Jerky birds don't like their dinner any more

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BBQJOE

BBQJOE

Songster
Sep 25, 2015
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Void where prohibited.
I have two groups of birds, the RIR's (8) (the jerky birds) and 3 Americaunas (the three Amigas)

I give them a large portion of a layer/grower combo in the morning (6 ish) then around noon or so I'll hang some decent lettuce (not iceberg) or cabbage or summer squash fairly high for their daily calisthenics.
Then around dinner time I give them a few handfuls of water soaked alfalfa pellets, then a few minutes before locking them down at dark, I feed them some scratch so they don't go to bed with an empty craw.

The past few evenings they could not care any less about the alfalfa. Are the daytime veggies good enough to call roughage?
Any thoughts?
 
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Male sure they have a feeder full of grower (available at any feed store or TSC ) free choice. Its a fully balanced meal and very good for them. They need the feed more than any treats you give them.
 
No I didn't "miss" it. You said you give it at 6ish. Does the feeder stay full all day or do they only get a set amount? And honestly you wouldn't be the first person to try raising birds feed free. I wasn't being snide I was trying to be helpful.
 
Well, I didn't miss the part about the grower, but I still agree with Chicken girl. That sounds like a lot of extras during the course of one day. That kind of stuff should only be about 10% of their diet. I don't think it's a big deal if they stopped eating the soaked alfalfa at the end of the day with all the other food they are getting. If you really feel like you need to feed them that many treats, you can probably give them some chopped apples or something for a change, but I'd skip the alfalfa altogether if they're turning their noses up at it. I like the grower feeding at 6 and I'm sure they're ready for a good breakfast. But another small, bedtime portion of grower might be better for them healthwise, with treats as just that - occasional treats. Just my opinion, you understand. I've learned the hard way that overfed hens don't produce eggs as well as those who are kept at optimum weight.
 
I feed my chickens as I feed my family. Balanced diet with extras a few times a week. I have 18 layers and 8 of them are giving eggs daily. The rest are not at age yet. The key to optimize the laying is feed the best. Grower offered at all times or layer is the best way to get healthy burds.
 
Chicken girl 15 said:
I feed my chickens as I feed my family. Balanced diet with extras a few times a week. I have 18 layers and 8 of them are giving eggs daily. The rest are not at age yet. The key to optimize the laying is feed the best. Grower offered at all times or layer is the best way to get healthy burds.
Click to expand...
I feed my birds to keep them healthy, I also feed them treats for my own entertainment. I probably spend at least two hours a day sitting with my birds.
This isn't the first flock I've raised. But it is the first flock I've raised with access to the wonderful world of the world wide webs.

My last flock I fed layer in the morning, and scratch all day, and had eggs coming out of my ears.

We'll see how this batch goes.

Tonight I skipped the alfalfa, and they were happy with some wet mash.
 
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Hi Blooie,
I started a post to you, got a phone call, had a couple of tonics plus, and now I forgot what I was going to post as I was closing pages.
I like your info, and stuff, and will probably get back to you.
 

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