What brand of layer food is the best?

[Dora'smom]

We have been feeding Purina Layena pellets, but I have been considering switching to a feed with animal protein. I have heard that Nutrena is such a feed and it just happens to be on sale at Coastal. I think you pay about $11 per 40 pound bag for the first three, and the fourth is 47 cents, if I remember right. Is it really a better feed, and if I switch out, is it better to mix feeds and slowly get rid of the one, rather than just changing completely, all at once?

 

[Jeeper1540]

Edited because i was confused. mine get Nutrena "Nature Wise" Layer Crumble (20% Protien) and either Nutrena Scratch or Poultry Feed Crumbles. The Layer is mixed 50/50 with one of the other choices. Seems to be a great combo for me.

 

[3chimama]

I feed my girls Purina Flockraiser and offer oyster shell on the side...and of course plenty of different treats throughout the day...

 

[Jeeper1540]

Are you saying Nutrena is Bottom of the barrel or Purina is?
Quote:

 

[HeritageHens]

Nutrena. I have no experience with Purina but I wouldn't use it either. I'm sticking with a locally made product of good quality now after my horrible experience with Nutrena (I didn't realize what I was buying at the time). Now I'm wiser. YMMV.

 

[spottedtail]

Look for animal protein.
If it doesn't have it, don't buy it.

spot

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
+1 for Nutrena. Bottom of the barrel for quality. I'm lucky that Ziva lived after eating that garbage (caused a vitamin B deficiency).

See if Azure Standard delivers to your area. They have Magill Ranch Organic Cascade Starter, Grower, and Layer in 50 pound sacks. My local shop started carrying this brand because it is so good. Magill Ranch occasionally posts on BYC.

It looks like Azure comes close to your area if not to Kalispell. Their site says one of the routes is:

"I-90 from Ellensburg, WA to Missoula, MT and on east to North Dakota and Minnesota (North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa deliveries, and deliveries east of Missoula, MT have fuel/delivery charge because of the long distance. This is figured as a percentage of your order.)

You would need to call them to see if they jump up to Kalispell from I-90 and you may already have someone in your area who is a drop point.

Can I ask--- How did you diagnose the vitamin B deficiancy?

I have fed Purina, Nutrina, Dumor and a couple other brands I can't remember. Never ever had a dietary problem. Kept the fed in front of them all the time.

Currently I am feeding Purina Flock Raiser pellets adding a small handfull of oyster shell each time I fill up the feeder. Also I supplement with whatever is on hand, kitchen scraps, yard waste or stale dog food.

 

[JLS]

I use Layena by Purina, here's why...... My egg customers do not want the hens to have animal protein found in the commercial feeds (Layena is animal protein free). They want the eggs to be "natural" so any extra protein my ladies get is from bugs, beans, ect. I offer oyster shell free-choice in a seperate container and every morning I throw down wheat which gives them some extra protein without animal bi-product. If you do some research about where the animal protein comes from you will probably make the same choice as I have made!

I have tried Dumor and Pullans as well.....just not as good in my opinion. The other thing I noticed is the odor of their poop has diminished since using Purina.

 

[cubalaya]

purina pro plan is one of the better premium foods for dogs, they even have a natural in pro plan selects. my dogs love it and do well on it. that being said the only layer food for my chickens is southern states x-cell lay pellets. i have tried other feeds including purina and southern states is the best. im sure there are organic feeds that are better but who can afford them.

 

[MOChickenz]

My egg production went way down this week. The only change was the bag of Layena I bought. I am going back to Bucheit layer crumbles.