Feeding for feather quality

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Ragdollcatlady

Ragdollcatlady

Chirping
8 Years
Feb 14, 2011
104
5
91
Hi all,
This is geared mostly towards Sebastapol owners/breeders/showers (is that even a word?)....I have sorted out my feeding program for all of my animals for the winter season and I think I have the best for everyone but the Sebs....With their curly feathers, do you find certain foods or grains help with sheen, strength, softness, of feathers?
My geese are currently still enjoying grass and I have some hay for when the real cold hits and the grass is gone,...but the geese still have access to the chickens laying pellet/grain mix. I am learning about adjusting my silkies feed for better feathers and want to do the same for the sebs. Any advice?
Elliot did have long super soft silky feathers before we got more geese, now some look broken....I haven't seen anyone harassing him, but I was wondering if I should adjust the grain/pellets the geese get for better results.
Thanks for any ideas/advice.
Kat
 
I don't know about Sebs, because I feed to grow hard feathers.

But I do know that protein is necessary to grow healthy feathers. That means the birds need good protein through the molt. Then a balanced diet. They must have glowing good health in order to have great plumage.

I feed flax seed, partially for nutrition and partially to shine their feathers. But I don't know if a little extra oil in Sebbie feathers would be good; maybe not.

Other than that, you are going to have to wait for one of the Seb breeders to tell you what they feed.
 
Ragdollcatlady said:
Hi all,
This is geared mostly towards Sebastapol owners/breeders/showers (is that even a word?)....I have sorted out my feeding program for all of my animals for the winter season and I think I have the best for everyone but the Sebs....With their curly feathers, do you find certain foods or grains help with sheen, strength, softness, of feathers?
My geese are currently still enjoying grass and I have some hay for when the real cold hits and the grass is gone,...but the geese still have access to the chickens laying pellet/grain mix. I am learning about adjusting my silkies feed for better feathers and want to do the same for the sebs. Any advice?
Elliot did have long super soft silky feathers before we got more geese, now some look broken....I haven't seen anyone harassing him, but I was wondering if I should adjust the grain/pellets the geese get for better results.
Thanks for any ideas/advice.
Kat
Click to expand...

I was told to feed crimped oats for growing feathers
 
whole oats, mazuri or flock raiser, BOSS, and wheat here. We have grass year round too though

and for the record dont feed gamebird feed to older goslings or adults, the protein is too high, and Sebastopols are nothing like silkie chickens in needs or feathering.
 
Last edited:
Black Oil Sunflower Seed.

I use a whole grain game mix (11%) sometimes called "Rooster Booster" or "Knockout". Its a 7 grain, mostly millet, oats, BOSS, vitamins and I forget what else before my coffee. Hardly any corn. And layer crumble. And turnip greens and carrots every day. And try to keep them on pasture as much as possible.

This is my first year with full curly birds having gone through a molt, and I am really happy with feather quality so far. We'll see if they look any better come February than they did last year. Ugh!
 
I was very happy with feathers this year, then the major storms came through and well, lets just say BAD HAIR DAY every day lately.

Amy I have seen the rooster booster in a store when we were on the road, who is the mill behind it? (purina?, nutrena?)
 
I get my feed from Faithway Feed in based in Guntersville, Alabama. They deliver to most of the co-ops and feed stores around here, but I am pretty sure they are just regional, so I can't really compare it to anything but other regional mills. I haven't been able to find anything like it at TSC.

This is what it looks like. It has a dusting of vitamins & minerals including extra niacin :



ETA: Thier site seems to be a work in progress, but you can find a dealer here: http://faithwayfeedco.com/
 
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