4-H Poultry

[Acre4Me]

Good Afternoon,

My boys raise Chickens and Turkeys for county and state fair level projects. Anyone out there came up with a great formula feed? Use Purina Show Chow, trying to cut some cost, especially for the Turkeys as it is a longer term project and more of them. Thanks in advance.

Are they showing for breed type or as meat birds? In OH, the chicken 4-H categories are: meat, breed-type, egg-laying. I'm not familiar with the turkey portion of 4-H. If showing for meat category, the weight and muscle development matter, not so much beautiful feathers. Of course higher competition at the state level.

 

[rjohns39]

BTW
Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[jaxkids2]

What part of the world are you in?

ohio

 

[jaxkids2]

Are they showing for breed type or as meat birds? In OH, the chicken 4-H categories are: meat, breed-type, egg-laying. I'm not familiar with the turkey portion of 4-H. If showing for meat category, the weight and muscle development matter, not so much beautiful feathers. Of course higher competition at the state level.

Meat for sure!!!
broad breasted white turkeys, and broiler chickens

 

[jaxkids2]

BTW
Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

Thanks so much

 

[rjohns39]

Best of luck with your birds and try to stay warm.

 

[Acre4Me]

Meat for sure!!!
broad breasted white turkeys, and broiler chickens

Then protein is what you need.

I just checked out the Purina Show feeds webpage. They give a very distinct feeding regimen for meat broilers and turkeys. For the Broilers, they indicate 30% protein first week. Then via blending between their feeds, using 28% week 2, 26% week 3, 23% week 4, finishing with 22% protein feed. The fat contents are higher as well: 5%, 6.5%, and 6% fat among their show poultry feeds.

If you are looking to spend less, then getting turkey starter and/or game bird feed may be a good solution. Adding fat can be done fairly easily, and adding protein can be done via meal worms or similar. Game bird feed might be the only complete feed that goes as high as 30% without getting into the show poultry feeds. I'm in OH too, and Hubbard feeds (OH produced) does make a game bird feed, but can't remember % protein (might be 28 - 30%). Others make game bird feed, but I've only purchased Hubbard game bird.

Lastly, your source of bird will matter as some lines are meatier than others. Whats the line source of the past few winners?

 

[Mosey2003]

I would source some turkey/gamebird starter too and see how the prices compare. You can cut it with lower protein chick starter for the chickens, or even grind corn to cut it. In my area I can get 28% turkey starter for $17/bag (50lbs) and 16-18% chick starter is about $12 I think. You can use a Pearson's square to figure out the ratios.
Pearson's Square Protein Calculation - Calculate Needed Feed Protein