a weight gaining diet needed

[Chris09]

They are not a whole ration they do not have a lot of nutrition. When I have thrown a handful of cracked corn in there coop the next day I saw pieces of corn in there poop. They don't digest it fully and it is not a nutritious feed alone. Something else needs to be fed to them to increase there nutrition in their feed. Every once and a while I will throw a little on the ground to get them moving around on cold mornings, but that is not to often around here. All I use corn for is to finish out hogs or cows there last 30 days or so of life. What do you think about corn or scratch Chris? You have much more knowledge than I do along the line of feed information.

Nate

Just because a grain or feed ingredient does not have a complete nutritional value doesn't make it a "filler". There is not one grain or feed ingredient that is considered a complete feed but they all have there part in a complete feed mix.

Quote:
I would think that either your birds aren't getting enough grit in there diet or that the feed you are feeding is really high in corn.

Quote:

I feel that both corn and scratch have there part in a poultry diet for example I mix my own feed and over half of my poultry feeds is either corn or a grain mix.

Chick Starter - 60% corn,
Grower - 70% corn,
Developer - 65% corn and 12% oats,
Layer - 50% corn, and 12% wheat
Yard Bird/ Free Ranging Fowl Mix - 60% corn, 12% oats and 5% wheat


Chris

 

[OkChickens]

I know that corn is in pretty much all feeds. I took that as just feeding 100% corn to them as feed. How do your birds get enough protein with that diet? About what percent protein do the get? Thanks

Nate

 

[Chris09]

I know that corn is in pretty much all feeds. I took that as just feeding 100% corn to them as feed. How do your birds get enough protein with that diet? About what percent protein do the get? Thanks

Nate

Quote:

I use pellets, one is 38% protein and also has all the minerals and vitamins they need the other is 32% protein and contains mostly animal proteins, some grains, vitamins and minerals.



Quote: Chick Starter - 21.5% protein
Grower - 18.5% protein
Developer - 16.0% protein
Layer - 18.7 % protein
Yard Bird/ Free Ranging Fowl Mix - 12.5% protein


Chris

 

[Trefoil]

Corn is high in fat for winter.It helps them keep warm and put on weight. Protein won't put on weight like corn will.

 

[kizanne]

To the OP.

My opinion from some experience and lots of reading.

You want a higher protein/fat to put on the weight.

You can do several of the suggestions of game bird or other high protein mixed or you can do a more natural supplement like

mealworm
earthworm
grubs
roaches

They will have protein and fat. Your chickens will love them and will readily eat a few more than say grain mixes.

This is a supplement not a replacement. I'd give them free feed 24/7 and supplement with high protein/fat treats.