Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[sjturner79]

I was actually given that book by our feed store when I first started buying chook feed. Barrastock do list thier anti-cocci on the bags.
It is lasalocid sodium. I believe Laukie also use the same one.

At the concentration in the starter pellets, it's about 2 kg to be toxic for mammals. The dose is at approx 1/10th the fatal dose for birds. It is defiantly not good to have chooks on this stuff for more than 8 weeks.

 

[MyHaven]

Yep, plenty of people feed layer to mixed flocks, to the detriment of the bird. Viscerial gout is something I've had to deal with. It is safer to feed a lower level of calcium and offer calcium carbonate as ' free take ' for the layers.
Starter feeds that contain amprolium are fed for 6 weeks as a way of building the birds immunity , more of a preventative. You can feed it for a longer period of time but according to the science , any less than 6 weeks renders it ineffective .
I personally don't feed medicated chick starter anymore , but I keep a packet of amprolium on hand for treatment , touch wood, haven't had to use it.

Do you use game bird not medicated starter. We (or at least no one I know) can get not medicated up here (Qld) anymore. I have found a game starter for quail that is not medicated.

 

[MyHaven]

I hope you have a good Anzac Day.

 

[MyHaven]

So much to consider. I have had chooks for more than 20years and didn't worry about anything. Just fed them what I hoped was good feed and scraps. Never had problems with pests (touch wood) or sick chooks. I have had them die but I think that's more because I've mostly had ISA or Highline and they are not bred for longevity.
Having said that I am hand rearing these and they have become more like pets than egg layers. Just as well because I don't think we'll be getting the amount of eggs we're used too.

I know it used to be easier. The retail industry has made it harder and harder for we public to be informed purchasers. From confusing us with mixed phone/Internet packages to misleading packaging on fruit juice.

And then sometimes we learn through trial and error. I couldn't get to the produce as planned one time so stopped at the local veg produce who sells feed as well. (Cabbage Patch) to get a bag of laying mash in desperation. I had been getting 10 eggs a day. I dropped to 2 immediately.

 

[satay]

Do you use game bird not medicated starter. We (or at least no one I know) can get not medicated up here (Qld) anymore. I have found a game starter for quail that is not medicated.

If i have quails and chickens in the same brooder i do 50% game bird starter and 50% Laucke chick starter.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Wonderful dawn service, 2 degrees.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I was actually given that book by our feed store when I first started buying chook feed. Barrastock do list thier anti-cocci on the bags.
It is lasalocid sodium. I believe Laukie also use the same one.

Lasalocid sodium is a ' gram positive ' antibiotic and as you can see in this article , it is used as a preventative for coccidiosis and also to fatten up birds.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB...sidue_Limits_-_Report/2009/11/WC500014596.pdf

 

[Teila]

Good morning friends

Thanks again .. lots of great information on feed. I have mentioned before in the past that the gals get Country Heritage Certified Organic Coarse Layer Mash because they are not just fussy about large pellets, they will not eat pellets whatever the size

I think I pay about $36 for 20kg but have seen it at $43 in some places. It is expensive but with only a few little gals, not too costly for us as it lasts a while and because they like it, not much wastage. Also, because it is certified organic, depending on what organic grains are available, the content can vary which gives them some variety.




Fancy great pictures of the pumpkin smash party .. especially love the mid chomp cat pic

Anniebee yeah, I am not sure if you would have much luck getting live meal worms in your area and if you could, they would probably be expensive. I know you do not like online shopping but if you change your mind, I fully recommend Martyn’s Mealworms, great prices and great service. His prices for dried meal worms are also quite reasonable.

As suggested previously by someone else, apparently they are fairly easy to ‘grow your own’ but I choose not to go down that path just because I really do not need another ‘critter colony’ to tend and prefer the time saving option

Dusty is pretty much the only girl who will take on an earth worm, the others do not seem particularly interested. Maybe if they were not spoiled with meal worms they might think differently.

Wow, catching the gold fish, draining and cleaning the pond and refilling it was a bigger endeavour than I thought it was going to be but I got it done. Turns out there was quite a layer of sediment and with it now gone and in the compost bin, they have more depth to their pond. Might have to contemplate doing the smaller, middle pond next weekend.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Must try that little caper.  !!  .... and at 90c a kg, I think I could swing it.   

90c ???   ..... from a previous post of yours.   Nothing like that price in Victoria.   Japala and Queensland Grey, between $1.90 and $2.90 per kg  or even more ?   Except on market days, when it might well be cheaper then.   

I laboriously grind up raw pumpkin in my mini-mixer ... and they love it.   But I figure I must have bored chickens, if what you give yours, is any indication.   I notice that is Japala pumpkin you have used in the pics.  

Always something new to learn on BYC .... 

Love the pics - especially of your cat chomping on the Butternut !! 

Cheers ...... 

It's actually called a ' jap ' pumpkin which literally means ' just another pumpkin ' . Here in tassie it was ' politically incorrect ' to call them ' jap ' so they are called Kent. I find the skin much thinner than that of the Queensland blue and it's much sweeter.
Yeah ditch the mixer , this way there are no dirty dishes and it keeps them occupied for longer.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Good morning friends Thanks again .. lots of great information on feed. I have mentioned before in the past that the gals get Country Heritage Certified Organic Coarse Layer Mash because they are not just fussy about large pellets, they will not eat pellets whatever the size I think I pay about $36 for 20kg but have seen it at $43 in some places. It is expensive but with only a few little gals, not too costly for us as it lasts a while and because they like it, not much wastage. Also, because it is certified organic, depending on what organic grains are available, the content can vary which gives them some variety. Fancy great pictures of the pumpkin smash party .. especially love the mid chomp cat pic Anniebee yeah, I am not sure if you would have much luck getting live meal worms in your area and if you could, they would probably be expensive. I know you do not like online shopping but if you change your mind, I fully recommend Martyn’s Mealworms, great prices and great service. His prices for dried meal worms are also quite reasonable. As suggested previously by someone else, apparently they are fairly easy to ‘grow your own’ but I choose not to go down that path just because I really do not need another ‘critter colony’ to tend and prefer the time saving option Dusty is pretty much the only girl who will take on an earth worm, the others do not seem particularly interested. Maybe if they were not spoiled with meal worms they might think differently. Wow, catching the gold fish, draining and cleaning the pond and refilling it was a bigger endeavour than I thought it was going to be but I got it done. Turns out there was quite a layer of sediment and with it now gone and in the compost bin, they have more depth to their pond. Might have to contemplate doing the smaller, middle pond next weekend.

Overall it looks like a good feed, but the protein is a little low. Once a hen reaches 24 weeks it's protein level should be 15-17 % ideally.