To feed or not to feed

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

so I have pulleys that are 15 weeks old and I have a crew of meat birds that are 2 weeks old. I am running out of food and local tractor supply had organic meat bird feed for half off. Expiration date in 4 months. My question is can I feed both crews with the same feed? The only thing different I saw was the protein levels were at 22% versus the 18% I have now. Is it ok to feed the?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The protein percentage would be okay, but feeding older feed generally isn't a good idea especially to growing birds. I would pass on the deal personally.

 

[Mosey2003]

Totally fine, I routinely fed my layers meatbird. At 15 weeks the extra protein won't cause any issues.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

When do I start changing to layer feed on my big girls?

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Meat birds are girls too sorry.

 

[Kiki]

The feed doesn't expire for four more months?


What is the brand name of the feeds, both your current one and the meat bird one?
I will show you the differences.

 

[Mosey2003]

Feed layer after they're all laying. Just put a dish of oyster shell out. They can all eat chick or meatbird starter forever if you want.

 

[Folly's place]

Most feeds are labeled with the mill date, not the expiration date. The feed store employees will tell you that the feed is good for six months (or more) from the mill date, but it just ain't so. I plan to feed within six weeks of the mill date, and won't buy feed that's older than four weeks from milling.
Some vitamins are being lost after a few weeks in the bag, so only feed fresh. half price sounds like old feed to me!!!
Mary

 

[lazy gardener]

Mary has nailed it. Any employee or feed company that tells you that feed has an extended shelf life is looking after the profit margin of their store, and not giving a fig about the health of your flock. A well published feed and poultry nutrition expert that I often quote in Harvey Ussery's book states that grains start to oxidize after milling, and the vitamin additives quickly oxidize as well. By 6 weeks past mill date that feed is already loosing essential nutrients.

There is a reason why this feed is being offered at half price. It is most likely already past the "best practice" feed date. When ever you find a good deal on feed, always check the mill date.

https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/the-small-scale-poultry-flock/

 

[centrarchid]

All being said concerning nutritional quality, I have a hard time switching between diets because the chickens, especially the older / slower growing birds, do not like everything I put in front of them. That is particularly true when the formulation is based on plant-based feedstuffs only.