What Layer Feed I Actually Use With My Backyard Chickens... And Why!

[@richardhille3949]

I started out with a bungee cord holding down my metal trash can chicken feed container. The squirrels gnawed through the cord and the raccoons would open the can at night ( I swear they work together like some rodent street gang!). My remedy was to use a long spring that is used to close screen doors to hold down the lid. Gnaw proof and, from what I could tell on my game cam footage, when raccoons pulled on the spring it would snap back and pinch their little “fingers”. DISCLAIMER: in the past 4 years, no raccoons, possums or any other pest has been hurt or fatally injured with this spring contraption.

[@realsimplemama]

I’ve wondered why no one has chewed through my bungees. I think I got lucky and the animals didn’t know what was in there to begin with. The spring is a clever idea! Thanks for taking the time to teach us. ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@beverlymichael5830]

I have been sticking with Grubblies fresh pecks. I also get an organic feed to ferment feed for them daily. It’s not as expensive but organic for fermenting. I stopped buying purina due to half dust in the bag and some moldy bags too. With fermenting feed daily they don’t eat as much of the expensive grubby crumbles.

[@lisakellett3366]

Purchased our first 4 chicks and purchased the Purina medicated chick starter & grower. Found grain weevils in it so I went to another feed store and purchased another bag. Same thing! I called Purina to report it and ask why are they in there and I was told it was not stored properly. I also asked them how do I read the expiration date. They said they used the Julian code. I gave her my code and she said it expired last year and not to feed it to them. I told her that my other bag is expired also then after learning how to read it. So I called a third store and asked if they could tell me the code on the Purina starter feed and their bags are also expired last year, actually older than my two bags. I switched brands. Two of my chicks were experiencing loose stools and pasty butt. After two days on a new feed and Hydo hen they are so much better. Thank you for your videos!

[@realsimplemama]

Oh my gosh! That’s so ridiculous I’m sorry. I’m glad they taught you how to read the code but that still feels so negligent. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@kwiknkleen]

We use Purina layena and have had no problem. We switch to feather fixer when they are molting. Thanks for the info. We give our girls grubblies as well. Didn’t know they had feed.

[@lobo1368]

Ty for your advice😊

[@kristyrisner3406]

Thanks for the info! I’m looking for affordable feed right now. Those are good options.

[@realsimplemama]

I don’t think I clarified well - kalmbach (like most companies) have different lines of feed. I have only tried their basic one but they have a “Hen Reserve” and other ones too! Just to give you a few more middle of the line options. ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@daranall4949]

Omg please do a senior hen video. Love your information and logic. We have roosters and all ages in our flock so it limits it to flock raiser types of feed. We use chewy to deliver when we can't get to the local feed store. Thanks for making these videos

[@margaretespinoza4492]

My horse eat's Purina senior feed and I fund a grass hoper in the bag once. That was the only time anything like has happened to me with animal feed.

[@realsimplemama]

That’s not bad at all! A little extra crunch 🤪

[@evelynrogers7145]

Here in Indiana snowing and cold

[@barbarabeard6017]

Just found you a few days ago and just subscribed. I love how much you pack into a short video! I'm about ready to dive into my first chickens, almost start to finish. I have a metal shed on the back patio, probably a gardener shed that I inherited when I bought the house. I'm going to use that for the coop. My issue I'm hoping you can help me with. I live in the desert. 120° and more in the summertime. Very hot probably 4 months and stretching into six months out of the year. Any suggestions for keeping the shed cool?

[@realsimplemama]

Hey! Glad you found me. 😎 You definitely have some options and I am so glad you’re figuring all this out before you have chickens! I have lots of ideas but let’s do this - can you email me and send me a good photo (one of outside and one of inside)? That way I can help you more specifically. But lots of ideas from ventilation to insulation and solar powered fans. ✌🏻❤️🐓 [e-mail]

[@stevenbrogdon3074]

I love your videos. They are so unpretentious.

[@realsimplemama]

Lol! Thank you ✌🏻❤️🐓 I never claim to be smart, just a heart who loves to help. But I appreciate the compliment!

[@crazydaisyminds3597]

What would you recommend for 1 teen roo and 5 teen hens and 4 adult hens?

[@realsimplemama]

Hey! If the teen hens are fully feathered and prepping to lay eggs then they could all be on a layer feed. The rooster would do best on a barnyard mix but I THINK he’d be ok on the layer feed too. (If the teen hens are still not close to laying age, they and the young roo should be on a grower feed still, in my opinion.) ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@kellyraner1608]

I ferment scratch and peck mash a few times a week, but overall, mine have done the best in terms of health and egg production with Nutrena feeds as their regular daily feed. I had a bad experience with the purina as well, but I haven't liked into the omega product. I'll have to peek!

