when to start layer feed?

[Missa Chickabee]

So what percentage of protein is best if you are just using them as layers?

 

[Fred's Hens]

If your birds rely 99% on their feed for their diet and are heavy layers of large eggs, birds such as red sex links, or other daily layers, then I prefer to use a protein content of 17 or 18 per cent. If your birds only lay an egg 3 or 4 days a week, or have additional sources of protein such as insects and bugs during ranging, then a 16% protein is plenty good.

If you are feeding heavy doses of scratch grains, fermented grains, oats, cracked corn and such grains constitute 25% of more the birds calories, then a Layer feed of 20% makes sense because plain grains and/or scratch is usually only 10% protein and the birds would benefit.

If your birds is moulting or has feather loss, the 20% protein formula also will assist them in re-feathering.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Should also say that more important than the precise percentage of protein in a particular feed is the kind or type of protein.
Animal protein content is a must. These birds never were and aren't vegetarians.

 

[Rhoise]

Same here with my local grinder/feed store. Plus theirs has calcium added in the feed.

Hi Cajun! are you near boise meridian? I'm trying to find a layer feed with animal protien, all the stores sell veggie food no animal that I can find?

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you cannot find layer formula, other than the vegetarian nonsense, then you can do this. Feed a 16% veg formula, but richen it with a Game Bird feed of 24% protein. It is very rare that these higher protein formulas are vegetarian, but read those labels folks.

I'm very fortunate to have a local feed mill, some 30 miles away, that still includes animal protein. That it is $19.50 a hundred pound bag doesn't hurt.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Should also say that more important than the precise percentage of protein in a particular feed is the kind or type of protein.
Animal protein content is a must. These birds never were and aren't vegetarians.

Oh yes. I once saw them dive for a mouse that I threw out of the feed bin onto the coop floor. Made me hope I never fall down on their floor.

 

[msladyhawke]

Oh yes. I once saw them dive for a mouse that I threw out of the feed bin onto the coop floor. Made me hope I never fall down on their floor.

 

[Rhoise]

Oh yes. I once saw them dive for a mouse that I threw out of the feed bin onto the coop floor. Made me hope I never fall down on their floor.

When I was little(maybe 8 or 9) to my horror and amazement my brothers threw a good sized bull frog into the coop and a grotesque world war three tug of war persued until one hen got It lose and swallowed it whole. Since that day I've never felt the same warm fuzzy feelin towards my chickens, just a loving healthy respect for what they are!

 

[Rhoise]

If you cannot find layer formula, other than the vegetarian nonsense, then you can do this. Feed a 16% veg formula, but richen it with a Game Bird feed of 24% protein. It is very rare that these higher protein formulas are vegetarian, but read those labels folks.

I'm very fortunate to have a local feed mill, some 30 miles away, that still includes animal protein. That it is $19.50 a hundred pound bag doesn't hurt.

Thanks Fred I will definetly look into this, gonna go when i get off work and read some game bird lables!!!(darn yogurt is getting expensive but the boys went catfishing last night and trout fishin today, school starts next week so the fish is gonna get more scarce)

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Thanks Fred I will definetly look into this, gonna go when i get off work and read some game bird lables!!!(darn yogurt is getting expensive but the boys went catfishing last night and trout fishin today, school starts next week so the fish is gonna get more scarce)

I've made my own yogurt. It would be even cheaper if we had a cow or goat. I used powdered milk that I bought bulk.