Switching feeds during molt

[Ridgerunner]

x2 pellets...much less waste. The only time I feed crumble is to baby chicks.

I sell eggs as well, and I personally find I get the best shell quality when my layers are on designated layer feed rather than the all flock with oyster or calcite on the side.

With the supplements, I often get lumpy shells as the calcium supplements don't always melt away as you'd think in their systems.

I get smooth hard shells with layer pellets...but that's me.

I too don't waste time, money, or effort with tuna/mackeral supplements. I find the pellet feed much easier, more balanced, and less waste.

My birds have never turned their beaks up to any pellet food, so I don't have issues with changing feed a couple times a year.

Just what I do.
LofMc

That's interesting. Whether the calcium comes from oyster shell, egg shells, limestone, or something else the acid in their digestive juices dissolves the calcium so it passes through their intestinal walls as a liquid. You'd think the form of the calcium supplement would not cause lumpy shells but results are results.

Not all of the calcium they eat is absorbed by their bodies, some passes on through and out the rear end. How well it is ground up will affect that absorption rate so larger chunks mean less is absorbed. The lumps are generally caused by excess calcium, not a lack. I think that means they are just eating more when it's free choice instead of limited but finely ground in the Layer feed. So maybe not the form so much as how much they eat.

By the way, calcium is a needed nutrient for many plants to set and grow fruit and prevent Blossom End Rot, like tomatoes and peppers. That makes compost with chicken poop as an ingredient even more valuable in a vegetable garden.

As to the OP's original question, I don't up the protein when they are molting and I don't up the protein when they are laying. I've seen recommendations on here to up the protein with both of these. I just feed an adequate feed year around with oyster shell on the side as a supplement. My flock always has different aged chickens in it, Right now I have mature chickens that are molting, first year pullets that will skip the molt and lay all winter, and some 4-month-old pullets ands cockerels. We are all unique so we feed the way that works for us.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

That's interesting. Whether the calcium comes from oyster shell, egg shells, limestone, or something else the acid in their digestive juices dissolves the calcium so it passes through their intestinal walls as a liquid. You'd think the form of the calcium supplement would not cause lumpy shells but results are results.

Not all of the calcium they eat is absorbed by their bodies, some passes on through and out the rear end. How well it is ground up will affect that absorption rate so larger chunks mean less is absorbed. The lumps are generally caused by excess calcium, not a lack. I think that means they are just eating more when it's free choice instead of limited but finely ground in the Layer feed. So maybe not the form so much as how much they eat.

By the way, calcium is a needed nutrient for many plants to set and grow fruit and prevent Blossom End Rot, like tomatoes and peppers. That makes compost with chicken poop as an ingredient even more valuable in a vegetable garden.

As to the OP's original question, I don't up the protein when they are molting and I don't up the protein when they are laying. I've seen recommendations on here to up the protein with both of these. I just feed an adequate feed year around with oyster shell on the side as a supplement. My flock always has different aged chickens in it, Right now I have mature chickens that are molting, first year pullets that will skip the molt and lay all winter, and some 4-month-old pullets ands cockerels. We are all unique so we feed the way that works for us.

I totally get what you are saying...and I agree that anything a bird eats must be broken down into molecular particles than reassembled into new molecular parts for use by the chicken.

However, I have seen calcite grit bits in shells. Not rough sand paper shells, but actual part of grit. I swear it looks that way. I actually have seen grit parts, not globby shells (I've seen those too).

However, I can totally concede it could be just excess calcium that globs because it doesn't make sense for a chunk of grit to actually pass through the system into the shells. (I wonder if I could get some weird colored grit to test the theory??? Like black grit???)

No matter. When I use grit I get chunky shells. When I use good quality layer feed I don't.

But that's my flock in my environmental conditions.

At OP: Your environment plays a big part of what you need to feed your flock.

Here in our very damp, grey Oregon, I find the need to increase protein in the winter. I've had northern visitors complain about our cold winters. It's the kind of chill that gets into your bones though our temps are not as low.

LofMc