Washingtonians

[itsren]

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.

Really? Nope - didn't know that. I thought they were separate companies. That's funny.

My birds have oyster shell on the ground to peck at and a dog bowl full of grit. Once I mixed the two together, and they didn't like the oyster shell in the bowl. Picky birds.

 

[itsren]

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

Newbie mistake! LOL! I kept reading about Layena here on the board, and I was using Purina Start and Grow, so I figured it was another brand. Guess I better pay better attention at the store. Ran into Jessica at the Auburn store once... she had to help me find grit. When I walk into that place, all I see are huge piles of bags of feed for every animal under the sun. It's a little overwhelming to me. When I went to find oyster shell, I searched through the piles for about 20 minutes before asking for help... the darn bag was right in front of me. I probably looked right at it half a dozen times.

I didn't hear about the pet food recall. If you find out anything about the chicken food, will you let us know?

I keep mine in the bag inside a metal garbage can, too. So far so good - even with a raccoon living in a tree about 20 feet from my coop.

 

[itsren]

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

I agree! Considering my coop and run cost about $700, we're probably close to $800 as well. When DH commented on how much the chickens have cost us, I remind him they were $2.50 each and their housing and food was about the cost of the dog he wants to buy - and he'd still have to buy housing and food for the dog in addition to the pure-bred price!
Granted... he wouldn't have to pay so much to house a dog if I hadn't traded a dog kennel for free wood to build a coop.

But, we had a friend in desperate need of a kennel for her unruly lab, and he agreed with me that she needed the kennel worse than we did.

 

[itsren]

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!

Awwww. So sweet. How old are they?

 

[Imp]

Quote: I've heard great things about the Auburn Feed store. I really don't like Del's so I go to Reber Ranch.
I will post anything I hear about the recall. Right now a few of the Dumor chicken foods are effected d/t low Vit D levels. Dumor is a different line made by Purina.
Also a lot of their fish foods, crocodile feed and monkey biscuits, maybe others that I don't remember.

http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm

Russ- 'course now I'm worried about my crocodiles.

 

[itsren]

I've heard great things about the Auburn Feed store. I really don't like Del's so I go to Reber Ranch.
I will post anything I hear about the recall. Right now a few of the Dumor chicken foods are effected d/t low Vit D levels. Dumor is a different line made by Purina.
Also a lot of their fish foods, crocodile feed and monkey biscuits, maybe others that I don't remember.

http://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm

Russ- 'course now I'm worried about my crocodiles.

I bet your chickens are worried about your crocodiles, too. LOL!

I'm kicking myself... I knew I was out of something and drove right by Reber Ranch twice today. Aaargh! I forgot my youngest son decided to give the chickens meal worms - I told him just a few, but he poured the whole bag into their run, which, of course they gobbled up quickly. I haven't had any meal worms to help get the girls back into the run for about 3 days. Rhodie scratches the living daylights out of my arms when I have to catch her. I don't want to have to waste the gas just to buy meal worms.

 

[Imp]

Quote: You could try cooking up spaghetti in red dyed water. lol!

Russ

 

[itsren]

You could try cooking up spaghetti in red dyed water. lol!

Russ

LOL! That might get them in the first time... until they take a bite and Rhodie gives me her classic stink eye! She always looks at me with a very untrusting look on her face. The other two seem like they're smiling at me. But, Rhodie, whew... she's got that glare down good. I think red spaghetti might give her reason to glare at me.

 

[Shyla-C]

Awwww. So sweet. How old are they?

They will be 2 weeks tomorrow. They are growing so fast! My DH said he likes them at the fluffy stage, so I'm thinking I need to get a couple Silkies so I always have some fluffy chickens around! LOL darn chicken math!

 

[Totalcolour]

I think red spaghetti might give her reason to glare at me.

My chickens LOVE pasta of any type. I don't even have to dye it. Sometimes though I cook it in chicken or duck broth for them (the dog gets the broth - homemade from carcasses after deboning). I think maybe your rhodie is just a crotchety gal!