What about Flock Raiser for layers?

[mbleily]

Here is my problem. I have layers that are not laying all that well right now. May be molting although I don't see many feathers around. The weather was hot but now it isn't all that hot either.

Anyway, I have 10 week old teens that I am introducing to the hens. They have been in a pen in the hen house for almost 2 months. I am now letting them out every morning and watching them. I have been doing this for 2 weeks now. They are getting braver and the hens are getting used to them. Although a couple like to pick at them often. I leave their pen opening so they can get back in now and leave it open most of the day and check on the often. Sometimes they will be back in the pen and sometimes not.

The thing is they are getting quite big and their pen is not big enough for them anymore. I have three roos in this group that are getting very big. I would like to tear down the pen so they can all be together. But I don't want them eating the layer yet. At 10 weeks I think that is too young.

I heard that Flock Raiser could be eaten by the layers as well as the younger group. Has anyone done this and how did the layers react to it? Did they keep laying or did the go into a lay off and molt? Just need some input on it. Thanks in advance for help on it.

I notice that Flock Raiser has more lysine by almost half again and more protien but less calcium. I put out oyster shell all the time anyway. But I wonder about the lysine. Is there a problem with layers having more?

 

[TexasVet]

I have a mixed-age flock, so I switched to Flock Raiser instead of Layena and added a bowl of oyster shell to the run. They eat just as much as they did before, and there have been no health or laying problems.

I also supplement their feed with cracked corn, oats, table scraps, and semi-moist dog food (for a treat, or to get them to come back into the run!). But I did that before, too.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[briteday]

I don't know about the lysine issue. But as far as calcium, I just put out oyster shell separately.

And I have a mixed flock right now...6 RIR hens and 23 young ones that are about 16 weeks old. I'm not comfortable with layer pellets for the young ones yet. But the Flock Raiser is working fine with the RIR's who are currently laying eggs. I have had an egg production decline but the weather is REALLY hot here.

 

[mbleily]

briteday and KHayward,

Thank you for answering so quickly. I have to buy new feed today and am going to change over to the Flock Raiser. I give them oyster shell already along with scraps for the garden and sunflower seed and scratch.

I feel much better about it all now.

 

[mbleily]

Quote:
Is the simi moist dogfood those soft noodle looking dog food? I had heard of the eating cat food but never dog food. Is that for the animal protein? I notice that purina is all veg protein after someone else mentioned it. I used to give my chickens all the bones with any meat left on. Especially the turkey carcass after Christmas and Thanksgiving. They loved to pick on it. I have some canned dog food that my dog can no longer eat because he is allergic to wheat and grain. They always put so much of that into the canned and dry dog food. He has to have special $40.00 a bag food now.

But his feet don't itch and bleed from him licking them constantly, so I guess it is worth it.

but I digress, do you think that canned food would be ok? Have you every fed it before?

 

[EweSheep]

I feed all my with Flock Raiser and throw some oyster shells for the calcium part. It has done well for me and great for breeder birds to give me the maxi show and boost the fertility a little more ump for the roo LOL!

 

[mbleily]

Quote:
So you feed it all the time? And your chickens lay fine on it?
Thanks so much. I am going to try it today. My little ones are going out with the big ones very soon and I will feel so much better with them not eating layer. And the roos wont have to eat layer either.