What do you feed your chickens?

[21hens-incharge]

Mill dates on Nutrena are on the paper tag under the bar code. Many other brands print it on the bottom sewn on strip.

I agree fresh, fresh, FRESH.

I feed Nutrena all flock crumble.

I also make a wet mash every morning as I have a cross beak hen that needs it. Everyone gets the wet mash and they all prefer it to any other treat.

By wet mash I mean their regular feed with water added to make a wet feed the consistency of cooked oatmeal.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I haven't read over the replies so far but I wanted to share my experience. My layers don't like any of the layer feed I've tried. The LOVE Purina Flock Raisers and to think about it, that's always been the favorite of all of my birds. I have tried two different Purina Layer feeds with no luck. I've also tried two different Nutrena Layer feeds, but still they didn't seem to like it. My girls will eat a little bit of layer feed, but it's obvious that they hold back if possible, until they get let into their big run so they can devour Purina Flock Raisers. I do have better luck with making a mash of their layer feed and water as I make all of my birds a treat of mash every night. I've recently noticed that Nutrena feeds dissolve to a mush in water MUCH faster than Purina. I also noticed that Purina Flock Raisers smells very appetizing, kind of like molasses. I guess different birds enjoy different feeds and get acclimated to certain feeds as they grow. That could definitely be a factor with my birds as Purina Flock Raisers was their first feed and only feed for much of my birds lives. It's a good thing that it's actually a good feed.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I haven't read over the replies so far but I wanted to share my experience. My layers don't like any of the layer feed I've tried. The LOVE Purina Flock Raisers and to think about it, that's always been the favorite of all of my birds. I have tried two different Purina Layer feeds with no luck. I've also tried two different Nutrena Layer feeds, but still they didn't seem to like it. My girls will eat a little bit of layer feed, but it's obvious that they hold back if possible, until they get let into their big run so they can devour Purina Flock Raisers. I do have better luck with making a mash of their layer feed and water as I make all of my birds a treat of mash every night. I've recently noticed that Nutrena feeds dissolve to a mush in water MUCH faster than Purina. I also noticed that Purina Flock Raisers smells very appetizing, kind of like molasses. I guess different birds enjoy different feeds and get acclimated to certain feeds as they grow. That could definitely be a factor with my birds as Purina Flock Raisers was their first feed and only feed for much of my birds lives. It's a good thing that it's actually a good feed.

I wish I could feed my girls flock raiser but they always lay thin shells and turn their beaks up at oyster shells!

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I wish I could feed my girls flock raiser but they always lay thin shells and turn their beaks up at oyster shells!

That certainly isn't good. To be honest, I'd rather my girls eat a layer feed, but I want them to really enjoy their food because they give so much of themselves (I am a total chicken lover softie). Their nightly mash definitely makes me feel so much better

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

That certainly isn't good. To be honest, I'd rather my girls eat a layer feed, but I want them to really enjoy their food because they give so much of themselves (I am a total chicken lover softie). Their nightly mash definitely makes me feel so much better

Me too. I love my ladies as long as I feed a nice layer feed I don’t need have to worry about the shells. The funny thing is they used to LOVE oyster shells they’d eat every speck id throw down but down they’re spoiled and won’t touch them.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I wish I could feed my girls flock raiser but they always lay thin shells and turn their beaks up at oyster shells!

What brand of oyster shell are you using?

Mine refuse manna pro but love Pacific Pearl. One looks like crumbled drywall and the other like tiny crushed shells.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

I feed mine the Dumor Grower crumble feed (cheap, low calcium, 15% protein). Sometimes it's more like powder feed, but that's OK because I add a lot of water to it.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I am always amazed that people don't need oyster shell when feeding layer feed. My current flock is on layer feed & 10 hens go thru at least a cup of OS shell a week. Have no idea what they would need if they were on FR. This has been the same on many different feeds all containing 3.5-4.5% calcium. I never noticed in past years, but for the last 3-4 years this has been the case through 3 different flocks.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I feed mine mixed grains, with Purina Layena layer crumbles. I've been mixing in some Flock Raiser in to give them extra protein since it's been cold, and chickens use up more energy during the winter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Thank you!
I have not found a date on the feed bag either! Someone posted check the date- haha I don’t see a date.
I gonna try crumbles!
Good idea.
Thanks again!
I do have grower crumbles Durham feed and they don’t eat that either. Gonna try another brand.

as far as treats - they get kale.
And scratch at night.
But for the locked up period of 3 days they only got the layer feed with oyster shells.
I dumped the feed. Nothing was touched.
Oyster shells was empty

There will always be a mill date on the bag. Sometimes it is hard to find, sometimes it is obvious. Many companies like Nutrena will print it right on the bottom of the guaranteed analysis feed tag with the day, month, and year clearly understood.
Purina, Dumor and others print it on the seal strip at either the top or bottom of the bag. It isn't always obvious. Look for printing on the strip and it will be in that line.
Some, like ADM use the Julian date which is harder to decipher. That is the day of the year. 001 will be January 1. March 1 will be 60 or 61 depending on if it is a leap year. December 31 is either 365 or 366 for the same reason.
Still others like Fertrell will have a date code with 2 digit, month, 2 digit day and 2 digit year followed by which mill run of the day it was.
If you still can't find it, ask at the feed store. There's a 50:50 chance someone there will know. Otherwise, call the manufacturer and they can guide you.
As was said, if still no luck, buy something else or elsewhere.

I feed mine the Dumor Grower crumble feed (cheap, low calcium, 15% protein). Sometimes it's more like powder feed, but that's OK because I add a lot of water to it.

I occasionally use that for certain purposes. I know it says 'grower' but a 15% feed is a finisher feed. Dumor used to label it 'finisher' about 8 years or so ago.
Finisher is usually for finishing meat birds but I use it for roosters and maturing cockerels since they don't need as much protein.

I am always amazed that people don't need oyster shell when feeding layer feed. My current flock is on layer feed & 10 hens go thru at least a cup of OS shell a week. Have no idea what they would need if they were on FR. This has been the same on many different feeds all containing 3.5-4.5% calcium. I never noticed in past years, but for the last 3-4 years this has been the case through 3 different flocks.

It all depends on the productivity of the birds in question.
Birds building 5-7 egg shells a week will likely need more calcium than that in layer. Hence, oyster shell, crushed egg shells or limestone.
Medium production birds will find layer to be sufficient.
For poor producers (0 or 1 egg a week), layer may be too high in calcium
1% calcium is sufficient for all non-layers (chicks, roosters and any mature hens out of production).
Most layer feeds are in the neighborhood of 3.5-4.5% calcium.
Large scale poultry producers have their own mills and are able to customize formulas to meet the needs of their specific birds. For example, for growing pullets, they will begin to feed a pre-lay diet of about 2-2.5% calcium at about 16 weeks. Then when that batch of 500,000 birds all begin laying within a few days of each other due to the lighting program, they feed a full layer diet and some even topdress with OS.
The rest of us are stuck with the selection at the feed store.
Needless to say, one size doesn't fit all. As you noted, in backyard flocks, the needs vary dramatically.
Furthermore, it isn't always about the calcium percentage. Other nutrients like phosphorus and D3 play a great role in calcium utilization. For example, if no D3 is present, they can't uptake calcium at all. There are many other variables as well including acidity level of feed and water.

I feed mine mixed grains, with Purina Layena layer crumbles. I've been mixing in some Flock Raiser in to give them extra protein since it's been cold, and chickens use up more energy during the winter.

Energy comes from carbs, starches, sugars and fats.