when to start layer feed?

[pmchefsherry]

Great advice for us beginners. Thanks! So here's another question. I see egg washes in the stores for eggs. What do you all recommend as the proper care for fresh laid eggs as for as cleaning goes?

 

[yogi]

It is also lower in protein content so not too good for growing chicks.

 

[TheSpiceGirls]

I introduced babies to a flock last year and the babies would eat the oyster shells. I mean eat and eat and eat. I was worried about long term effects so I took it away. But then was worried about my two adults not getting the calcium they needed. So bought some liquid calcium from my feed store. Read the directions but basically, I'd put some in with some wet mashed up feed and hand feed it to the two adults every other or ever third day. Worked great, never got soft shelled eggs.

And once the babies grew up and started laying, I switched everyone over to layer.

Just another option.

 

[yo burrill]

"Here's a question--I'm right with you on the animal protein, but the only feed I could get with animal protein in it is DuMor brand, and honestly, it gives the eggs a musty flavor. Have you ever noticed a difference in egg flavor?"

DuMor (TSC brand) Doesn't even have it any more. I just bought a bag this morning. Couldnt find any there that had animal protein.Right now my birds have access to bugs. But through the winter I really would like to find something more well rounded to feed them. May have to start meal worm farming too. I think the Ultra Kibble they have has animal protein but I'll have to look again.

 

[yo burrill]

Great advice for us beginners. Thanks! So here's another question. I see egg washes in the stores for eggs. What do you all recommend as the proper care for fresh laid eggs as for as cleaning goes?

If I personally have to clean an egg I just use warm water and my fingers to rub the dirty off the egg. Whether for eating or hatching I do the same thing. Some people always sanitize their eggs with an egg wash. Your birds should not be pooping in the nest area though so there should be no real need to wash.

 

[ChickenLove123]

Fred's Hens, have been reading and enjoying your posts for over a year, and I appreciate your wisdom. I have only six layers, but I will see about either mixing my own feed or looking for a producer, like you suggest.

I am aware that chickens are not (and should not be) vegetarians. Does anyone else get a "mad cow"ish connotation/fear when you read "animal protien" that is added to feed? Especially with the mass-produced feed? My birds get out occasionally to scratch in the yard and garden for bugs, but not as much as I'd like. I'm wondering about supplementing their animal protien in a more "whole food" way, like buying worms from the fishers' fridge in the sporting goods store. I've never priced them, but with six birds, cost is not really a big concern. Do you see any problem with feeding fish-bait worms to the birds? Do you have any ideas for other types of "whole" animal protien I could feed?

Thank you!

 

[chickchickchiky]

Interesting thread! I feed flock raiser from Purina and it's 18 something a bag i just add the oyster shell free choice. I would like to reduce cost of feeding but don't know how. I will tell you that my eggs are hard and i have yet to get a soft shell egg and the chickens look fantastic and healthy. I give them scratch and oats mixed as a treat as well as yogurt and they free range half the day after the eggs have been layed (Spoiled lol). Flock raiser is 20% protein but does not have animal protein in it i would like to have something for the winter that is cheaper and have the same results.

I do have a feed mill close by and i called them and was told the chicken feed they have has 12% protein in it and it comes in pellet and crumble isn't that too low? I am going to take a trip there this weekend and see what's in the feed.

Ok called them back and asked for pricing none of this has animal protein in it. He said they sell something called baby beef they feed chickens and it's 21.75 100 pds and the pellets and crumbles are 27.95 100. It is cheaper but i don't think i will gain anything and would be just feeding cheaper.

 

[Rhoise]

Fred's Hens, have been reading and enjoying your posts for over a year, and I appreciate your wisdom. I have only six layers, but I will see about either mixing my own feed or looking for a producer, like you suggest.

I am aware that chickens are not (and should not be) vegetarians. Does anyone else get a "mad cow"ish connotation/fear when you read "animal protien" that is added to feed? Especially with the mass-produced feed? My birds get out occasionally to scratch in the yard and garden for bugs, but not as much as I'd like. I'm wondering about supplementing their animal protien in a more "whole food" way, like buying worms from the fishers' fridge in the sporting goods store. I've never priced them, but with six birds, cost is not really a big concern. Do you see any problem with feeding fish-bait worms to the birds? Do you have any ideas for other types of "whole" animal protien I could feed?

Thank you!

You'd be better off going fishing with the worms @ $2.58 a dozen and then cook the catch and feed it to you chickens, my boys have been doing it all summer, or we feed them the leftovers after we've had our fill. Keep looking, i'm sure there is a cheaper safer protien source out there, even farmed talapia in the grocery store would be cheaper per lb than worms, but then a gain unless your sure where they raise them who knows how "safe". Even yogurt would be cheaper, I feed that too but I only have a few hens, so its like treats for pets here not my income.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

WalkingonSunshine,

Believe me, finding a local (within 50 miles) feed mill that can grind their own feed, at an affordable price, is tough research, but must be done. Rest assured, a small holder who is keeping 500 layers for a food co-op, let's say, sure isn't feeding them bags for expensive Purina or DuMor (same same) from a TSC. One simply cannot afford to feed pre-bagged, retail feed prices and make a nickel on eggs, pasturing or not. The feed costs would drive you out of business.

Sometimes we have as many as 300 birds, on the ground, at our three farms. That's far too many mouths to feed. Right now, with 30 mouths to feed here, and with my wife's small egg business, I cannot pay $18 a 50 lbs. I'd be broke. Unfortunately, our local mill does not grind it's own Grower either. Too bad.

You cannot stop a chicken from wanting animal protein. It'll eat worms, frogs, toads, mice, grubs, bugs, etc all meat. Yes, the egg yolks get a bit stronger, orange in color and tastier. That, to my way of thinking, is what a true farm egg looks like and tastes like.

Actually, our local mill would mix and grind a feed for me to my precise specs, but they can't do it in batches of less than 500 pounds. I don't really have a good way to store it. We can buy the feed store's standard mix, but it doesn't have any animal protein in it, either.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

"Here's a question--I'm right with you on the animal protein, but the only feed I could get with animal protein in it is DuMor brand, and honestly, it gives the eggs a musty flavor. Have you ever noticed a difference in egg flavor?"

DuMor (TSC brand) Doesn't even have it any more. I just bought a bag this morning. Couldnt find any there that had animal protein.Right now my birds have access to bugs. But through the winter I really would like to find something more well rounded to feed them. May have to start meal worm farming too. I think the Ultra Kibble they have has animal protein but I'll have to look again

I have fed cat food as a treat before when I had birds that needed some extra protein in the winter. Ironically, the cheaper brands seem to be better for hens (based on the ingredient list)