What is breeder pellets?

[sandy sea]

I have been feeding my chickens lay pellets for about two years now. Yesterday went to feed store to buy lay pellets and the lady said she ordered lay pellet but got breeder pellets. She said it had more protein than lay pellets. I did not buy it, and ended up going to another feed store. What is the difference and is it OK for my Chickens?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

What she probably meant to say was broiler pellets, for meat birds.

 

[Chris09]

For the most part Breeder ration should be higher in protein and in some vitamins and minerals than layer ration.The higher protein, vitamins and minerals is to help with fertility and better hatch.


Chris

 

[Ridgerunner]

It should also contain extra calcium for good egg shells. You can use it for layers but it should cost a bit more. People who produce hatching eggs use it but the slight increase you get in hatch rate probably is not worth it for our small operations.

 

[speckledhen]

I sometimes use breeder feed for my birds that I have separated to sell hatching eggs from, but it would be fine to feed them breeder pellets all the time, but is much more expensive, so I only run maybe one bag through every month.