give oyster shell on the side anyway. Calcium needs can vary, especially if they're foraging or getting scratch grains of any kind.

 

[yay4chickens]

THANK YOU! I suppose it would've helped if I had actually done some research on Magill Ranch's own website. I just order my feed through Azure Standard, and I guess they don't put all of the info on there.

Ok, so if I don't feed them scratch grains, it'll be ok? What benefit do scratch grains have?

And if I let them forage, I should still give them an oyster shell supplement (or I've heard I can give them their own egg shells)? Should I start supplementing with this now or wait until they're laying?

Do I need to do anything different in the winter?

Thanks!!!