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Can I feed my meat birds layer crumbles....?

post #1 of 16
Thread Starter 

I have layers and I feed them Dumor 16% layer crumbles...I will be doing about 4 batches of 3 Cornish X in my backyard during the spring and summer and was wondering instead of buying two different types of feed can I just feed the Cornish X the Dumor 16% layer crumbles?

(9) Barred Plymouth Rocks
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(9) Barred Plymouth Rocks
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post #2 of 16

Nope.

 

Layer feed is too low in protein and much, much too high in calcium.

 

 

Practicing Sustainable Agriculture At The 45th Parallel

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Practicing Sustainable Agriculture At The 45th Parallel

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post #3 of 16

What do you feed them?

post #4 of 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by dandydoodle View Post

What do you feed them?



They make several good starter rations on the market today.

NPIP # 3175
Asil, Bantam Asil, Madagascar Game, Black and Blue NNs, and pigeons
Custom leathercraft with poultry design.

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NPIP # 3175
Asil, Bantam Asil, Madagascar Game, Black and Blue NNs, and pigeons
Custom leathercraft with poultry design.

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post #5 of 16

I feed my meat birds a pork "meat maker" that is 26%.  They love it.

 

Living in the Sierras, raising chickens, groovin' on alpacas, growing food, loving my fabulous husband, and closer than ever to living my ideal dream!

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Living in the Sierras, raising chickens, groovin' on alpacas, growing food, loving my fabulous husband, and closer than ever to living my ideal dream!

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post #6 of 16

I fed mine FlockRaiser from Purina.  

Stephanie-Homeschool mom to one, 1 Sheltie, 3 Ragdolls, 1 EE, 1Cochin, 1 Welsummer, 1 Cuckoo Maran, 1 Brahma, 1 Red Star, 1 Barred Rock, 1 GLW.

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Stephanie-Homeschool mom to one, 1 Sheltie, 3 Ragdolls, 1 EE, 1Cochin, 1 Welsummer, 1 Cuckoo Maran, 1 Brahma, 1 Red Star, 1 Barred Rock, 1 GLW.

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post #7 of 16

I start with one 50# bag of non-medicated start & grow then I change to Flock Raiser for the remainder of their life.  I did this with a flock of 25 and a flock of 14.

post #8 of 16

Since you are already using Dumor brand you can get their starter which is 24% protein. I am rotating between that and Flock Raiser (which is 20%  protein).  Don't go less than 20% though. My meaties that are only 1 week old are at an average 7 ozs now! 

Tricia
50+ chickens, 35+ ducks (welsh harlequin, rouen, black swedish, pekin), 1 pony (Charlotte), 3 dogs(Sonny,Daisy and Jack), 4 cats(Diamond,Frosty,Holly and Sheldon), 3 rabbits, 1 very understanding hubby (21 years so far!) and 4 kids. Emily 14, Amanda 10, Samuel 7 and James 4.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion

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Tricia
50+ chickens, 35+ ducks (welsh harlequin, rouen, black swedish, pekin), 1 pony (Charlotte), 3 dogs(Sonny,Daisy and Jack), 4 cats(Diamond,Frosty,Holly and Sheldon), 3 rabbits, 1 very understanding hubby (21 years so far!) and 4 kids. Emily 14, Amanda 10, Samuel 7 and James 4.

A chicken crossing the road is poultry in motion

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post #9 of 16

I fed my laying mash right along with my laying flock.  I feel the increased calcium may have just been the best thing for them under the circumstances~increased liquid loss from constant diarrhea causes a loss of valuable electrolytes, one of which is calcium.  Calcium is needed for proper muscle function and what do most CX die from?  Heart failure under stress.  What is the most prevalent problem CX have with mobility?  Increased growth rate causes too heavy a bird on too weak of bones...which can be better strengthened by additional calcium in the diet.  Muscle weakness is also contributed to calcium loss, along with the other needed electrolytes. 

 

Imagine you were spending your whole life, from day one, squirting liquid feces.  You would be weakened, prone to muscle dysfunction from your electrolyte loss, prone to heart rhythm changes from the loss in proper muscle function and tonicity, add to this the decreased mobility caused by these weakened muscles and the increased weight from overeating and immobility.  You'd be a mess.  High calcium would be the least of your worries.  I'd be more worried about the high protein intake.

 

Which I was.  So the lower protein percentages of the layer mash was the perfect solution. 

 

I had very healthy birds that continued to forage up to 11 wks when they were processed and yielded healthy carcass weights and healthy organs. 

If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to knowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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If you died tonight, where would you spend eternity?  Please think about it. 

Info we all need to knowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDDGl79x4Pc&feature=my_favorites&list=FLIvzTTPS3Bg-qsbs8VPh__Q


 

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post #10 of 16

sure you can. The calcium won't make a bit of difference in the long run because you're going to butcher them before the long run gets here ;) what you will notice is a slower rate of gain due to the lower protein content, which also has it's advantages because that often leads to fewer losses due to flip. just plan on feeding them for an extra couple of weeks to reach the same size they would on the higher protein feed.

Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,
At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. JW
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Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can,
At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can. JW
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