Is this suitable for laying hens?

[EmmaDonovan]

NOPE.

Too much calcium for pullets. Long term health consequences.

Not nearly enough methionine for growing birds. Its actually significantly below the roughly 40 year old recommendation for adult laying hens (whose nutritional needs are less, and who suffer much less consequence from brief periods of nutritionally inferior feed). Low methionine is a consistent narrative in Organic feeds. One of the reasons synthetic Met inclusions is allowed for feeds carrying the Organic label. Looks like their base grains are so low in both that even adding the maximum amount allowed by law, its still sub-par. Soy Meal is one of the best plant sources for Methionine at reasonable price. Corn Gluten meal, too. So when you see Organic, Soy-Free, Corn-free its a safe bet that the feed will almost certainly be Met deficient. Again, long term health consequences.

Lys is fine. Not spectacular, but fine. Phosphorus is acceptable. I prefer a little higher, but considered acceptable at those levels.

Next, something you will rarely hear me say. Fat levels are low. I've not done the calculations, but mental math suggests that's a low energy feed - its intended for kept (caged or densely packed) birds with limited freedom of movement. It has its purpose. But a chicken will eat anything in its environment to meet its metabolic energy needs first. If they can't get those calories (to use a human nutrition term) elsewhere, they will eat more feed to make up for the lack, increasing your costs.

Finally, that's (should be obvious, its a layer formulation) a feed intended for adult production hens. Not roosters, not "dual purpose" birds you want to get big for the eventual stew pot, certainly not Cx, Rangers, or similar, and probably not optimum for "vanity" birds like frizzles or Yokohama (speculating here - there are no good nutritional studies on these birds, but given the content of feathers, and their unique feathering...)

I wouldn't use that feed for producing eggs for consumption from adult production hens (RSL like your Isa Browns, Leghorns, BSL, RI/NH Reds, etc), and I certainly wouldn't use it to produce eggs for hatching - you can reasonably anticipate that will negatively affect viability.

My opinion. Hope its sufficiently clear?

p.s. as a largely pea and wheat based feed, you can expect relatively pale yolks, as well. (purely cosmetic, but it matters to some)

Uh oh, my feed has more calcium than that. What are the long term consequences?

What's the optimal amount of methionine?

 

[NatJ]

Too much calcium for pullets. Long term health consequences.

You are talking about pullets that are not yet laying, correct?
And it would be fine after they start laying?

If "pullet" is any female chicken under 1 year old, they could be laying already (need as much calcium as any other actively laying chicken) or they could still be little downy fluffballs (should not have that much calcium), or anything in between.

 

[NatJ]

Uh oh, my feed has more calcium than that. What are the long term consequences?

What age birds are you feeding it to?

Long term consequences range from too small to notice up through kidney damage and actual death (likely from the kidney damage.) It depends on the age of the birds eating it, and what level of calcium they are actually getting, plus individual variation among different chickens. Very young chicks are more likely to have trouble than older chickens, and higher calcium is more likely to cause trouble than medium levels of calcium.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

What age birds are you feeding it to?

Long term consequences range from too small to notice up through kidney damage and actual death (likely from the kidney damage.) It depends on the age of the birds eating it, and what level of calcium they are actually getting, plus individual variation among different chickens. Very young chicks are more likely to have trouble than older chickens, and higher calcium is more likely to cause trouble than medium levels of calcium.

^^^ exactly this.

I have a longer post. Maybe this one or this one. But essentially, the above.

I'll respond to the rest either after work tonight or later in the week.

 

[EmmaDonovan]

What age birds are you feeding it to?

Long term consequences range from too small to notice up through kidney damage and actual death (likely from the kidney damage.) It depends on the age of the birds eating it, and what level of calcium they are actually getting, plus individual variation among different chickens. Very young chicks are more likely to have trouble than older chickens, and higher calcium is more likely to cause trouble than medium levels of calcium.

They're a year old. Hens only, no rooster. S&P 18% layer pellets.

Crude Protein Min 18.0%
Calcium Min 3.9%
Calcium Max 4.9%
Lysine Min 0.8%
Phosphorus Min 0.5%
Methionine Min 0.3%
Salt Min 0.2%
Crude Fat Min 3.0%
Salt Max 0.7%
Crude Fiber Max 6.0%
Sodium Max 0.2%
Ash Max 15.5%

 

[EmmaDonovan]

^^^ exactly this.

I have a longer post. Maybe this one or this one. But essentially, the above.

I'll respond to the rest either after work tonight or later in the week.

I was trying to find an article or something, thank you for these.

 

[NatJ]

They're a year old. Hens only, no rooster. S&P 18% layer pellets.

Crude Protein Min 18.0%
Calcium Min 3.9%
Calcium Max 4.9%
Lysine Min 0.8%
Phosphorus Min 0.5%
Methionine Min 0.3%
Salt Min 0.2%
Crude Fat Min 3.0%
Salt Max 0.7%
Crude Fiber Max 6.0%
Sodium Max 0.2%
Ash Max 15.5%

If they are actively laying, I would not expect too much trouble from that level of calcium.

I'll let @U_Stormcrow weigh in with more details when he's got time.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

If they are actively laying, I would not expect too much trouble from that level of calcium.

I'll let @U_Stormcrow weigh in with more details when he's got time.

Correct. If they are actively laying, not an issue.

My initial response was while sipping my first cup of coffee (OK - slugging it) as I rushed off to work. I saw "pullet" but read "adolescent female chicken prior to point of lay". Sorry for the confusion caused.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

They're a year old. Hens only, no rooster. S&P 18% layer pellets.

Crude Protein Min 18.0%
Calcium Min 3.9%
Calcium Max 4.9%
Lysine Min 0.8%
Phosphorus Min 0.5%
Methionine Min 0.3%
Salt Min 0.2%
Crude Fat Min 3.0%
Salt Max 0.7%
Crude Fiber Max 6.0%
Sodium Max 0.2%
Ash Max 15.5%

Fine

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

UPDATE: I decided to go with the Scratch & Peck organic layer pellets for now.