All flock feed

[Funnyfarm1995]

Hey guys! I’ve got 6 males and 23 fe
females that live separately. Both ducks and chickens. I know ducks need a niacin supplement and my birds are provided with that, but we feed our boys kalmbach all flock 16% organic and I just want to know what the thoughts are on doing a 16% all flock for everyone and supplementing with additional protein and feeding them their eggshells. They do get their own shells back three times per week at their leisure. Just wanting to know if there is something within the kalmbach organic 17% layer feed that would also need to be supplemented outside of additional meal worm and free ranging protein outside of their feed nutrition wise. We’ve got a well producting flock and happy birds across the board, but the all flock is financially a better option. Thank you!

 

[nuthatched]

16% is a little low for laying birds, just get higher protein feed if possible instead of meal worms which is expensive and leads to unbalanced diet due to high fat content.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Agreed. You don't know how much protein the mealworms are providing and can't control it because some birds will get more and some less.

Also, I personally feel that oyster shell is a better option for calcium than egg shells because the more you recycle their own shells through their bodies, the less calcium those shells are going to have. I can't cite a scientific study to prove it, it just makes sense to me. It won't hurt to dry, crush and add the shells as a supplement to the oyster shells if you like though. Just my own opinion. Oyster shell is plenty cheap. Offer it in a separate vessel; non-layers will avoid it.

 

[swamphiker]

See if you can find a slightly higher protein all flock feed. My feed store has 18-20%, which I've liked for my mixed chicken flock. I supplement with crushed oyster shell and home-grown mealworms and other high-protein household food waste snacks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

additional meal worm

Meal worms have protein but they also have a lot of fat. I'd feed them in moderation because of the fat content.

and free ranging

If yours free range you've given up the ability to micromanage their food intake. I don't know how much protein yours are getting from foraging while free ranging, that depends a lot on the quality of that forage.

Other than feeding show chickens and meat birds, feeding high protein for laying hens is a fairly new concept. It follows the idea of keeping them as pets and you want to treat your pets special. The APA recognized "breeds" have been around quite a while, including back when many flocks fed themselves foraging while free ranging and only got supplemental feed during the bad weather months. Most of the chickens we have are either those breeds or crosses made from those breeds.

I understand I am in a strong minority on this forum because I don't feed my chickens a lot of expensive protein. Many consider that I am abusing my chickens because of that. But my chickens lay a lot of eggs, hatch and raise chicks, and pretty much act like the chickens I grew up with. My chickens are not so large for their breed that I worry about them being able to fly up to or down from their roosts without hurting themselves because they are so big. If they need to fly to escape a predator, they can.

If you are raising your chickens for show or meat birds, by all means feed high protein. if you want to join the majority on this forum and feed high protein go ahead. That is your choice.

feeding them their eggshells.

Chickens get calcium from different sources. It is in chicken feed, some plants they eat while free ranging, some creepy crawlies they catch, and some even get it from the rocks they swallow if it happens to be limestone or other calcium rich rocks. They use calcium for body maintenance and growth whether they are laying eggs or not. Not all that they eat is absorbed, some goes through them and out the rear end. If your eggshells are OK they are getting sufficient calcium from some sources. Keep doing what you are doing. If your eggshells are thin then I'd offer oyster shell in addition to what you are doing.

Just wanting to know if there is something within the kalmbach organic 17% layer feed that would also need to be supplemented outside of additional meal worm and free ranging protein outside of their feed nutrition wise.

My concern with that is that your roosters do not need the amounts of calcium that is in your Layer. If all they were eating was that Layer it would be a high enough content that they could easily have issues further down the road. But they are not. They are free ranging and foraging. They are probably eating enough low calcium things that they are diluting the amount of calcium in that Layer so it is not likely to harm them. But I don't like "probably".

We’ve got a well producting flock and happy birds across the board, but the all flock is financially a better option.

I see nothing wrong with All-Flock. The calcium levels are probably around 1% instead of around 4% that the Layer should have. I'd consider it a healthier option. Just watch your eggshells and offer oyster shell on the side if necessary.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Also, I personally feel that oyster shell is a better option for calcium than egg shells because the more you recycle their own shells through their bodies, the less calcium those shells are going to have. I can't cite a scientific study to prove it, it just makes sense to me.

Entropy.

There are no 100% efficient cycles in nature. Feeding your birds egg shells back to them won't repalce all the calcium they are using, not only for egg formation, but also for bone repair and other biological processes. That said, the 1% +/- Ca provided by the typical non "layer" formulation will address most of that - but oyster shell is cheap, and doesn't go bad. Its inexpensive insurance against Ca deficiency.

and I watch my birds to see who most want s egg shells. WHen they all ignore the shells, I know things are fine. When one bird gobbles them up while others express curiosity/ mild interest/ or ignore, I know I have a bird with a problem.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Entropy.

There are no 100% efficient cycles in nature. Feeding your birds egg shells back to them won't repalce all the calcium they are using, not only for egg formation, but also for bone repair and other biological processes. That said, the 1% +/- Ca provided by the typical non "layer" formulation will address most of that - but oyster shell is cheap, and doesn't go bad. Its inexpensive insurance against Ca deficiency.

and I watch my birds to see who most want s egg shells. WHen they all ignore the shells, I know things are fine. When one bird gobbles them up while others express curiosity/ mild interest/ or ignore, I know I have a bird with a problem.

I learn so much from you, Storm.

 

[Debbie292d]

We feed everybody, from chicks on up, Kalmbach's Flock Maker 20%. There's oyster shell in a heavy dog dish in each coop. They get no mealworms at all, and scrambled eggs are about twice a month when we have to get rid of some eggs.

"Scratch" is Kalmbach's Henhouse Reserve, which is a layer feed they think is treats. I won't feed that to them for feed as I tried it once and they picked through it. It makes nice ferment too.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I learn so much from you, Storm.

Kind of you to say so.

 

[Sally PB]

I learn so much from you, Storm.

Me too. I think a lot of us benefit from your posts.