Two questions!

[Driley62]

I got two questions for everyone!

1) Does anyone have experience with nutrena feather fixer? My local feed store tells me that some of his customers love it so much they keep their flock on it year around. I currently get nutrena country feed from the same local feed store so the change when it comes to the start of molt will be no issue.

2) what about us northerners who deal with freezing temps on a regular. I used a 2 gal heated waterer with nipples last year. But this year I made a 5 gallon heated waterer with the water cups.

Do those water cups fair okay in our freezing temps with a heater? Or should I pull those and go get nipples instead.

Thanks all!

 

[DobieLover]

I got two questions for everyone!

1) Does anyone have experience with nutrena feather fixer? My local feed store tells me that some of his customers love it so much they keep their flock on it year around. I currently get nutrena country feed from the same local feed store so the change when it comes to the start of molt will be no issue.

2) what about us northerners who deal with freezing temps on a regular. I used a 2 gal heated waterer with nipples last year. But this year I made a 5 gallon heated waterer with the water cups.

Do those water cups fair okay in our freezing temps with a heater? Or should I pull those and go get nipples instead.

Thanks all!

I don't feed layer feed and Nutrena Feather Fixer is a layer feed that happens to offer a little extra protein for molt. But that doesn't even make sense. When a bird is in molt, she isn't laying so why all the extra calcium?
If you want that protein boost, switch the flock over to Purina Flock Raiser and put out a container or two of oyster shell for calcium supplementation. You'll get 20% protein vs. the 18% that FF provides but without the extra calcium the birds don't need and it's about the same price.

The cups will freeze in NY. Use the horizonal nipples.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The cups are not good in freezing weather since there is no water flow to bring in warm water when chickens aren't drinking. Depending on ambient temperature, the cups can freeze in minutes and will likely burst. Horizontal nipples are the only thing other than heated founts that can work in freezing weather.

 

[Chickassan]

Tried feather fixer one time and the birds hated it.
I honestly don't blame them, it freaking smells horrible.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I used Feather Fixer last year, in desperation during a shortage. **IF** you like the idea of Layer Feed, and have no hatchlings/adolescents, and no roos, and all your birds are commercial layer-type breeds, and you don't plan on keeping them as pets, **THEN** using an 18% protein, high calcium feed instead of a 16% protein, high calcium feed has some small advantages (offset by price, of course) in measurable (but likely unnoticeable) increases in egg size, frequency of lay, and condition of your birds. Only the condition of the birds matters to me, and its hard to quantify. If you have one in slow molt while the rest lay, and want to be lazy about it? Sure. "Feather Fixer".

Mostly, its a marketing gimmick aimed at the people who have layers and think, therefore, that they must use "layer feed". That is, it preys on consumer ignorance.

For the typical backyard owner, of the typical backyard flock, using typical backyard management practices, the use of a high protien "Flock Raiser/All Flock" feed, together with free choice oyster shell offers a superior diet to their flock from a dietary perspective without the hassle of maintaining multiple feeds (and ways to separate birds during feedings) and a competitive price point.

/edit I live in FL, can't help with your winter waterer question.

 

[Alaskan]

I find my birds do better on higher protein when it is super cold.

Where I live i can get a 16% all flock... or a 20% layer.... no chick feed in the winter.

So often in the winter I feed the 20% layer, and in spring i switch to the lower % all flock.

 

[Alaskan]

I use water pans for water....

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

For the typical backyard owner, of the typical backyard flock, using typical backyard management practices, the use of a high protien "Flock Raiser/All Flock" feed, together with free choice oyster shell offers a superior diet to their flock from a dietary perspective without the hassle of maintaining multiple feeds (and ways to separate birds during feedings) and a competitive price point.

Thank you for this succinct clarification. As a newbie I have spent countless hours reading and researching16, 18, 20% protein, w-w/o calcium for meaties layers, roos...honestly too much confusion and so many feed combinations that it's no wonder this topic crops up (pun intended) so often.
Regarding All flock is there any real
concern over too much weight gain in layers where you would ration rather than offer feed freely all day? Thx again

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thank you for this succinct clarification. As a newbie I have spent countless hours reading and researching16, 18, 20% protein, w-w/o calcium for meaties layers, roos...honestly too much confusion and so many feed combinations that it's no wonder this topic crops up (pun intended) so often.
Regarding All flock is there any real
concern over too much weight gain in layers where you would ration rather than offer feed freely all day? Thx again

Nope. I have found that my egg layers and dual purpose birds will eat till they meet their needs then walk away, unlike my experiences with my Cx. If you search for "making Lemonade", you will find my culling project ( on my cell phone, can't link easily) - i just culled another five birds, and was very pleased with liver condition, intramuscular, subcutaneous fat layers, and fat around the organs, as well as coloration.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

i managed to grab a link to a butchered bird, not the link i wanted, but its one of my mutts, an immature male.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-very-long-term.1433421/page-51#post-24976842