Went to tsc today

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
Scratch grain mixes are meant to be treats only, and are almost always protein deficient and totally not balanced nutritionally.
Layer feeds are usually 15% to 16% protein, and high in calcium, meant for actively laying hens. Specifically, for leghorn type hens in confinement, eating nothing else.
It's very likely that your diet is unbalanced and not so good for your birds. Without knowing exactly what you are feeding, that's a good guess on my part.
Some of use, having heritage type birds, and mixed aged flocks including molting birds, roosters, youngsters, and laying hens, feed an all flock type feed, 18% to 20% protein, lower in calcium that laying hens need, with separate oyster shell for them.
Treats and free ranging all extra.
Mary

 

[NikkiW17]

Welcome!
Scratch grain mixes are meant to be treats only, and are almost always protein deficient and totally not balanced nutritionally.
Layer feeds are usually 15% to 16% protein, and high in calcium, meant for actively laying hens. Specifically, for leghorn type hens in confinement, eating nothing else.
It's very likely that your diet is unbalanced and not so good for your birds. Without knowing exactly what you are feeding, that's a good guess on my part.
Some of use, having heritage type birds, and mixed aged flocks including molting birds, roosters, youngsters, and laying hens, feed an all flock type feed, 18% to 20% protein, lower in calcium that laying hens need, with separate oyster shell for them.
Treats and free ranging all extra.
Mary

Yup. I fully agree with that. Scratch grains are how I get my stinkers back in the coop when they’ve decided to sneak out on non foraging days (since we live in lovely AZ, we get to plant and grow things through these winter months) so they don’t eat my new starts. I also use it as a tool for the new chickens that get introduced into the flock as a way of bonding not only with the big ladies, but for bonding with me too. They know who brings the treats!!
Do you bring them any kitchen scraps or anything? Congrats on getting eggs!! That’s always so exciting when they start laying! Layer feed is a great feed for newly laying ladies...I personally like an all flock feed for my gals...or feather fixer as they’re on right now with these winterish (I say ish cause 60s here is cold!) let us know how they’re doing! Also...just to be nosy, what kind of chickens do you have?