Can I give my layer chickens broiler feed? I received a bag of broiler instead of layer feed.

[bahamabanty]

Goodafternoon I need some advice. I live on an island and I ordered layer feed but they send me a bag of broiler feed instead. (of a feedmill in the mainland)
Can I feed this to my layers safely for the next few months? Its a 100lbs bag. Or should I get rid of this bag.
If its safe, will they still lay if I do? Are they going to get bulky?

 

[pdirt]

Yes, you can feed them that. You just want to supplement them with some calcium on the side, such as recycled eggshells or crushed oyster shells. Or whatever shellfish you may have on your island, that can be broken down into tiny pieces might work. Crushed crab shell or shrimp shells would work. I think crushed clam shells might be too hard, but I could be wrong on that. If you find you are getting thin shells on your eggs, you'll need to find a better source of calcium. Lots of people use crushed oyster shells because they work so well.

Ps, we do this with our own mixed laying flock...feed 20% broiler and shells on the side. Works great. I'm told you might get maximum egg-laying by using an actual layer feed, but I haven't experimented enough to know. We have three roosters that we intend to keep so we don't want them getting too much calcium by feeding the whole flock layer feed.

 

[bahamabanty]

Oh awesome! I can get plenty of shells and crab shells here. I will keep this bag then. Thanks so much.

 

[Den in Penn]

Crab and shrimp shells are made of proteins and really don't have the calcium that oyster and clam shells, which are based on calcium for their structure.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Crab and shrimp shells are made of proteins and really don't have the calcium that oyster and clam shells, which are based on calcium for their structure.

X2
Plus they'll have to be crushed in some way to make them chicken bite sized.
As is the case with anything slightly large and hard like carrots or broccoli stalks. Chickens don't have hands or teeth.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

X3 oyster really is best. I also feed back crushed egg shell, they love it!

 

[bahamabanty]

What about milk powder, someone recommended me milk powder.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Milk powder would be a good source of animal protein in small quantities. Oyster shell, being large particle, spends more time in the upper digestive tract thereby making contact with the calcium absorption sites at night when the egg is in the shell gland.
http://www.nutrecocanada.com/docs/s...-formation-and-eggshell-quality-in-layers.pdf

 

[bahamabanty]

Ok, thanks!

 

[pdirt]

Crab and shrimp shells are made of proteins and really don't have the calcium that oyster and clam shells, which are based on calcium for their structure.

Ok, good to know! I was misinformed.