Recommended feed

Jaimes09

Songster
Sep 6, 2021
188
179
106
Hello i have a small backyard of about 12 adult chickens and 4 stag/pullets. I have the layer type of chickens and then a pair of gamefowl breed(fighting chickens) that i like as they have great looks. My question was what feed do y’all recommend for the big chickens and something i can blend in for the stags/pullets. Should i stick with the layer feed from say tractor supply or feed another type of game feed?
 

Jaimes09

Songster
Sep 6, 2021
188
179
106
All flock or flock raiser, oyster shell on the side. Non laying chickens such as roosters or young pullets shouldn't eat layer.
I’ve heard it’s not bad though? Am i wrong? And is that the best option? Because i really don’t have that much money to say i can just go out and buy all types of feed, and you mentioned oyster shells. Do i have to feed them only to the hen or just throw them down for anyone to eat?
 

nuthatched

Fishin' for Chickens
Nov 9, 2019
7,803
15,722
596
God's Country, Az
I’ve heard it’s not bad though? Am i wrong? And is that the best option? Because i really don’t have that much money to say i can just go out and buy all types of feed, and you mentioned oyster shells. Do i have to feed them only to the hen or just throw them down for anyone to eat?
Layer can cause kidney issues in roosters and cause calcium over load in non laying girls and cause issues. Layer feed also has the bare minimum protein that chicken required, growing birds (chicks under 6 ish months, depending) should not eat layer or they could end up stunted. Flock raiser/all flock has better protein and less added calcium, oyster shells are cheap, just get a cheap metal dish, like a bread pan and screw it into the side of something so it doesn't spill, the hens will take as they need, the rooster might too but a nibble here and there is better than forced calcium.
 

Jaimes09

Songster
Sep 6, 2021
188
179
106
Layer can cause kidney issues in roosters and cause calcium over load in non laying girls and cause issues. Layer feed also has the bare minimum protein that chicken required, growing birds (chicks under 6 ish months, depending) should not eat layer or they could end up stunted. Flock raiser/all flock has better protein and less added calcium, oyster shells are cheap, just get a cheap metal dish, like a bread pan and screw it into the side of something so it doesn't spill, the hens will take as they need, the rooster might too but a nibble here and there is better than forced calcium.
And can i just use egg shells?
 

Jaimes09

Songster
Sep 6, 2021
188
179
106
You can but like Brooks said, you'll never have enough. A 50lb bag of oyster shell only costs about $16, and it will likely last you a year since it doesn't go bad and hens don't need that much of it every day.
Oh ok i thought the shells were eaten way faster will i not have to worry about the not eating the shells? Because obviously with the feed i just throw it down in the feeders and they eat it but what if they don’t peck at the shells? Or is that unlikely l
 

nuthatched

Fishin' for Chickens
Nov 9, 2019
7,803
15,722
596
God's Country, Az
Oh ok i thought the shells were eaten way faster will i not have to worry about the not eating the shells? Because obviously with the feed i just throw it down in the feeders and they eat it but what if they don’t peck at the shells? Or is that unlikely l
They'll eat the oyster shell as they need. It's a better source of calcium than egg shells, it will take a lot of egg shells to supply your hens.
 

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