Who is giving out mis info on grit and feed?

[Akane]

Several of the manufacturers bags including purina list a ratio for mixing grit with feed. What I read on purina was 1lb grit to 20lbs of feed. Personally I don't think you should mix anything with feed and always provide supplements in a second container plus grit should be free choice if possible.

Chickens should have age appropriate feed unless you take certain things into account. Chicks should not eat layer due to the high calcium. Layers should not eat medicated starter long term. There are several reasons that different feeds were developed for different ages. That doesn't mean you can't make some things work like feeding unmedicated starter to all ages with a calcium supplement for the layers. Several people including myself feed game bird starter from chick to adult with calcium supplements for the adults. You have to know the details though and make sure they are getting what they need without getting too much of something they don't need. If I were working in a feed store and wanted to keep it simple for people I would tell them to use a feed listed for that age of bird and switch feeds as they grow based on what is recommended by the manufacturer and what products the store carries.

 

[Scoot58]

I don't feed my free range flock any grit. I figure they will find what they need.

 

[dlhunicorn]

The only thing I can imagine (for the Purina recommendations0 is that such is geared towards a caged system (there are several small operations who have caged only birds and not "backyard" poultry) > they often mix the pelleted feed with scratch grains... in that case (caged) they would add the grit to the feed.

 

[Ridgerunner]

In my opinion, the change in feed at life stages is developed for maximum efficiency in a laying or meat bird operation. If you have 10,000 laying hens or 50,000 meat birds in one coop, a difference of a few percent in efficiency makes a big difference and may be the difference in being profitable or going broke. In our circumstances, most of us will not notice a difference of 5% or even 10%. We just got one more or one less egg today. Or it took an extra 5 days for the chickens to get large enough to butcher.

I don't mix anything with my feed. I offer other things free choice. I do not want to force mine to eat something they don't need, like feeding calcium to excess, even in laying birds. Or forcing them to eat grit, which means extra volume with absolutely no protein has to be processed and passed by their system. Others do it and that is their business not mine. I'm just stating how and why I do it.

Many people don't have the experience or do the research on every topic. I'm sure I am doing some things wrong due to not knowing. And I have some preconceived notions that I think are right but are just wrong. I learn something new on here and at various university/extension office websites often. And I don't necessarily believe everything I see or read.

When people come in with opinions different from yours, I'd suggest you first remember you are an employee and you want their return business. Then, you should determine if itis just a different way of doing something or if there is true mis-information involved. Then you determine your polite responce appropriately. I find it very helpful to run into knowledgable employees but I find that sometimes I do not run into knowledgeable employees. I'm still ultimately responsible fro my actions.

If I've offended anyone, I offer my apologies. This is my own opinion and my editorial for the day.

 

[eggsited chickens]

On the bag of chick grit from TSC it does tell you how much grit to put with certain amount of feed. I have read it. So maybe that is where people are getting it from???

 

[speckledhen]

Could be, but that would almost have to be for caged birds, I'd think. I never buy grit for my birds.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Quote:
First off, why are you assuming it came from here? Did they say "I went on BYC.com and was told this?" They could get info anywhere on the Internet they want. I'm sure there are thousands of people on different boards, who like you, think they know everything about feeding chickens. You can't fix the world, or what anyone else wants to say or do. Just smile nicely, give them your own advice and opinion, and go on.

 

[pipermark]

It was me

 

[ChickBond 007]

In my experience, the worst advice I've received about caring for poultry came from the people at the feed store because most of them were 'horse' people not 'chicken' people.

 

[Up-the-Creek]

Quote:
No! It was me! I am out to destroy the world by giving out misinformation on chicken feed! BAhaaahaaaa!