Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Hinotori]

I haven't used the Del's brand. I feed Purina Flockraiser to all my birds. The layers get half that and half whatever layer I have bought. With the Flockraiser (20 % protien) so expensive I try for cheap on the layer feed (usually 16% protien). I've used both Nutrina and Purina layers as well as Payback. Right now we're trying XCel. Some of my birds have issues and start pulling feathers out of each other to eat if they are just on the 16% protien, but others have no issues whatsoever. I offer oystershell and grit free choice.

I know the Purina feeds come in 25 pound bags as well as the 50 pound.

 

[Hinotori]

Hi Guys,

I wanted to thank everyone for all the help that you gave me. I know have so wonderful babies in my bator, My 4 yr old is completely over the moon with excitement. I also have other contacts for a second batch if i can.

to all those who helped thank you

Great! I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have a good hatch!

 

[ochochicas]

I'm newish to chickens, but my chicks really liked the Xcel chick starter better than the other kind I tried. It has 20% protein and comes in a 25 pound bag. Since X-cel makes its feed in Tacoma you should be able to get it in Kitsap. I just picked up a new bag yesterday and it was about $10.

 

[ShockValue]

Was doing a little research on X-Cel... It gives me pause when all the online articles about them have to do with being sued by the FDA for selling "adulterated" and mis-labeled feed.
This was in regard to mad-cow disease and cow feed, but still....

 

[ochochicas]

Was doing a little research on X-Cel... It gives me pause when all the online articles about them have to do with being sued by the FDA for selling "adulterated" and mis-labeled feed.
This was in regard to mad-cow disease and cow feed, but still....

I've been feeding X-Cel to my horses for years. No one has become ill or died yet.

I guess if you're from Tacoma those kinds of law suits just don't bother ya.

 

[CarolynF]

Hello everyone. I have a question about feed in WA; Specifically the Kitsap County area.

We originally bought our chicks from Baxter Barn in Fall City at the beginning of April and bought enough starter and grower feeds to get us to the laying stage. Well, we're almost there!

Problem is, Fall City (or Seattle as Baxter Barn supplied Portage Bay Grange) is a very long way to go for a bag of feed. It's about 2.5 hours each way, so if you factor in Gas, and lunch for 4 people the feed gets very expensive. If I could buy in bulk it would help of course, but as we only have 6 chickens that free-range 7 days a week from sunup to sundown it would takes them a very long time to even go through 1 40lb bag.

I'm looking for "the best" alternative that I can get in the Kitsap County area. Close by we have a Del's and a Wilco. Do any of you have experience with the brands of feed they sell there, and which one would be the most healthy for my girls?

Del's has their own brand and of course the guy at the counter said it was "MUCH BETTER" than the big name stuff, but could offer no details as to /why/...

Del's feed is milled by Purina. There are a lot of places to buy all the different brands, Cenex in Poulsbo, Del's, Wilco, Farmland, Drive Thru Feed, Redneck Feed (great people), I haven't heard any complaints locally about X-Cel and know several people that buy it. I used to but now it's more convenient for me to stop at Wilco when I'm driving by and get Purina. They often have it on sale, but not right now unfortunately. If your flock is free ranging all day and eating only a small portion of milled feed then you don't have to fret over the small stuff. If their range gives them a good variety of seeds, bugs, and plants they'll be pretty healthy in spite of the bagged feed. Also, you have the option of freezing some of your feed if you buy a large bag. Put it in a few zip loc bags in the freezer and you're good to go.

p.s. If your chicks hatched in April you have a ways to go before they lay. I'd be willing to bet you'll use a full 40 lbs of Flock Raiser before they are ready to lay.

And even if they don't eat it all before then, just give them oyster shell and you're totally set. Some people feed Flock Raiser all the time since it has higher protein.

 

[ShockValue]

Thanks! They hatched March 7, so we're just a few days shy of 3 months now. I'm sure we have at least a couple more months until we see any eggs, but we're at a lull now so I'm trying to do my research

I didn't realize Red Neck and Drive Through were close to where I live, so I'll have to go check those places out.

 

[Chickielady]

It's only for chicks. And so far so good. I inspect it every day.
It's covered in hardware cloth, which should deter older chickens? And as of two days ago it's in an old rabbit hutch we've turned into a coop for the chicks.They spend almost none of their time in there unless they're sleeping, since they're just too busy running around in their little nursery pen eating fermented feed and bugs. Also they chest bump each other a lot.

Even chicks, once they figure it out, and it won't be long until they realize that the box is edible & they and the older birds with pointy beaks can peck in between the hardware wire.

I have never seen them be harmed by eating styrofoam, I have even seen one man give his chicks a hunk of it to occupy them during a long trip so they would not peck on each other.

Funny, huh ?

 

[Chickielady]

I've been feeding X-Cel to my horses for years. No one has become ill or died yet.

I guess if you're from Tacoma those kinds of law suits just don't bother ya.

 

[Chickielady]

I'm newish to chickens, but my chicks really liked the Xcel chick starter better than the other kind I tried. It has 20% protein and comes in a 25 pound bag. Since X-cel makes its feed in Tacoma you should be able to get it in Kitsap. I just picked up a new bag yesterday and it was about $10.

Be aware that a high amount of protein for babies is not always a good thing unless you are raising meat or Game breeds.
Increased Protein levels in layer breeds can actually make them very gouty, and possibly cripple them.
Be careful !