Arizona Chickens

[cavemanrich]

I use Alflock which is 2% calcium. I offer oyster shells free choice. My reason is, some are layers and some are not. My laying chickens supplement their calcium needs by taking in the oyster shells as they feel need. Chickens are able to determine their needs usually, if the items are available to them.

 

[meetthebubus]

It's easier to supplement oyster shells, imo. I'm using 20% -protein feed and using oyster shells for the laying hens

 

[igorsMistress]

I've probably asked this before, and went back at least 20 pages to see, but supposedly an All Flock Raiser has higher protein than a layer feed, but less in calcium.

I don't know which route to take right now.

Bobby my girls have been on higher protein chick starter their whole lives. I just give em os and egg shells on the side. Egg shells are nice and thick.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Bobby my girls have been on higher protein chick starter their whole lives. I just give em os and egg shells on the side. Egg shells are nice and thick.

Well, my greedy guts aren't lacking in the protein department. Sometimes, I go out there and turn on the light late in the evening, and they're standing around talking quietly among themselves. Wish I knew what they were discussing.

They get a reward ONLY when they finish their feed, whether it takes two days. I only throw a little scratch off to the side to distract them while I refill their water and feeder.

Sometimes, late in the evening, I'm in the kitchen boiling a boneless steak or pork chop cut into thin strips, then mix that with some rice or pasta, peas, string beans and a bit of corn, sprinkled with a bit of cayenne.

They recognize that red pot lid full of goodies and start jumping up and down. They look like starving kids from Third World countries. Who can resist that pathetic look on their faces with those beady eyes?

I give them plenty of time to clean it up until they are full and lose interest (throw away excess), and they all look like lop-sided Dolly Partons wandering around before the food coma sets in...LOL! I shoo them over to the roosts and it's lights out.

Oh, to make the transition, I'm leaning toward an Alflock feed since reading on other threads about the higher protein levels. Oyster shell and grit are not that expensive, so it's on hand 24/7 now.

ETA: and recommendations from here. Don't want to slight the invaluable information given here.

 

[igorsMistress]

Well, my greedy guts aren't lacking in the protein department. Sometimes, I go out there and turn on the light late in the evening, and they're standing around talking quietly among themselves. Wish I knew what they were discussing.

They get a reward ONLY when they finish their feed, whether it takes two days. I only throw a little scratch off to the side to distract them while I refill their water and feeder.

Sometimes, late in the evening, I'm in the kitchen boiling a boneless steak or pork chop cut into thin strips, then mix that with some rice or pasta, peas, string beans and a bit of corn, sprinkled with a bit of cayenne.

They recognize that red pot lid full of goodies and start jumping up and down. They look like starving kids from Third World countries. Who can resist that pathetic look on their faces with those beady eyes?

I give them plenty of time to clean it up until they are full and lose interest (throw away excess), and they all look like lop-sided Dolly Partons wandering around before the food coma sets in...LOL! I shoo them over to the roosts and it's lights out.

Oh, to make the transition, I'm leaning toward an Alflock feed since reading on other threads about the higher protein levels. Oyster shell and grit are not that expense, so it's on hand 24/7 now.

Standing around talking quietly, that's funny! I know what you mean with needy begging eyes. You'd think they hadn't eaten in a week!

 

[cactusrota]

Well, my greedy guts aren't lacking in the protein department. Sometimes, I go out there and turn on the light late in the evening, and they're standing around talking quietly among themselves. Wish I knew what they were discussing.

They get a reward ONLY when they finish their feed, whether it takes two days. I only throw a little scratch off to the side to distract them while I refill their water and feeder.

Sometimes, late in the evening, I'm in the kitchen boiling a boneless steak or pork chop cut into thin strips, then mix that with some rice or pasta, peas, string beans and a bit of corn, sprinkled with a bit of cayenne.

They recognize that red pot lid full of goodies and start jumping up and down. They look like starving kids from Third World countries. Who can resist that pathetic look on their faces with those beady eyes?

I give them plenty of time to clean it up until they are full and lose interest (throw away excess), and they all look like lop-sided Dolly Partons wandering around before the food coma sets in...LOL! I shoo them over to the roosts and it's lights out.

Oh, to make the transition, I'm leaning toward an Alflock feed since reading on other threads about the higher protein levels. Oyster shell and grit are not that expense, so it's on hand 24/7 now.

I've found my birds are more excited over crushed egg shells than oyster shell. They do eat the oyster shell, though. My theory is that crushed egg shells are more digestable and the calcium is more bioavailable.
The fermented feed I give is part grain (scratch and wheat berries), part layer mash with oyster shell flakes, part 28% turkey starter (because everything else brings that protein level back down again), and alfalfa/timothy pellets because nothing grows here most of the year. I've also been putting black oil sunflower seeds in during the winter but will be phasing that out for the summer since they don't need the extra fat in the hotter months. They also have layer pellets in hanging feeders 24/7, but that goes really slow because they mainly eat the fermented feed, and get scratch tossed out once a day. Even the chicks that my broody is raising are growing well on the fermented feed. I don't give it to the other chicks in the grow out though, they get mix that's missing the layer mash and BOSS.

 

[Bobby Basham]

I've found my birds are more excited over crushed egg shells than oyster shell. They do eat the oyster shell, though. My theory is that crushed egg shells are more digestable and the calcium is more bioavailable.
The fermented feed I give is part grain (scratch and wheat berries), part layer mash with oyster shell flakes, part 28% turkey starter (because everything else brings that protein level back down again), and alfalfa/timothy pellets because nothing grows here most of the year. I've also been putting black oil sunflower seeds in during the winter but will be phasing that out for the summer since they don't need the extra fat in the hotter months. They also have layer pellets in hanging feeders 24/7, but that goes really slow because they mainly eat the fermented feed, and get scratch tossed out once a day. Even the chicks that my broody is raising are growing well on the fermented feed. I don't give it to the other chicks in the grow out though, they get mix that's missing the layer mash and BOSS.

I put a couple of hard-boiled eggs, shells and all, in the food processor and give them a rough chop, which they readily eat. They don't seem to be crazy about BOSS, but they eventually eat them. There is also Nutrena scratch (used sparingly), mealworms and also add some Collard greens and kale, thinking what they'd eat while raiding a garden.

Actually, they don't seem to go crazy about any of the above, but they will devour some pasta or rice. Anything mixed in there gets eaten and not picked through, which is a good thing.

I'm just trying to compensate for their confinement since they don't have the luxury of free ranging like those who have large properties. Wow, what a guilt trip...LOL!

 

[Michelle Guynn]

Cheese. Mine love cheese. I get the cheese curd from Costco. I’ve been mixing their food with warm water and they seem to eat it faster but mine are kinda picky.

 

[Bobby Basham]

Cheese. Mine love cheese. I get the cheese curd from Costco. I’ve been mixing their food with warm water and they seem to eat it faster but mine are kinda picky.

I made them a late brunch for the first time. Hard boiled eggs, ripped up pepper jack and cheddar cheeses, in a bed of Collard greens. There may have been some BOSS and other goodies in there, too, but no meat this time. I think they actually licked the bowl...LOL!

 

[Bobby Basham]

Standing around talking quietly, that's funny! I know what you mean with needy begging eyes. You'd think they hadn't eaten in a week!

I think the little buggers are playas and manipulators and know our weak spots.