Washingtonians

[Flaming Chicken]

I had the same problem when I tried it. I went back to De Young's feed or Layena when I am somewhere else and need feed.

I have fed Scratch and Peck exclusively for 3 years and love it. I don't have a problem with egg quality and no longer supplement with oyster shell. We supplement with worms, slugs and meal worms but not everyday. Not sure how my egg production compares since I have a mixed breed/age flock but my 3 year old hens are still laying consistently. I have plenty of eggs to sell. No different from the Layena I used to use.

 

[Imp]

Quote: If you have left over starter you can continue to use it till it's gone or toss it in a freezer till next time. I've mixed it in with homemade suet for the wild birds.

& possums seem to like it. (snort)

And some people use chicken feed in their kitty kitter boxes. I tried it and wasn't impressed.

Purina makes Layena, so I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. I've always used Layena Pellets for my hens. At first I didn't know there were so many options. Lol.
It works very well for me. I also only have 2-5 chickens at a time, and it holds well. I just rip open the top and store it in a garbage can, open in the open garden shed. It has never attracted pests except once a squirrel. (The scratch is worse) A bag has lasted as long as 6 months without changing color, smell, texture etc.
I haven't ever had a problem with soft shells, or other nutritional related things. (As far as I know)

Right now the 800 lb gorilla in the room is the Purina pet food recall. So far Purina chicken food is not effected, but it is causing a lot of consternation. Since the problem revolves around too much or too little Vit D, in the feed. It is not a poisonous issue, more of a long term health issue. I'm in a wait and see mode. If it turns out Layena is deficient in Vit D I'll supplement. If it turns out it is too high in Vit D, I'll switch, or mix.

Russ

 

[nikki1]

Congratulations!!!

Have you done the math on what that egg has cost you yet? We estimated our first egg cost us 800.00.

There are some math problems I just don't want to do. How much did it cost? Too darn much, that's what it cost! Good thing those chickens are so much fun!

--Nikki

 

[Shyla-C]

So, I just caught on of my chicks trying to take a dust bath in the chick girt! So cute. Guess I'll be getting a tray of dirt for them!

 

[Hinotori]

Having spent my younger years living on the dry side of OR. If it ain't got seeds and it ain't a Hermiston. It ain't a watermelon ! ! !

The ONLY choice! Both my great uncles raise melons there in Hermiston. When they would have melons in the field below my grandmas, after harvest was over, we could go through and stuff ourselves with watermelon hearts on what was left. I do mean stuff, too. Watermelon was eaten nearly every day during season (Had to eat cantaloupe too). Mom would quarter one of those melons and we'd each get a chunk and be sent outside.

 

[Sudsy Chick]

I have fed Scratch and Peck exclusively for 3 years and love it. I don't have a problem with egg quality and no longer supplement with oyster shell. We supplement with worms, slugs and meal worms but not everyday. Not sure how my egg production compares since I have a mixed breed/age flock but my 3 year old hens are still laying consistently. I have plenty of eggs to sell. No different from the Layena I used to use.

I have fed exclusively Scratch & Peck and don't have egg shell problems or laying issues.
(other than broody hens

)

They free range all day with feeders all over the yard, and I also offer their egg shells back to them.

We get about 5-6 eggs per week from our 1 & 1.5 year old Easter Eggers, 4-5 from our 1.5 y/o Ameracuana's (when not broody), and 5-6 from our 2 year old JG (when not broody)

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Did I ever tell ya I is up fer adoption! ! ! LOVE ME SOME ICE COLD HERMISTON.

 

[Hinotori]

First do you know that Layena IS just a type of Purina? I feed Purina Flock Raiser pellets. It is 21% protein. All but my young chicks are fed this. I also offer oyster shell and grit free choice. This is just my method. I am not saying it is the best or any better than other people do.


I would be curious of the protein % in each of the feeds. Also if you are feeding any scratch (corn).

