chook food

hallowfarm · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:39 pm **Posts:** 2

Starting out with a few chickens on the new farm and went to look at chook food only to come away confused. Is there a premium brand that breeders choose to use only that has little wastage and is healthy for the chooks to lay eggs and keep meat on them for eating. I don't care about the cost just looking for the best I can feed them.

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

thebest you can feed them , there are so many brand available , and yes it can be very confusing , till you understand high protine = production + growth [smilie=a_cookiemonster.gif]

so always go for PROTINE as your best choice , it will cost a bit more but well worth it . cheers n beers gary

oozcorpse · **Joined:** Sun Nov 04, 2007 8:15 am **Posts:** 2715

timewarp wrote:

go for PROTINE as your best choice

we cant get this one here

Roova · **Posted:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:12 am

I must say I haven't heard of that one. I did a google search and nothing. What company manufacturers it? Protein isn't spelt Protine so I'm not sure if the brand name is a deliberate misspelling or not?

I've always found the Red Hen (Laucke Mills brand) a top feed. It has a great website with a link for each of their feeds explaining when they are best used. Not the cheapest though. http://www.lauckemills.com.au/

Just so you know there is age appropriate feed available depending on the age of your chooks too. Chicken starter until roughly six weeks old, chicken (or pullet) grower until closer to laying and then layer pellets after that.

Good luck with your new chooks

timewarp · **Joined:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 2:13 pm **Posts:** 385

ok ok

i admit cann't spell should of wrote { protein } new being pulled outa school at age 12 would come back to haunt this 62yo station hand

Roova · **Posted:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:02 am

Please don't be embarrassed... :oops:

Things are spelt in such weird and wonderful ways nowadays you can never be sure if its deliberate or not.

I agree with you, protein is an important part of a hens diet (especially considering the amount of protein they need to produce an egg every day or so). You do have to be a little careful not to give too much protein when growing though because that can cause growth problems which can affect their future. Sticking with age appropriate food until laying is a pretty safe bet at least.

hallowfarm · **Joined:** Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:39 pm **Posts:** 2

So I need to look for the highest one with protien? do you have some brands in mind? thanks for helping and sorry for so many questions just want to get it right

Roova · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 10:47 am

Personally I like the Red Hen 'Blue' feed (made by Laucke Mills). Not the cheapest but if you only have a few chooks it would be worth it.

You may need to trial and error different feeds to see which your hens do well on and don't waste a lot.

You can always give your hen's protein boost when laying and moulting using bandsaw dust and cat food etc. Just remember to keep all extra food as treat only. They may fill up on this and not eat enough of the commercial feed which is balanced to keep them healthy and laying well.

Good luck

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