Switching to all flock

[Overthinker]

Howdy,

So I've read a few posts on here and it seems I'm supposed to do the following

Chickens are 17 weeks old
Barred Rock
Easter Eggers
Gold laced and Red Laced blue wyandotte.

They are on grower

Should I switch to all flock and put a side of oyster shells if they want it?
Not sure if they'll lay any in winter so wasn't sure what to do.

Thank you!

Ps, what exactly is all flock?

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

Beautiful flock! I actually use Purina flock starter for my grown flock. It has such a high level of protein and a good amount of calcium too and the chickens love it! A flock is a number of birds of one kind or a mass flock or large group.

 

[NatJ]

Keeping them on grower should be fine.

All Flock is a special feed produced by some companies, that is supposed to be suitable for chickens of all ages and maybe for ducks and geese and other poultry as well.

I would consider chick starter, or grower, or all flock to be interchangeable: you can feed any of them to chickens of any age.

Yes, put out a dish of oyster shell, so the pullets can help themselves whenever they need to. They are usually good at self-regulating their calcium intake.

 

[SnootyHen]

I'd leave them on chick starter until they start laying. You can add a calcium supplement (oysters are good) and they will eat it if they want it, but the protein in chick feed is better for them if they aren't laying yet. I switch to All Flock or Flock Raiser when I have chickens with multiple needs (like new chicks that aren't laying yet and layers or if you had a rooster). I also switch to Flock Raiser when they are all molting and not laying so they get the extra protein. It's formulated so everyone can eat it. But all of your girls are still able to eat chick feed, so I'd keep them on that until they are laying.

 

[Brooks_]

Agreeing with above posts. I personally don't change feeds; just Purina flock raiser from day one. If availability is an issue then I get a starter/grower. Oyster shell on the side for the ones that need the extra calcium.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Even though I don't feed my own flock that way (for reasons that would result in a much longer post), I recommend - for the typical backyard keeper, of the typical backyard flock, with typical backyard management practices - the feeding of an All Flock/Flock Raiser "type" feed, with free choice grit and free choice oyster shell for all your birds, all their lives, for every life stage and gender.

All Flock / Flock Raiser "type" is shorthand for a complete feed between 18-20% protein, about 3.5% fiber +/-, about 3.5% fat +/-, with about 1.5% calcium +/-. "Starter", "Grower", and "Starter/Grower" often meet those figures, and can be used interchangeably if so - (and are, when pandemic shortages make your regular choices out of stock). The descriptor on the label doesn't matter, the guaranteed nutritional analysis does.

Interestingly, in at least one major brand, their AFFR is better nutrition than their Starter/Grower.

Of course, if you can't get AFFR Crumbles, that's not a great solution - the chicks need crumble, not pelleted feed.

 

[Overthinker]

Interesting and interestinger

So starter/grower and all flock are the same thing?

Crumbles seem to be all over the coop floor so I was thinking of switching to pellets of some kind.

Also. The birds ate 17 weeks old, are they going to get bigger? Thinking the coop may be too big for them. Can they live with ducks or geese if we get more birds or do they need their own coop?

 

[Tonyroo]

My hens stopped growing at 20 weeks. They started laying at 25 weeks.
If that helps.

 

[Brooks_]

So starter/grower and all flock are the same thing?

More or less.

Crumbles seem to be all over the coop floor so I was thinking of switching to pellets of some kind.

A pic would help. It might just be the feeder.

Also. The birds ate 17 weeks old, are they going to get bigger?

Yes, they'll bigger in a filling out sort of way. And at that age pellet is fine.

Thinking the coop may be too big for them. Can they live with ducks or geese if we get more birds or do they need their own coop?

Most on here don't mix housing.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Interesting and interestinger

So starter/grower and all flock are the same thing?

Those are just labels. The Nutrition is what matters. But they are often quite close, and (largely) interchangeable in a pinch.

Crumbles seem to be all over the coop floor so I was thinking of switching to pellets of some kind.

Pellets tend to be lower waste - the birds miss fewer of them, less prone to getting lost in the flooring/litter/etc - but not well suited to hatchlings, of course. A number of us on BYC try to get "the best of both worlds" by turning our crumbles into an oatmeal-like consistency wet mash. Though that has problems in certain climates, and almost all feeders (I use plastic gutters for daily feedings)

Also. The birds ate 17 weeks old, are they going to get bigger? Thinking the coop may be too big for them. Can they live with ducks or geese if we get more birds or do they need their own coop?

Depends on breed. Some of the really fast birds, like Golden Comets and other RSL production layers should be mostly done by then, maybe fill out another 1/2# or so. Others, much slower growing, like Brahma, will continue to put on weight and size for quite some time. One of my mutt males was a bit over 6# in July, at 26 weeks. Weighed him today, 8.3#