What to look for in laying pellet feed?

[Roberts2100]

What do you look for in chicken feed (laying pellet).

 

[Rhoise]

Somebody told me the #1 thing to look for in a feed is................... the date on the bag

( I guessed protein content! that was # 2). Also found out how to know when feed was processed......the 4 digit number under the lot number on the feed tag tells the date......the first # like 2 stands for 2012..... the next three like 160 =160th day of year or 2083 would = 2012, 83rd day etc etc.

Just bought 3 bags dated 2163. 1 more sack of chick starter 18% protein( 9 pullets are 12.5 weeks now), 1 bag layer pellets 16% protein higher calcium(probley too soon high hopes of an egg before 20 weeks! but realistically realizing I may need more chick starter), and a bag of scratch to feed less than 10% of there total diet( just small amounts maybe 1/2 cup for all to share in the afternoons while roaming the lawn to attract them away from pooping on the patio to the far corner of yard in the old garden bed.

Bought all Nutreana brand because I had 3 $3 coupons from previous trip to feed store which expire and needed to be used by 6/30. All the commercial feeds seem similar ingredient wise to me, a few odd ones like omega 3 with flax seed etc may try that one, and have heard lots of pros and cons on all brands, for every person that swears by "brandX" there is another that hates it for some reason......

Good luck in your shopping at least it's not as bad as buying dog food nowadays, jeeze when I was a kid growing up in a small town, there was alpo and kennel ration, now there are literally hundreds to choose from.....

 

[A.T. Hagan]

What do you look for in chicken feed (laying pellet). 

First that it's fresh. The manufacture date is usually in plain text somewhere on the bag, typically the paper tape sealing the bottom of the bag. Three months or less in age. Maybe a little older if it was milled in the winter and the weather is still cool, but not a lot more.

Second that it has an appropriate amount of protein. Should be in the 15-17% range. More is OK, less is not. You can get by with all vegetable protein if it's a good brand, but I prefer to have at least a little animal protein in the mix. Crude protein is all that has to be listed on the tag, but crude protein only tells part of the story. The quality of the protein is important as well which is why I prefer at least a little animal protein in my feed, but if it's a good brand (say Purina, Nutrena, Blue Seal, Manna Pro, etc.) you can do OK with it.

Third that the feed is not damp, clumpy, webby, weevily, or otherwise spoiled. Most especially NOT moldy. If you find any of these conditions then take it back to the store and get a different brand or refund. This time of year here in Florida it's been hot and humid for a month or more so I have to watch out for this. Not usually a problem with layer feed as it turns over fairly fast, but still keep an eye open for this.

That's pretty much it.

 

[Fred's Hens]

As usual, A. T. Hagin nailed it pretty good.

I look for it being on sale. I know it sounds funny, but normally, pellets are just too pricey for me. But, we have a regional feed maker called Armada. They are a small company with really great products. I really like their pellets. Twice a year, a small chain of rural stores, who sell the Armada Feeds, puts the feeds on sale. $2 a bag off. At that price point, pellets become something I buy. I can feed them for convenience, toss them like scratch, etc.

The other advantage of having a sale is that the stores generally bring in a fresh pallet of the feed and set it in the aisle. It is only days old. Great. That means I can keep it for a month or two or three in dry storage, and await the next sale. If it were already 3 months old, I'd steer clear. Moldy clumps? Dump it. The risk is too high.