Chicken Feeds and Feeding

How is everyone's 2015 going? I hope that the first 4 days of the year have treated everyone well :) 
I know our first 4 days have been a huge, rainy, swampy mess, but everyone is healthy and happy! And we even invited 2 more to the flock. They are a pair of Old English Game Bantams. We still have to think of names, but I am very happy to have them. If anyone has any name suggestions feel free to comment them below! 

I wanted to talk about feeds and feeding today. Something very basic to caring for chickens, but a very important topic. I feel like there are many different ways to feed a flock, and I am by no means a professional or a vet. I can't even consider myself an expert. I am only someone who cares deeply for my chickens and tries very hard to keep them as healthy as possible. I know we all feed our flocks differently, but I just wanted to give everyone a look into how I feed my own flock. If anyone has any suggestions, or ideas, or even any new info to share with me, always feel free to give a comment. 

When I first got chickens, I only had chicks and feeding was pretty easy then. Chick starter and chick grit for whenever I let out on grass or gave them anything other than starter. Chicks need constant access to chick starter/grower for the first 16-18 weeks. However, when my flock began to grow I went back and started to do more research. I started to buy 3 different feeds every trip to the co-op: chick starter, layer feed, and scratch. I personally choose Purina Start & Grow, Layena, and Scratch Grains because there is no rendered animal fat in the ingredients. While I do understand chickens are not vegetarians, I also do not want rendered animal fats in my flock's feed so I choose feeds without it and the chickens get their animal proteins from their free ranging. 

However, after going back and doing more research on the long term effects of roosters consuming excess calcium, I changed up my flock's feed once again. My chicks, pullets, and cockerels still get non-medicated start & grow and the whole flock still receives scratch grains here and there, but now the hens and roosters receive Purina's flock raiser with 20% protein. Even though they free range, I do like the higher percent protein the flock raiser has as well as the lower calcium levels for my roos. 

Hens, on the other hand, do need the added calcium for egg production. I don't really worry about this too much since the hens do free range, but I still offer crushed, dried egg shells to them. They can pick at these as much as they need. I have yet to have a hen have a soft or misshapen egg. 

The only time I offer the flock grit is to chicks that have been fed anything other than chick starter. Sometimes I will offer them yogurt or apple sauce or some sprouts/veggie scraps and I always mix a little grit in their chick feed when I do this. The rest of the flock free ranges at least 10 hours a day and pick up what grit they need during their free ranging. 

I also often give the flock veggie scraps, fresh veggies that I buy just for them, yogurt, oatmeal, and other treats here and there. Often when looking for food, buying food, or throwing food out(that isn't moldy or gross) I think to myself, "can the chickens eat this?" The answer is usually yes and they always have a nice pig out session. 

Backyardchickens.com has a great treat chart that helps when asking if food is safe for the chickens or not. I often refer back to it if I have any concerns. 

My chickens have yet to go through a molt yet. I think my flock is too young, but I'll jump that hurdle when we come to it. So far they have all remained active with nice shiny feathers and dark combs and wattles. My hens haven't had any troubles with egg production or soft/misshapen shells, and my roos stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. 

I always keep fresh water for them, and often add poly-vi-sol(baby vitamins found at walmart) to my chick's water for added vitamins. Here lately I have done a lot of research into apple cider vinegar and I believe I may start adding that to the flock's water. 

I hope this helps give everyone a look into what I feed my flock. Again, if you have any suggestions/questions/comments always feel free to comment below or comment/DM me on instagram @thepoopcoop

And again, HAPPY 2015!