[@realsimplemama]

Ooh thank you! I’ll look into yours too! Where do you get your Nutrena? ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@kellyraner1608]

@@realsimplemama tractor supply!

[@celestialnavigator63]

Chicken Tender Lol! My God I have heard it all now hahahahahahahahaaaaa

[@tiffnickk]

I just had my RIR start laying at 20 weeks old. Shes the only one so far out or our flock of 6 hens. But i still had half a bag of starter feed! In my feed can put a bottom layer just layer pellets, and then mixed the other 2/3 of the can with about half starter, half layer. But I’m stressed now that she’s not getting enough nutrition! Should I change what I’ve done? Or add something else for her? Or am I ok for a couple weeks? Just trying to find the balance between taking care of her and not wasting food.

[@realsimplemama]

Hi! I totally get it. She’s going to be fine - you can definitely buy calcium separately to leave in a little cup (just don’t mix it with the food). She may not have super strong shells in the beginning but I honestly did the same thing and it’ll all work out ok. ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@balfourwheatley6644]

Kalmbach!

[@SureHowDoYouKnow]

Hi RSM!!! Have you ever tried Scratch and Peck Layer Feed? What are your thoughts on that?

[@realsimplemama]

Hi! No I haven’t, i feel like because money continues to be tight, I’m leery of trying out new brands. I do feel like quite a few people in SATX like it though! ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@stevenbrogdon3074]

My girls love Scratch and Peck layer. It’s an awesome mix of grains and other good bits. It is agreeable expensive compared to other foods, but if you ferment it like I do it goes twice as far.

[@realsimplemama]

Thanks for your feedback! I’ll keep that in mind too.

[@SureHowDoYouKnow]

@@stevenbrogdon3074 How do you do that?

[@stevenbrogdon3074]

@@SureHowDoYouKnow kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXjEXqOwrcelqpo

[@janiemelgoza166]

I noticed that I don’t see any flies?? Do you just feed the chickens of the ground or in a container?

[@realsimplemama]

Hi! Flies aren’t usually an issue because I keep the ground agitated so poop breaks down quickly. And I keep the coop out almost every day with a dollar store cat litter scoop which takes about two minutes! Otherwise I think having lots of plants helps out too. ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@michaelelliott3153]

Hello fellow San Antonio resident. More local feed, do you have any thoughts on Jupes Mills? Thanks for the videos!

[@realsimplemama]

Hey! Yes! I have never been there but our local chicken gang loooove Jupe Mills. I will say they were having those same issues with feed (mealy bugs, mold etc.) within the last year so just be vigilant on checking out your stuff. I need to go check it out! ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@michaelelliott3153]

@@realsimplemama Thank you for all your great video! I have only had one time where there were bugs in the feed from Jupe Mills, but I have only been doing this for about 2 1/2 years. Now with the price of eggs, I am glad I gave this a go. Was home a lot due to the pandemic, so it was fun for me and the kids. Thanks again.

[@MJYouAreNotAlone1]

Hey Sara, at what age do I stop giving starter feed at what age do I stop giving grower feed and how do I keep my new chicks food separate from my grown hands when I integrate them?🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️ I am praying you can help me with this. I am very nervous about how to accomplish this. I’m not really certain what age I should introduce my new chicks to my four grown hens. I have one bantam and three Brahmas the babies are about six weeks old. but I am actually guessing because Tractor supply did not know how old they are.😔😔😔😔😫😫😫😫😫 is it detrimental if they’re on the wrong food for a couple of weeks? Thank you in advance for any of your help and God bless you.🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@realsimplemama]

Hi! Feel free to email me and we can talk more easily. But I would start to mix the chick feed with grower feed to transition them, and then once they’re teenagers start gradually switching over to layer feed. But when in doubt I say keep them on the younger one. And you’re right, you can’t really keep one away from the other when you put them all together. I wouldn’t rush to introduce them to the full grown hens as it’ll be more of a bullying problem when the younger ones are still much smaller. ✌🏻❤️🐓

[@joyadams507]

Do you have any problems with the feed sweating in those cans?

[@realsimplemama]

Nope! And I’ve used them for years, also for bird seed and other materials. It’ll get hot but I don’t feel that it affects the feed at all. ✌🏻❤️🐓