Why only 16% available for layers?

[VGKCHICKS]

Reading this forum has become my daily obsession, there is so much information from all the postings! As an accidental chooks mom (or grandma since I inherited our spice girls from my daughter who left home for graduate school) I am hopelessly obsessed with our lovely chooks and I also have so much to learn.
All our chickens are girls, named after spices. We have 8 hens, they are all almost 7 months old. 6 of them started laying last month.

Perhaps I am thinking too much, but I am quite confused by the conflict between what the consensus from this forum shows with what is offered in the market place for layer feeds.

From what I learned from the forum, most people prefer flock raiser with 20% protein with oyster shell and grit on the side for their flock.
My main questions are:

If higher protein is important, why are all the layer feed that we can buy from big box stores only provide 16% of protein?
Are some important nutrients in these 16% layer feed not included in the 20% flock raiser? Moreover,
feeds with lower % of protein don't seem to be as tasty to chickens!

If chickens' preference is an indication, it also point to higher % of protein to be more desirable. Why do the feed producers think that 16% is sufficient for layers? Is costs the only driver to 16%?

Does anyone know where to find layer feed with > 16% protein?

All input welcome! Thanks in advance.

https://ifacountrystores.com/
Ifa has there own mill ,20% layered pellets and crumble Also has prebiotic and probiotic Also has omega @ 16.99 for 50lbs my girls love it.

 

[RoosterML]

Along with all the rest, depending on your location, Kalmbach has Full Plume & Feathering feed that is a layer feed at 20% & Poulin Grain has an 18% layer feed that is soy free.

@Cindy in PA did you see Poulin came out with a “budget” feed to compete with TSC?
Difference is budget feed meet minimum requirements and premium feed meet optimum levels.

 

[Cindy in PA]

@Cindy in PA did you see Poulin came out with a “budget” feed to compete with TSC?
Difference is budget feed meet minimum requirements and premium feed meet optimum levels.

Didn't see that, I will have to go to their site. I always found Poulin very competitive with TSC feeds around here.

 

[RoosterML]

Didn't see that, I will have to go to their site. I always found Poulin very competitive with TSC feeds around here.

I agree that’s why I don’t understand why they would make a cheap feed

 

[VSP]

If you want to really get into nuts and bolts, I buy my chicken feed from Azure Standard, an online co-op. They have pre-made feed but I buy the individual ingredients (oats, barley, sorghum, etc) by the 50# sack and mix my own. I'm pretty sure you can get much smaller (5# maybe?) bags from them. I have 42 birds so I'm buying hundreds of pounds a month. They're a very popular store among homesteaders; I kept hearing about them in YouTube videos myself.

Do you have a preferred recipe or ratio you might share with ambitious newbies? I’d love ot start mixing my own feed for my girls.

 

[linguini]

The feeds below are 21% Protein and available at independently owned feed and garden stores like Agway and others.
View attachment 2504637View attachment 2504638
The feeds below are 18% Protein and available at TSC. Hearty Hen is soy free. Feather Fixer bag says can also be fed year round and contains slightly less calcium 3.5% than most Layers feed.View attachment 2504643View attachment 2504644View attachment 2504654
You could also buy a 16% layers feed crumbles or pellets and a 20% All-Flock feed and mix 50/50 and offer Oyster Shells separately.

Myself I prefer to feed a Non-Medicated Starter-Grower 18% Protein and offer Oyster Shells separately.View attachment 2504647
I'll also buy a All-Flock crumble 20% for a dollar more if my preferred feed isn't available. GC

I explored all the options above and ordered egg producer pellet rom TSC by delivery (not available in store). Feather fixer crumbles are not available around me - not even delivery within tri-state area. I'll keep an eye on availability. My chickens have never tried pellets - I thought even if they won't take it in pellets, I'll use it to make mash for them. Thanks for all the good suggestions!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Thanks for all the good suggestions!

Your welcome. GC

 

[SwampFlock]

Do you have a preferred recipe or ratio you might share with ambitious newbies? I’d love ot start mixing my own feed for my girls.

https://www.azurestandard.com/healt...-up-and-we-share-a-organic-layer-feed-recipe/

There is the base recipe that I use. My personal recipe switches sorghum for corn and I leave out the alfalfa as mine are on 4 acres of pasture year round in SE TX. I also recommend Azure Standard but I'm not affiliated with them or anything.

Basically I end up with corn and soy free organic feed for a penny a pound cheaper than the organic pellets I was buying at Tractor Supply. Just have to be willing/able to buy in bulk. I have almost 50 birds so it works for me.

 

[ChassiNoir]

I have it in three places.
I have it listed in a thread, I have screenshots in an article and I have the actual Google sheet.
Give me one second and I'll share the Google sheet link with you... Be aware that the Google sheet has a ton of information in it so if you try to access it from a phone it's going to take a while to open.

This is my Google sheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...Sj3Bt5CUQfX1PlTEhg799sDT-qM/edit?usp=drivesdk

Notice the tabs at the bottom of the sheet and also notice that each feed brand name or feed type has a direct link to the manufacturer's website.

Kiki, I hope you know that you’re awesome!

 

[Sally PB]

Kiki, that spreadsheet is .

I am .