What feed do you give your silkies?

[Ahernaa8045]

Hi everyone,

I have a couple silkie hens and a silkie rooster. I want to give them the best feed for their bodies. Some are 1 years old and the others 2 years old. The hens are laying but I have a rooster in there with them so I want him to have the proper nutrition as well. I’ve heard purina is not the best, so I’m staying away from that, but what would be a good feed?

What level of protein? On one side I hear silkies need high protein and on the other side I hear “high protein = kidney issues.” This is hard since I am 2 years into chicken keeping and just want the best for them!

 

[Yardmom]

I am not familiar with the claims relating protein to kidney failure.

The continue feeding of the calcium in layer food can build up and cause problems in nonlayers.
The solution is to feed an all flock feed with oyster shells on the side. Different companies call the product by different names. Purina calls it flock raiser and Kalmbach calls it flock maker.

 

[Ahernaa8045]

I am not familiar with the claims relating protein to kidney failure.

The continue feeding of the calcium in layer food can build up and cause problems in nonlayers.
The solution is to feed an all flock feed with oyster shells on the side. Different companies call the product by different names. Purina calls it flock raiser and Kalmbach calls it flock maker.

I’ve heard a lot about kalmbach, would you recommend that one?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I’ve heard a lot about kalmbach, would you recommend that one?

That's a good one, and I like that it's a crumble for smaller silkies.

 

[Ahernaa8045]

That's a good one, and I like that it's a crumble for smaller silkies.

Would it be fine for a rooster as well? I just don’t want to feed my rooster the wrong thing

 

[thecatumbrella]

Absolutely. Just like @Yardmom said, so long as it's not a layer feed with calcium, everyone can have some. Put oyster shell in a dish on the side for layers and they'll take what they need.

 

[Ahernaa8045]

Absolutely. Just like @Yardmom said, so long as it's not a layer feed with calcium, everyone can have some. Put oyster shell in a dish on the side for layers and they'll take what they need.

Great! thanks so much. I appreciate you both on helping me with this!