I know we had spoken about this before off & on but I thought I would ask again. Lots of newer people on the thread now who may be interested as well.
What kind of feed do you use for your chickens & why? (I don't mean FF but what kind of chicken feed...like grower, layer, etc)
I have been researching different kinds of feeds.......I cant afford organic but I do want something that has less chemicals in it. The feeds all start out with corn & soybeans as their first ingredients and they all say they are vegetarian diets and have NO ANIMAL PROTEINS. I know how important animal proteins are to the chickens who are NOT vegetarians so I do supplement my feed for my hens.
As I only have for 4 hens and only allowed a max of 6 total buying 50# bags of oats, corn, wheat, etc is not a good investment for me. Heck I bought a 50# bag of pellets (I think) last fall in maybe October and I still have enough pellets to last until at least June probably longer since I FF.
I know some use grower or game bird feed and just have oyster shell always available for the calcium for the hens.
Also what do you think the best protein level is for different ages of chickens?
I'm all trying to find articles as to what can cause vent prolapse. I'm curious to see if there are any articles about pullets receiving layer pullets from birth may contribute to it. I know the lady who I purchased the hens from said that she has had them on layer pellets since they were off chick starter so I continued them on layer pellets. I'm curious if the calcium at such a young age when they were growing caused some problems. Yes they are just hatchery birds but I would think that it would apply to better chickens as well
Thanks!!
have been reading about buckeyes - over on that thread -- I didn't know soon enough for my 2 - but for other's info -- seems some breeds require more protein as chickies than others. As in I guess buckeyes have some game bird in their breeding, and to have good quality animal protein at a young age helps them get to their appropriate adult size. If they do not have enough, they may be smaller, and never quite catch up to standard. So goes again to what we learn as we have our own, and to not apply what someone else says, just because...???
I gave my 6 chicks medicated chick food for the first bag, then switched to unmedicated chick food - and added free choice chick grit after a couple of weeks. When they were very close to POL I switched over to layer crumbles, free choice in the coop & have also kept oyster shell free choice in their run. They get produce and kitchen scraps, and forage for at least a couple of hours most days. Our cats are too fussy & the chickens benefit by getting their left-over canned food - maybe 1- 2 tablespoons a day for 5 chickens. They get several handfuls of scratch & BOSS in the late afternoon, in the run, after foraging. If they weren't out for long, or weather bad, I'll thrown in a handful of dry mealworms.
I do not feed FF - yet - may start this summer -- but I do give them a prebiotic I learned about over on another thread on feather picking. See, these are the first chicks I've been around - & was alarmed at all the loose feathers laying around as they grew to POL- not knowing that they molt several times in their first few months. I was afraid there was something nutritionally wrong - poked around - found some using a product called Forco. It is labeled for horses. but it is a PREBIOTIC - I know there will be those not inclined to use because of the label - but a prebiotic feeds the 'biotics' in the gut. So it would never be harmful for any living thing -- and the maker of the product uses it for their chickens, and, and, -- don't want to go into all the defensive stuff here - I use it. The manufacturers are talking about labeling it for poultry, as many use it for that - anyway, so my 6, now 5 - chickens get one Tbsp of Forco mixed into a little full fat, plain yogurt each morning. I sometimes slosh in a little ACV - & mix it to a gloppy consistency with layer crumbles so as not to waste it-make it easier for the chicks to clean it up. My personal thinking is that this prebiotic gives my chickens the same, or at least similar benefit to digestion that FF would - increasing all the gut flora to get better digestion. I have to say that after I started giving it to them, the poop really stopped smelling so bad -- the same thing that those using FF report. They've been on Forco for 8 months ? or so - & they're very healthy, active chicks.
Oh, & I sprinkle dried, crumbled egg shells over top of their morning yogurt mess. I have one chick whose eggs tend to thinner shells - so it's mostly for her benefit - and figure it doesn't hurt the others.
I have been lately buying nutrena brand layer crumbles & peck & scratch scratch. I understand & honor others concern over GMO & organic & stuff, but personally I'm not worried. I do not sell eggs, so I need not be concerned over labeling for customers -- I give away extra eggs to family happy to have non-grocery store eggs from well-treated chickens. Figure my eggs are so much better than from those poor production chickens -- having chickens has given me a new perspective.
enuf from me! -- that's my practice, FWIW - & as mumsy said -- take what you want, leave what you don't - decide what works for you - we all do what we think best! Love learning from this community in general, and this thread in particular! the only thing more addictive than keeping chickens, is reading BYC threads!
