4th Annual BYC NYD Hatch-a-long

[ronott1]

Quote: The calcium blows out their kidneys.

parakeet and other grits in the pet store has calcium in it too. You are supposed to switch them to grower during the molting season and for Roosters. When a hen is not laying eggs, the calcium in the feed can hurt their kidneys too. The problem where I live is that the feed stores stop carrying grower during the winter, so I have to special order it.

I like the idea of using Grower and leaving extra calcium out for the ones that want it.
Could eating layer and calcium chips in the coop do the same thing to a ROO?
Yes, but it takes a long time. It is not recommended to use layer with Roos. Use Grower with free choice calcium for breeder pens.

It is like the chicks, some Roos seem to do fine for years, others will die on you without explanation.

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: The calcium blows out their kidneys.

parakeet and other grits in the pet store has calcium in it too. You are supposed to switch them to grower during the molting season and for Roosters. When a hen is not laying eggs, the calcium in the feed can hurt their kidneys too. The problem where I live is that the feed stores stop carrying grower during the winter, so I have to special order it.

I like the idea of using Grower and leaving extra calcium out for the ones that want it.
Could eating layer and calcium chips in the coop do the same thing to a ROO?
Yes, but it takes a long time. It is not recommended to use layer with Roos. Use Grower with free choice calcium for breeder pens.

It is like the chicks, some Roos seem to do fine for years, others will die on you without explanation.
oh crud.... so ask for "grower" never used it always had layer, but had two roos die on me sudden death.... hmmmm

 

[ronott1]

oh crud.... so ask for "grower" never used it always had layer, but had two roos die on me sudden death.... hmmmm
That is the way organ failure works in birds. Birds, as a defense mechanism, hide illness. I had one with fatty liver disease look perfectly healthy in the morning and be dead that afternoon. I think she even laid and egg that day.

Necropsy said the liver ruptured and she bled out. "common in certain breeds but rare". Mine do not get cabs anymore....

 

[TMNfarm]

I feed my egg shells back to my girls... I do plan to keep a roo... So should I switch to all chick starter, or all-flock for everyone?? Is it enough to feed back the egg shells or do I need to add oyster shell as well?

 

[ronott1]

I feed my egg shells back to my girls... I do plan to keep a roo... So should I switch to all chick starter, or all-flock for everyone?? Is it enough to feed back the egg shells or do I need to add oyster shell as well?

Use the Flock Raiser or equivalent. That is usually called grower.

Feed back the shells but also give them free choice calcium. It is cheep and a big bag will last a long time.

Congrats on keeping a roo!

 

[Razadia]

I have some really good news involving the chicken ordinance that suddenly showed up last month! After a slight headache and about 20 mins of work I figured out where I stand. I can continue to raise birds for the rest of my life like I wanted to with no restrictions! I finally made sense out of the crazy zoning laws we have and found out that my entire district falls under both Residential Agriculture and General Agriculture. That means I'm doubly safe with my birds. I'm so relieved to find that out.

 

[kvmommy]

Ive been feeding mine a combo of starter and layer since they are all mixed together. Ooh no...I thought the layer just had more protein. Guess I'm off to get grower mash

 

[Sally Sunshine]

DUCK questions!!! Went can I start to treat them and what kinda grit at their age... ancona from New years eve????????

 

[Sally Sunshine]

DUCK questions!!! Went can I start to treat them and what kinda grit at their age... ancona from New years eve????????

 

[TMNfarm]

Use the Flock Raiser or equivalent. That is usually called grower.

Feed back the shells but also give them free choice calcium. It is cheep and a big bag will last a long time.

Congrats on keeping a roo!

What form does the Calcium come in? Powder? Granular? Pellets?? I'll have to make a little pit stop at the feed store today...