Chicken/egg question

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On Health Ranger Reports today, he said one of his top priorities is going to buy some chicken feed from his Tractor Supply and run an analysis in his lab. He did bring up a good maybe though. Remember when we had shipping issues on the Mississippi River when the water levels were too low. If grain set for a long period of time it could have produced bacteria and if used would cause problems. Not saying that is what happened, but I will keep an ear out what he discovers.
 
Some of you may recall (or may not), back in summer I posted I was frustrated with TS chicken feed ..having to return bags of feed I bought due to it was moldy...I made several trips back returning moldy chicken feed...that I figured sat far too long somewhere in a warehouse or wherever to be delivered. I got to where I made them open the bags in the store to check before I took them...one trip we went through about 5 bags in store before getting to one that wasn't covered in green mold..
 
I actually found my prior post...it was on August 30, 2022. I deleted most of the post cause I was bitching about a number of things in that post. Also, you will see I'm a hipocrit, cause obviously..I did not refuse to buy from them again...but hopefully I have now learned lesson! The following was my post from that date regarding the chicken feed issue:

8/30/22 "Btw, this year has sucked with quality of laying pellets. Multiple times this year I've had to take back bags of laying pellets to tractor supply and finally got to where I made them open the bags in the store and look before I brought it home, open bag and the feed is green, moldy all through, and chunks of smashed together green clumps, where it appears humidity got to it. They went through 5 bags in the store one day to find one that wasn't moldy last time I made them check before I bought it. Larry picked a bag up 2 days ago and he just takes off shelf and brings it home. I was getting can full out yesterday and same thing....green down in bag! Also, a lot of ground up pellets in the bag, like filler, just pale looking, dusty pellets! I said I was gonna stop buying chicken feed at TS but the local independent hardware/feed store new owners (which normally I would support fully) are such *******s, I refuse to buy from them anymore."
 

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Temps down to about 20°F/ -7°F here the last few days and the ladies are still laying eggs regularly. We changed the hay in the coop out for hand cut grass from summertime we have kept dry till now in plastic bags in the pigpen. A lot lighter and fluffier so it should be a bit warmer in there. The light rope also heats a bit and keeps the coop over freezing temps as the water does not freeze even when it was minus degrees outside.
 
I use cooked rice each day. And lately a cornbread that I make...got the meal for 75 cents for 5 lbs because it just expired, so bought 50 lbs of it. Adding old protein powder I have to it, and outdated applesauce, and then bake a big pan each day. Also sprouted sunflower seed once a week. Our chickens help with our food rotation sometimes.
 
We're getting up to 3 eggs a day now from the new hens, even in zero temps. It's about time they start putting out.
We've been feeding Nutrina pellets for several years, never had a problem. There's a couple local feed mills where we can buy feed in bulk. We'll try them out this spring. Our chickens free range so we don't feed very much from spring to fall (May to October).
 
I think I'm gonna hath off several batches of eggs just because everyone is trying to get chickens right now and I get way more eggs than we can use or give away. If y'all need any eggs or chicks let me know. Can't say much for the quality, but nobody beats the price. Seriously, they will be fine. If they die on you , you're only out what you feed them.
 
I'm gonna have to break over and get a rooster or two I suppose...not taking changes on what other problems getting chickens may lie ahead..no idea what best breed is to get...I've got a wide variety of breeds of hens..

I'm getting a rooster from my aunt. It's a rhodeisland red, she has several different breed of hens and it does fine with all of them.
 
I'm gonna have to break over and get a rooster or two I suppose...not taking changes on what other problems getting chickens may lie ahead..no idea what best breed is to get...I've got a wide variety of breeds of hens..

If I were you, I would go for a rooster that forages well and produces chicks with a high feed to egg ratio. That would be a RI Red! My favorite hens are Barred Rocks, but haven’t bought any in several years. The reason is because they consume too much feed per egg they lay.

Currently have Golden Comets and these girls have not missed a beat! They all lay an egg daily! Their feed consumption is small. The only negative to them is they seriously do not lay longer than 2 to 2 1/2 years.
 
If I were you, I would go for a rooster that forages well and produces chicks with a high feed to egg ratio. That would be a RI Red! My favorite hens are Barred Rocks, but haven’t bought any in several years. The reason is because they consume too much feed per egg they lay.

Currently have Golden Comets and these girls have not missed a beat! They all lay an egg daily! Their feed consumption is small. The only negative to them is they seriously do not lay longer than 2 to 2 1/2 years.
Do you have separate meat chickens? I can't remember anything about Golden Comets, but man RIR roos always seem so dang mean! I haven't braved them in our flock.
 

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