what kind of layer food should i get

[chickenmama109]

hi i have a leghorn and 2 road island reds that are laying in may flock i have 11 hens and 1 roo
what kind of layer food should i get and can the roo have layer has well


thanks to all help

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

I have dual-purpose birds, and try to give them as much protein as possible. 18% for everyday, 20-22% when they are growing or getting ready for show. It also pays to take a sniff at the feed. You can always tell the better stuff smells like alfalfa, or something sweet. The poor-quality stuff smells like corn or dust.

Of course, if I went around stores opening feed bags and inserting my nose, they might look at me funny. Or worse.

NatureWise Feather Fixer is my favorite.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Layer feed isn't good for roosters. I feed my roosters and hens grower feed with a side of oyster shell.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Well, I chose to go with pellets, cause my girls would waste a lot of crumble type of feed.
Chickens don't like change, including feed. I mixed half crumbles and half pellets for 2 weeks, and scattered a small amount of pellets on dry ground, to get their interest, and it worked.
I like 18% protein layers pellets. But the last time I went to purchase a bag, it was 7 weeks old. The 16% layers pellets was 3 weeks old. I have been feeding it for over a month. So far so good. Fresh is best as long as it contains the ingredients you are looking for.
I look for a feed with prebiotics and probiotics in the formula.
I don't have any boys, but from what I've read in studies and on the tags attached to the bags of layers feed. It's safe to feed to cockerels and roosters over 16/18 weeks, depending on Brand of feed. GC

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Well, I chose to go with pellets, cause my girls would waste a lot of crumble type of feed.
Chickens don't like change, including feed. I mixed half and half pellets with crumbles for 2 weeks, and scattered a small amount of pellets on dry ground, to get their interest, and it worked.
I like 18% protein layers pellets. But the last time I went to purchase a bag, it was 7 weeks old. The 16% layers pellets was 3 weeks old. I have been feeding it for over a month. So far so good. Fresh is best as long as it contains the ingredients you are looking for.
I look for a feed with prebiotics and probiotics in the formula.
I don't have any boys, but from what I've read in studies and on bags of layers feed. It's safe to feed to cockerels and roosters over 16/18 weeks, depending on Brand of feed. GC

I disagree. The excess calcium in layer isn't good for non-laying chickens' internal organs. It's not really harmful short term, but after a while all that extra calcium can cause problems for roosters.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I disagree. The excess calcium in layer isn't good for non-laying chickens' internal organs. It's not really harmful short term, but after a while all that extra calcium can cause problems for roosters.

Well I would think there would be a lot of lawsuits, against the feed companies that say it's safe to feed to cockerels and roosters over 16/18 weeks. GC

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

Layer feed isn't good for roosters. I feed my roosters and hens grower feed with a side of oyster shell.

Maybe. It's not a bad idea, either. Grower feed is good. Meatbird has more protein, though. I think there is a "showbird" feed by Nature Wise without much calcium, too.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Check out this under heading. Minerals & Vitamins.
www.nap.edu/read/2114/chapter/4#25
Scroll down to Minerals and vitamins.
It says feeding pullets 14 weeks 3.25 % calcium is safe, even several weeks before egg production. GC

 

[chickenmama109]

thank you everyone im going to try oyster shells and maybe layer thanks so much