A Few Days to Hatch, and Still Nothing to Feed Them!

[bfrancis]

My peafowl eat cat food with great results....that would be an excellent way to increase protein levels!

 

[WriterofWords]

I've always just used chick starter and moistened it and they've been fine.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
LOL THANX, I APPRECIATE IT

SOYBEAN MEAL... ITS 50% PROTIEN. CAT FOOD IS AWFUL. WAY TOO MUCH SALT AND FAT

 

[Stellar]

Ok, so I was on track. Phew! Soybean meal would be what I would have done. However GBS uses fishmeal as the protein source I believe? We don't want too much salt for the birds. That causes more problems. And fat is no good because it prevents hens from laying (hence why chicken shouldn't have scratch as the majority of their diet).

 

[Terri O]

There is a formula that my feed mill did for me to say how much of what to make 24% protein. I cannot for the life of me remember what it was called. Something in a square...it boiled down to 3/4C of duck/goose/chicken grower (20%) to 1/4C roasted soybeans. That raised the protein high enough. I will say though that the regular duck/goose/chicken grower works just fine without having to add the soybeans.
Terri O

 

[Orange Ribbon]

Thanks everybody! You guys are great.

Okay, say I go with the soybean meal, where do I get that? Feed store?

Okay, let me ask a couple more things and I'll quit bothering you all. Can you give them too much protein? How do I figure out how much soybean meal to add? I'm thinking this equation below, but math hurts my head and I might be plumb out of whack:

50# Feed = 20% protein

50# Meal = 50% protein (which means half the bag in weight is protein)

So 50# of Feed + 20# of Meal (which means 1/2 of that is protein) = 30% protein.

Is that even close? or am I in La La Land?

 

[Terri O]

I will have to ask at the mill tomorrow...it is someone's Square. Used to figure proteins and such. Sure wish I could remember...maybe try Googling it? T

 

[JJMR794]

HEY YOUR GOOD AT THIS...

 

[Terri O]

It is the Pearson Square. Goodled it. I did not look to see how it works...I remember it being VERY simple. I am too tired.....good night! TErri O

 

[sixshooter60]

I do know that figuring a feed ration is not as simply as one would think . i have a friend that owns a feed company and makes alot of thier own feed and they have nutrionalists hired that does the feed fomulas .you cant just mix this and that and come up with a balanced feed its just not that simple What i would do if you buying from TSC i would get the 20% feed and get a sack of mana pro its high protein with lots of nutrients its made as a supplement for all animals.. i grind it to a powder and mix it with the GBS . its a very good supplement protein.. i doubt its needed in the higher protein feed . The feed i feed is GBS at 28% but i still add a small amout of the mana pro just for an added bppst its something you might try it seems to work well for me so far.. im by no means an expert on feed but like i said i have a good friend to rely on if i have questions.. i feed the mana pro to every animal i own from chickens to quail to rabbits to dogs and to my horses...i can say it helps about any animal you feed it to by better hair coat and shiny feathers and more energy..