what food should i buy?

[Emily_loveschickens]

I am not quite sure what you are asking.

Im just thinking in 3-4 weeks they will most likely be laying

 

[Emily_loveschickens]

Go to All FLock/Flock Raiser and free choice oyster shell as soon as you are out of grower. Contra claims, above, Layer will **NOT** encourage them to lay. Its only value is that its cheap.

The higher protein content of All Flock/Flock Raiser will benefit your birds in (slight, but measurable, though not visible) increases in rate of lay, size of eggs, content of eggs. It will additionally help with weight gain and feather condition, helping to speed molting when your birds do their first adult feather replacement.

Due to larger bag size, you will find the All Flock cheaper per pound than your current feed (though admitedly, not as cheap as layer).

Later, if you should add more birds to your flock, either as hatchlings, roosters, or other hens, there will be no need to either switch feeds or structure seperate feeding areas. All your birds can eat All FLock/Flock raiser (assuming its crumble, wet mash, or fermented) all of their lives.

layer feed is not any cheeper that grower or all flock. i only buy organic and thats pretty pricey

 

[Carter Martin]

Go to All FLock/Flock Raiser and free choice oyster shell as soon as you are out of grower. Contra claims, above, Layer will **NOT** encourage them to lay. Its only value is that its cheap.

The higher protein content of All Flock/Flock Raiser will benefit your birds in (slight, but measurable, though not visible) increases in rate of lay, size of eggs, content of eggs. It will additionally help with weight gain and feather condition, helping to speed molting when your birds do their first adult feather replacement.

Due to larger bag size, you will find the All Flock cheaper per pound than your current feed (though admitedly, not as cheap as layer).

Later, if you should add more birds to your flock, either as hatchlings, roosters, or other hens, there will be no need to either switch feeds or structure seperate feeding areas. All your birds can eat All FLock/Flock raiser (assuming its crumble, wet mash, or fermented) all of their lives.

I don't quite think that All Flock can adaquately provide all things needed by chicks, middle aged chickens and mature hens at once.

 

[Carter Martin]

Layer feed is meant to provide all the nutrients that a laying hen needs-- but it is not the ONLY way to provide those nutrients.

I agree with this. But I don't think oyster shell contains phosphate.

 

[Carter Martin]

Ok. I do agree that according to you guy's resource All flock food does cover everything pretty well with the exception of oyster shell. But it would seem a bit of a waste to give more protein than is needed. But one thing I noticed about the start/grow food you guys brought up is that for newly hatched chicks they should have at least 19% protein and preferably 21%. The all flock should work all right but the actually start/grow food is only 18% protein.