There was a big discussion on our local fb chicken group. Several of the chicken moms are convinced that the feed is lacking some of the nutrients that are supposed to be in the feed. I personally find it hard to believe but…no one in our fb group has contacted the company to ask…my girls are in their first year of laying but have stopped. I figured it was because of the shorter days and they have all just molted…I feed them the dunmor layer mash….
I’m curious what you have read…the source, that is. This is what the fb group I’m in is surmising but no one has any documentatio, just suspicion…
I’ve also wondered whether or not some of the brands at tractor supply including pride layer pellets might explain why my hens, some of whom are only three years old, have not been laying very well this year. Not much else has changed around here including their housing and how they’re cared for. But I did used to buy my feed from the Feedmill which I might go back and see if I get better results. frankly none of the chickens like pellets. They prefer scratch but I know that it doesn’t have the high nutrient especially protein content so I limit that. I let them free range as much as possible while still keeping them protected in a large fenced yard most of the time. In the past we let them free range most of the time but they were being subjected to dangers so now they are in a quarter acre fenced yard and also have a covered fenced yard for nighttime protection as well as the chickenhouse of course. free ranging was the best for egg production I found of course they always had access to feed but to let them free range too much is dangerous because of coyotes and other predators.
Odd that I came across your post. I say that because earlier today my neighbor was complaining about the Producers Pride feed he bought from Tractor Supply, he said that his chickens are picking at it but aren't really eating it. He said he had bought it before without issue...he asked me to smell it. I didn't think it smelled moldy or off in any way. I gave him a bucket of my feed and his chickens gobbled it down.
What is the brand name of the feed that you give your chickens that your neighbors chickens gobble down. Perhaps I’ll get some of that.Odd that I came across your post. I say that because earlier today my neighbor was complaining about the Producers Pride feed he bought from Tractor Supply, he said that his chickens are picking at it but aren't really eating it. He said he had bought it before without issue...he asked me to smell it. I didn't think it smelled moldy or off in any way. I gave him a bucket of my feed and his chickens gobbled it down.
Whether it's missing something or a bad batch, I'd go with a completely different brand of feed just to be on the safe side. Not sure where in Wisconsin you're located but I've found a good alternative to Tractor Supply and the local feed store is Farm & Fleet - prices are decent.
I usually buy corn-free, soy-free New Country Organics Layer Feed but the last time I needed feed, my local feed store was out of my brand. So, I ventured on over to Farm & Fleet and bought some Kalmbach Organic Layer Pellets which, is what I gave to my neighbor.
