What to feed a mixed flock?

[Cmp211]

Hi friends ◡̈
So my flock is 15 and 13 weeks old. 16 pullets and 2 cockerels. May be getting rid of one rooster, but that’s beside the point. They’re mostly in the coop and run, I try to let them out for a supervised free range daily. We have tons of predators in our area. My reasoning for a post is , switching feed because my girls should be laying within the next month or so, give or take. One chick has a very red comb and waddle. With my own research I think I want you do an all flock feed, then have extra a calcium source (oyster shells, eggs shells) available to hens that need it. Due to roosters not needing the extra calcium in a layer feed, and I’ve read it can actually be bad for them. Thought?

 

[DobieLover]

Flock Raiser, All Flock, a good chick starter crumble or starter/grower. Anything that gets them to 18-20% protein without the addition of extra calcium. Put out 2 containers of oyster shell in high traffic "in your face" zones for free choice feeding by active layers.
You're done.
For life.
I have fed this way from hatch to death for over 7 years and it works great. I've never once purchased a bag of layer feed.
The excess calcium is not only bad for roosters, it is bad for chicks, pre-POL pullets, broody hens, older hens taking a winter break from laying and 'henopausal' hens that no longer lay. None of these birds should be forced to consume calcium their bodies don't need and their kidneys are forced to remove, putting a strain on them.
Keep an eye on the oyster shell containers. When they don't have a lot of larger chunks in them, fill them up again. The egg shells are more of a treat than anything.

 

[Cmp211]

Flock Raiser, All Flock, a good chick starter crumble or starter/grower. Anything that gets them to 18-20% protein without the addition of extra calcium. Put out 2 containers of oyster shell in high traffic "in your face" zones for free choice feeding by active layers.
You're done.
For life.
I have fed this way from hatch to death for over 7 years and it works great. I've never once purchased a bag of layer feed.
The excess calcium is not only bad for roosters, it is bad for chicks, pre-POL pullets, broody hens, older hens taking a winter break from laying and 'henopausal' hens that no longer lay. None of these birds should be forced to consume calcium their bodies don't need and their kidneys are forced to remove, putting a strain on them.
Keep an eye on the oyster shell containers. When they don't have a lot of larger chunks in them, fill them up again. The egg shells are more of a treat than anything.

Awesome , thank you so much. What percentage of calcium should I be looking for?

 

[DobieLover]

What percentage of calcium should I be looking for?

0.8 - 1.3%

 

[Cmp211]

0.8 - 1.3%

Perfect , thank you sooo much.
While looking at that, I says maximum calcium and minimum calcium. I’m looking at the maximum?

 

[DobieLover]

Perfect , thank you sooo much.
While looking at that, I says maximum calcium and minimum calcium. I’m looking at the maximum?

It is typically reported in a min/max range.

 

[Cmp211]

It is typically reported in a min/max range.

ohhhh, gotcha gotcha!