I gave them Flock Raiser mostly last year. I was looking for a bit cheaper and since there are two pens out there now, I thought I could try it this year. I've tried Payback's 19% flock food as well and didn't have good results either. I don't think they like it is that problem, it seemed to last forever. They didn't have any issues with the Layena when I tried it, the Nutrena layer was just on sale and that won out this last time. I think both the Scratch and Peck and Nutrena are 16% protein. I wasn't expecting eggs like last year since the girls are all over a year now, I just expect it to stay roughly the same from week to week.

What I use as scratch has some corn in it, but it is full of different things. I mix corn, wheat scratch, millet, milo, safflower seeds (everyones favorite), oats, barley, peas, lentils, roasted peanuts, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Ingredients aren't in that order of amount. They get a good handful for the 17 birds in that pen, so it isn't really a lot per bird either. Just a morning treat so I can make it back to the house without tripping over the beggars when I let them out. Or used to get them to go back in if I'm going out. I touch that can and it's Pavlov's chickens. They come flying from all over the property.

 

[JNB]

Ok, I gave my girls the Scratch and Peck layer for 4 months. I think I gave it a fair shake with that time frame. I was wetting crumbs and making sure they ate them, too. Egg production dropped and dropped during that time frame. It got down to me having days two days where I got 0 eggs from 16 birds, with 4-5 eggs being average. I always have oyster shell available. I was constantly having soft shell eggs and the rest were porous or thin. We sell about 4 to 5 dozen eggs a week and I wasn't getting enough good eggs to keep up. Two weeks ago I ran out and got some cheap Nutrena layer on sale. Within a few days there was a visual difference and egg production picked up. I haven't had a soft shell in a week and a half. All shells are back to hard and I'm getting 10-13 a day again for the last week.

Egg production didn't drop that much the week I didn't get to the store earlier this year and they had to eat my 12+ seed scratch and whatever they could forage up themselves. I think it only dropped a couple eggs a day. I do record egg count and any soft shells every day.

What the heck is up with that? I thought everyone was that was using the Scratch and Peck had good results on it. I'm just frustrated with that, blah.

HI I noticed your from Graham.... For what its worth... I go to Webster Road Feed Supply .... been there for ever and the owner is pretty knowledgeable and old school They make their own mix its called LAYER MIX I apologize because I cant find the paper I have all the ingredients written down on. But its a a high protein crumble, different grains, corn and .... I pay tax included about $16.62 for 50 pounds. I have used Purina, Scratch and Peck and a few other layers and scratches.. I always come back to using the mix from WRF... It smells wonderful, fresh. My chickens LOVE IT!!!
I have 11 layer hens under 18 months I have always gotten 9 to 11 eggs a day and never had any shell issues. My other pen is an adopted flock and a mix of ages and breeds there are some older birds that are 3 years and plus. When I got them they had not been laying at all for several months. I fed them the MIX and supplemented with Flock Block.. After 2 weeks I was getting eggs. Now I consistently get 9 to 10 usable eggs a day out of 14 layer hens in that coop. I still give all my birds fruit and veggie scraps each day and if I don't have that.. I scatter a little cracked corn black sunflower seed to them to them. I have to have something when I visit the coop or they get upset LOL... I also use Flock Blocks every so often through the year.
Since the hens are older now and will go through their first molt soon... I am considering adding a higher protein Layer to the MIX i use now if egg production slows down during winter months. Ill wait and see That's my experience with using the feed and I'm quite happy with it for our use goals.
If you do decide to go to WRF... they are very nice folks and usually always take the time to answer questions. He keeps a coop of hens on the store site... lovely birds. He has other birds there too and hatches his own Cornish X to sell for meat birds. Like I said its been there for ever, small family type place...

 

[TerrorBird]

In my opinon: Yes, I believe most do this. You have to remember - this is their "harem" and it is their job (the roo) to protect and watch out for them. They don't want "you" stealing their girls. That said.....My "ladies" are always at the gate wanting out to free range and will follow me out and follow me around the yard as I hand out nummies. Husband sits in the yard (I have photos) handing out bread treats and all the ladies are there. Depending on the roo .... he may be in the background trying to get the ladies' attention or he may be more up front to take a treat and then use it to get the ladies' attention. This is my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! As much as I'd like to get a roo, I think I'll just stick with my hens. I see them as MY girls, and not HIS girls!