Longevity on a mash diet?

[steffenbsd]

I was wondering if anyone has experience raising hens to a nice old age with commercial layer mash? I have seen several articles or books mention that chickens live the longest on a commercial feed AND chickens tend to pick their favorite things out of mash, which makes one worry they aren’t getting a good mix of everything. I am curious if anyone has raised chickens to an old age on this kind of feed because my hens are pets and I would like to hit that 10+ mark with them.

I started feeding them Scratch N Peck Layer because it was nice to see them excited about food, instead of uninterested like their previous starter/grower crumbles.

Any feedback or experience would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[lazy gardener]

Layer mash is simply a different consistency. Whole grain is milled, and the amendments are added to it. It is then sold as mash. Or it is moistened, extruded into pellet form and flash dried. The pellets can then be crushed into crumble. But pellets and crumble start out as mash. so, if your birds are eating the mash well, that is just fine. Many folks moisten the mash. If I could get layer mash where I am, that is what i'd buy b/c it's a few cents cheaper than the pellet or crumble. I ferment my feed anyways, so it matters little to me what shape the feed comes in.

 

[centrarchid]

For birds I want longer life out of, I feed a higher protein diet like you get with a "flock raiser" formulation where calcium is provided as oyster shell so birds not needing it can choose not to consume it.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! My oldest birds have been nine or ten years old. There are a few chickens who live longer, but it's uncommon. Economics matter; nearly nobody selects breeding stock for longevity, because the most cost effective birds are one to two years of age, max.
Feeding a balanced diet is essential, and I agree with centrarchid that an upgrade from standard layer feed makes sense, and free ranging for the exercise and extra goodies consumed.
Free ranging greatly increases risk from predators.
High producing layers develop fatal reproductive issues often, and most hens will die at around three years of age.
If you want to continue having fresh eggs, you will need to get chicks at least every other year, because your older hens will produce many fewer eggs. Your flock will be getting bigger! That's not a bad thing!
If you plan to have a rooster and raise chicks, he can't be your only sire for ten years! My roosters mostly move elsewhere after a few years, to manage the gene pool better.
Mary

 

[steffenbsd]

Thanks for all of the great info!