type of feed

[schnebbles]

I'm brand new and needing feed. My first chickens are 2 and easter eggers. I can talk to the owner to see what they like, but do most chickens like crumbles or pellets? I will get cracked corn as well. Can I just put it all together in the feeder?

I need my waterer and feeder. Tops I'll have 6 chickens. 2 EE's and a couple bantam cochins. My coop is 4x4. Is trough feeding ok? I'm running out of time to keep reading so any suggestions would be great.

I'm getting the EE's this week. We have TSC here.

thanks!
Kathy

 

[Fred's Hens]

Cracked corn should be fed very, very sparingly and as something special. 90% of their feed should be a balanced and complete formula, something cracked corn is not.

Crumbles and pellets or mash, for that matter, is merely the shape or form. It does not denote the content of the feed.

If they are all laying, you can feed a Layer formula feed. Or, you can just feed them a good Grower or Raiser type feed and offer them oyster shells as a calcium supplement in a side dish. If they sense a need for the shells, they'll pick at them.

 

[schnebbles]

good to know, thank you! Will put oyster shells on my list.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Oh, and don't mix one kind of feed with another kind of feed in a trough. Chickens are goofy. They'll beak out what they don't "prefer" to get to the stuff they want to eat first. This wastes expensive feed, makes a mess and potentially draws critters of the rodent variety, if you know what I mean?

 

[schnebbles]

thank you very much. So much to learn it's overload sometimes!

If I feed layer, do I still need oyster shells?

Grit - I need to read on that.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Grit is cheap to buy . If you live on sand and have gravel areas, your birds will likely use very little of what you provide. I only provide grit in the winter when the sand and gravel driveway is covered with snow and ice.

Providing a calcium source depends on one's feeding program. When I feed layer? I do not. When I feed a steady diet of Grower or Gamebird feed, I do provide a calcium source but that is normally just their own dried, crushed eggshells fed back. Remember, all feed has calcium, just not the higher percentage that Layer includes.

Don't over think all this stuff. It is only hard if you aren't observent and reactive. If you notice things and do the right thing, it is pretty simple, really.

 

[schnebbles]

Thank you so much! there are times I read and think I can't absorb it all! for now it's just 2 ee's who are 2 so they lay. I'll get layer feed.

 

[jkhenry]

im feedin my 10 week old chicks dumar chick starter in 1 feeder and grower finisher in another feeder is that ok

 

[Fred's Hens]

im feedin my 10 week old chicks dumar chick starter in 1 feeder and grower finisher in another feeder is that ok

Sure. All these feeds, Starter, Raiser, Grower, Finisher etc are essentially all the same, except for the protein level. The higher the protein, the higher the price, as a rule.

What isn't like the rest is a Medicaated starter. That's obvious. The other feed that isn't like the rest is Layer. Layer is like Grower except that it is laced with very high calcium. Layer should not be eaten by a bird that isn't in lay, thus expelling the calcium by egg laying.

When you have a mixed flock of young birds and laying birds, choose one of the other feeds such as Raiser or Grower. Everyone is good with those.

 

[jkhenry]

ok thanx i hoped i was doin ok by using starter and grower finisher and i understand its best not to feed layer till my girls start layin my neighbor started early with layer and he tldme i could start now but im not i want whats best for my girls i bought 8 chicks and 2 ducks 10 weeks ago and they are all doing very well i think im going to keep the same routine with my 6 new 2 week old chicks as well thanx for ur info