Totally confused. I am hearing two different sides. Which one is right? Layer feed or flock feed? The flock feed is designed for all different types o

[Zyla]

Why flock food instead of layer food when flock is for all kinds of birds and layer is designed specifically for chickens laying eggs

 

[Debbie292d]

All flock is good for all ages, chicks to old chickens. It has lower calcium and higher protein than layer, much like chick crumbles.

Those who feed that, like us, set out a dish of oyster shell for the hens. Those who need more calcium will eat it. Those who don't, won't. Just keep little chicks away from it though as they don't know any better. Don't ask me how I learned that lesson as it's sad.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I also feed All Flock with oyster shell on the side, more protein and not all my girls are laying. I don’t like the low protein on Layer feed.

 

[nuthatched]

It depends on your birds.
If you have only hens, then a nice layer is fine. But they shouldn't eat layer when non laying like during molting or winter break.
Layer feed is typically low in protein and high in calcium, it's meant foe egg farm birds, it's only designed to barely meet needs and be cheap.

If you have a flock with birds of all ages and roosters, then all flock is better since non laying birds such as young pullets and roos don't need and shouldn't have the extra calcium.

I feed all flock since I have the latter.

 

[Sally PB]

Layer feed is generally 16% protein, and contains calcium for laying hens. 16% is what the commercial sector has determined is the least protein they can put in feed and get the output (eggs) from their flocks. At their size, fractions of a percentage add up to a lot of money, and protein is the most expensive nutrient to put into feed.

 

[FrostRanger]

A few reasons
1. People often have mixed flocks that can include roosters, chicks and birds that aren't laying for a variety of reasons. The excess calcium in layer feed is bad for any bird that's not an actively laying pullet or hen
2. All flock typically has higher protein than layer feed which is better for the bird's health and makes bad behaviors such as feather picking and egg eating less likely

Reason 2 is why I feed my flock of laying pullets all flock. It also made things simple when my girls unexpectedly went through the fall molt (8 month old pullets typically don't. Idk why mine did). It meant I didn't have to switch food

 

[WingItRanch]

The reason most people recommend all flock (myself included) over layer feed is because Layer feed typically has less protein and extra calcium. This calcium is not good for roosters, younger chickens not laying eggs yet, molting hens, older hens no longer laying. It can be a pain to constantly change feed so why not just keep the same feed for all circumstances?

Many brands of layer feed are cheaper because they don't provide as much protein. The extra calcium in this feed does not have any affect on whether your hens will lay more eggs and it will not "encourage" eggs sooner.

Calcium is important for active layers, however. A separate dish full of oyster shell can be provided so the chickens who need the calcium have a choice to add it to their diet.

Hope this helps!

 

[Zyla]

All flock is good for all ages, chicks to old chickens. It has lower calcium and higher protein than layer, much like chick crumbles.

Those who feed that, like us, set out a dish of oyster shell for the hens. Those who need more calcium will eat it. Those who don't, won't. Just keep little chicks away from it though as they don't know any better. Don't ask me how I learned that lesson as it's sad.

Well, if you only have chickens I just have a small group of four. I don't need to feed anybody else or any other ages so isn't it fine just to stick with layer feed since it meets a hen's needs who is laying? Still don't understand why flock unless you have different ages or different birds

 

[Zyla]

I also feed All Flock with oyster shell on the side, more protein and not all my girls are laying. I don’t like the low protein on Layer feed.

Okay thank you. Have a more protein. Makes sense

 

[Zyla]

A few reasons
1. People often have mixed flocks that can include roosters, chicks and birds that aren't laying for a variety of reasons. The excess calcium in layer feed is bad for any bird that's not an actively laying pullet or hen
2. All flock typically has higher protein than layer feed which is better for the bird's health and makes bad behaviors such as feather picking and egg eating less likely

Reason 2 is why I feed my flock of laying pullets all flock. It also made things simple when my girls unexpectedly went through the fall molt (8 month old pullets typically don't. Idk why mine did). It meant I didn't have to switch food

Ok thanks