Walt, DaveK , Jim, Aveca, Dr. Miller,...
I am very curious as to what the best grown show Orps are fed.I think that this is a thread that we could all use
.
When I got SL Wyandotte LF from Herb Holtz he insisted that I hatch in cold weather, and feed a lot of whole grains. Herb ate his culls, and told me that he test fed 2 groups of Wyandottes. One group got cracked grains, and one group got whole grains, heavy on the oats. Both groups got identical starter and grower, plus free range. Herb told me that when dressed out, the whole grains birds had much bigger body size and gizzards than the ones on scratch.
I followed his advice, and was able to keep size on SL Wyandottes raised in Georgia. I hatched in cold weather too, so they would eat more to keep warm. How many people know that a chicken stays warm by what is hard to digest, rather like a cow or a goat? The crop is acting like a fermentation vat providing heat. So mine get whole corn ,oats, and wheat in the winter, but just as a treat in the summer. The opposite of this is that the tiny show bantams cannot survive without heat in the North. Not enough body mass.Bantams brought North eventually produce larger bantams unless kept in heated quarters.
Anybody want to weigh in on this thread? I think it would be most helpful to all.
Vickie
Edited by thedragonlady - 5/4/12 at 4:06am
50 years breeding and showing standard bred poultry . ABA Life Member #7, and Master Exhibitor. SOP "Heritage" and Imported English Buff Orpington Large Fowl. The " Living Sunshine Girls." NPIP TP # 56-450. No eggs, or day olds
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Too hot to ship. Juveniles this fall. Contact me if interested. I don't hatch many.
50 years breeding and showing standard bred poultry . ABA Life Member #7, and Master Exhibitor. SOP "Heritage" and Imported English Buff Orpington Large Fowl. The " Living Sunshine Girls." NPIP TP # 56-450. No eggs, or day olds
"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" Too hot to ship. Juveniles this fall. Contact me if interested. I don't hatch many.
