Which feed is best for my chickens

[kerbotx]

I've bought Bryant Poultry Feed a couple of times before, but only in their 22% Chick formula - my birds LOVED it. I actually got it for some young roos in a bachelor pen, before they were rehomed, then shared it with the rest of the flock once the roos were gone. (I feed crumble as a treat on the side, bc the Head Rooster loves it, and he's such a great boi I always thought it smelled really nice, had a nice consistent crumble size; I would have liked to try some of their other products, but it's only available at one store in town that I don't like going to.

 

[PlentifulPrairie]

Thankyou, yeah these are the only feeds near me a tractors supply is 40min away from my house and the nearest fwed stores are like 5 min

I completely understand your predicament, I'm in a similar boat. You could ask them if they would consider buying another brand of feed for you or you could see if they offer other feed that would allow you to make your own chicken feed blend. Just an idea. Best of luck.

 

[Mellowmalt]

It's fascinating to see the differences in feed once one pays attention to it.

Some emphasise using non GMO ingredients which is only 10% of soya grown in the US these days, some emphasise not using soya at all.

Considering I hate soya and know how bland it tastes I thought I would pick a non soya brand but shopping around it would cost a fair amount more so I scrapped the idea of no soya.

Then I noticed that some add egg yolk colorants and others don't which I am not a fan of anymore, the last brand that had marigolds added made my yolks too rich so I want to avoid marigold in my feed.

Then like on these feeds you can just have grain and plant products as the ingredients - very vague as the more ingredients that are listed the better.

Doesn't seem to be easy picking the right feed imo, what makes things even more complicated is that some breeds lay 6 eggs a week and other breeds only lay 3 eggs a week (breed I am going for this time) and apparently one needs to not feed as much calcium as a layer feed contains when that is the case.

All getting rather confusing at this point but just to finalise I will say that after hours or researching and looking and checking local supply I have still found an online supplier who will deliver for only a little more than buying it local (considering it would still cost me £4 to drive and pick up the feed). Not easy finding places that bulk delivery sacks of feed cheap and it makes no sense that I can't get a better choice locally.

Maybe in time I will find something better.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Use the West - I have a good idea where you are at, having lived in TX till recently - they are one of the Local mills. Overall, the composition, including the 20% protein, is superior for most purposes.

That said, one caveat. BOTH feeds have a LOT of calcium. That's fine for your layers, and if you are raising meaties for quick slaughter, its not likely to have much negative impact before the axe comes down. In the long term, however, high calcium feeds are not good for non-egg layers - the calcium builds over time and causes a host of problems (kidney problems most pronounced, but certainly not exclusive), particularly in your Roos and can shorten the lifespan of the whole flock. If your hens are a breed late to lay (such as the Brahma, often going seven months or more before starting to lay), those birds also have a lot of time in which calcium can build up in their systems and cause damage.

I'd love to offer math, but this is a case where "the dosage is the poison", and there are too many variables involved of time, quantity eaten, breed of bird, individual genetics and laying characteristics to give a good formula. Just be aware that more high calcium food, and more time eating it before onset of lay both contribute to build up of calcium which can eventually cause damage.