Using all-flock as layer

[Gallinarium]

I've been hearing on here about how you should use all-flock or maintenance with crushed oyster shells as a replacement as layer. Now picking up a bag! Thoughts and advice?

 

[WNYfarmfresh]

Will be fine...send it.

 

[aart]

I've been hearing on here about how you should use all-flock or maintenance with crushed oyster shells as a replacement as layer. Now picking up a bag! Thoughts and advice?

Works for me, never used layer feed.
Put OS in a separate feeder, mix with dried crush egg shells if you've got them.
Make sure they 'get' eating the OS tho, some don't get it right off the bat.
Sprinkle some around on the ground with scratch treat and/or a few pieces on top of the feed.

 

[Big Doggie]

Works for me, never used layer feed.
Put OS in a separate feeder, mix with dried crush egg shells if you've got them.
Make sure they 'get' eating the OS tho, some don't get it right off the bat.
Sprinkle some around on the ground with scratch treat and/or a few pieces on top of the feed.

Aart I don’t know enough about all flock vs layer feed. Isn’t layer a totally fortified food? But when using all flock you need to add calcium?

 

[aart]

Aart I don’t know enough about all flock vs layer feed. Isn’t layer a totally fortified food? But when using all flock you need to add calcium?

Yes.
Layer has about 3-4% calcium....all flock type feeds have ~1%.
Birds that are not actively laying do not need all that calcium,
and it can be detrimental to their health long term.
All flock type feeds are usually higher in protein (18-20%), layer feed is usually 16%.

 

[Big Doggie]

Yes.
Layer has about 3-4% calcium....all flock type feeds have ~1%.
Birds that are not actively laying do not need all that calcium,
and it can be detrimental to their health long term.
All flock type feeds are usually higher in protein (18-20%), layer feed is usually 16%.

Thanks for the info. I have 50lbs of layer so I guess I’ll add some protein source like meal worms.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the info. I have 50lbs of layer so I guess I’ll add some protein source like meal worms.

They may do fine on the layer, especial if you don't give any(or very few) other foods or 'treats'. One of the reasons I use the 20% is so I can give some scratch daily and other stuff occasionally.
Go easy on the mealworms, they are high in fat.

 

[Acre4Me]

We do all-flock plus OS. We tried layer feed for awhile, but actually had many shells with calcium deposits. So, we went to all-flock + OS and almost never do we see calcium deposits. We do have 1 that lays thin shells. However, she and her same breed/age sister both laid thin shelled eggs, so I think that was more their genetic characteristic than anything else.

 

[Gallinarium]

Mixed 1/6th all-flock with 5/6th of their chick food. As happens every time, they ate completely around the new stuff. Chickens...
But the joke is on them! I'm not filling the feeder again until they eat every last pellet!

 

[Sonya9]

Aart I don’t know enough about all flock vs layer feed. Isn’t layer a totally fortified food? But when using all flock you need to add calcium?

Layer is the cheapest type of feed you can buy; quite a bit cheaper than all the others chicken feeds in a company's line. Think on that.

And yes you need to offer oyster shell if you are not feeding layer.