Texas

[Melisanewell80]

Ok ladies and gentlemen I have a few questions... What are chickens supposed to eat and how many times are they supposed to be fed during the day I mainly fill up a chicken feeder with chicken feed and they all just get what they want when they want I've got 6 roosters and 3 hens one mama with 5 babies so any help would be a life saver an I think that black an white 3 month old is also a rooster oddly enough

Also was thinking maybe someone would be interested in taking them all off my hands I can't even begin to comprehend this whole chicken thing we have them here in the yard cause they free range all the way down here to our yard.we really and truly don't know what we're doing.

 

[janiedoe]

Ok ladies and gentlemen I have a few questions... What are chickens supposed to eat and how many times are they supposed to be fed during the day I mainly fill up a chicken feeder with chicken feed and they all just get what they want when they want I've got 6 roosters and 3 hens one mama with 5 babies so any help would be a life saver an I think that black an white 3 month old is also a rooster oddly enough

I feed my flock Kalmbach 20% flock maker with oyster shell on the side. Everyone, including roosters and chicks, can eat that and do well.

 

[Melisanewell80]

I feed my flock Kalmbach 20% flock maker with oyster shell on the side. Everyone, including roosters and chicks, can eat that and do well.

Thanks Janidoe

 

[NagemTX]

Heading out to look at some property south of Paris Texas on my birthday weekend.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Also was thinking maybe someone would be interested in taking them all off my hands I can't even begin to comprehend this whole chicken thing we have them here in the yard cause they free range all the way down here to our yard.we really and truly don't know what we're doing.

Post some pics of your birds here, we'll let you know who's what. And this is just my personal opinion, but it would probably be a lot more enjoyable for you, since your just starting out, if you rehomed all the cockerels. Much less to worry about. When I started, I had 3 hens and had a great bond with them and loved it!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Thanks Janidoe

Agreed, Kalmbach is great feed!

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

I feed my flock Kalmbach 20% flock maker with oyster shell on the side. Everyone, including roosters and chicks, can eat that and do well.

Is 20% considered a bit high on the protein side for laying/adult stage feed?

I'm considering a switch to an organic feed, now that some girls started laying.

Kalmbach's description of flock maker says:

Feed continuously as the sole ration to free-range or confined ducks, geese, and chickens until laying age or market weight.

That seems to imply once they reach laying age, something should change?

I know there's been a push in the humand and dog food world to go higher protein and lower carbs, but vets generally think that's a bad idea as too much protein is hard on their kidneys. For people, weight loss is much more strongly correlated with a slight caloric deficit than it is nutritional balance.

I wish everyone would make a nice chart like Dumor makes.

 

[janiedoe]

Is 20% considered a bit high on the protein side for laying/adult stage feed?

I'm considering a switch to an organic feed, now that some girls started laying.

Kalmbach's description of flock maker says:

That seems to imply once they reach laying age, something should change?

I know there's been a push in the humand and dog food world to go higher protein and lower carbs, but vets generally think that's a bad idea as too much protein is hard on their kidneys. For people, weight loss is much more strongly correlated with a slight caloric deficit than it is nutritional balance.

I wish everyone would make a nice chart like Dumor makes.
View attachment 3924735

You can get kalmbach in different protein percentages. About half of my flock is over 7 years old and I haven’t had any problems with renal failure.

 

[ATXInstantFlock]

You can get kalmbach in different protein percentages. About half of my flock is over 7 years old and I haven’t had any problems with renal failure.

Thanks, I will check their website again.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Is 20% considered a bit high on the protein side for laying/adult stage feed?

I'm considering a switch to an organic feed, now that some girls started laying.

Kalmbach's description of flock maker says:

That seems to imply once they reach laying age, something should change?

I know there's been a push in the humand and dog food world to go higher protein and lower carbs, but vets generally think that's a bad idea as too much protein is hard on their kidneys. For people, weight loss is much more strongly correlated with a slight caloric deficit than it is nutritional balance.

I wish everyone would make a nice chart like Dumor makes.
View attachment 3924735

I agree with @janiedoe , I have a couple older ladies that have no issues. You also need to consider that chicks and adolescents need more protein while they are developing, and higher protein also helps adults during their molt. When it comes to feed (not treats) chickens are quite good at regulating their needs.