Australorps breed Thread

[MeanV2]

I feed that Dan..it helps them feather out very nice for show..

Thanks Lynne! That is Good to know!

Anyone else care to share what exactly you feed and supplement your BA chicks growing them up?

Dan

 

[tigercreek]

Thanks Lynne! That is Good to know!

Anyone else care to share what exactly you feed and supplement your BA chicks growing them up?

Dan

I had been using straight 'Flock Raiser', but I recently got some Cubalayas and wanted to feed them a higher protein so I started getting the Gamebird/showbird conditioner. Cubalayas are not big eaters, and it will take a long time for them to go thru a 50 lb bag, so I have been mixing it into the Flock Raiser. I have just started this and not seen results yet. I have always been told to be careful of feeding too much protein because it can make the chicks out grow their frame?? ....stan

 

[DeesHens]

Cute Dee

Hey Aveca.
Those are Ron's chicks from his recent hatch. I most certainly do agree those are cute. How are yours doing? ~Dee~

 

[aveca]

It has to be balanced ration..not too much protein..or too little..chickens are omnivores..like us they eat wide variety..greens, protein..seeds..in the wild..in ideal conditions..they are moving all day long foraging burning off a lot of what they ate so exercise every bit as important.. In ideal natural setting there would be everything from fruits,nuts,berries minnows,salamanders, small frogs, baby mice ect...that is why lot of jungle birds you see have a brilliant sheen to their feathers..so variety and a little higher protein work wonders.. not too much of any one thing..the larger orps, if they don't get it..they never develop nice skeletal base rough dull feathers..they spend lot of energy gaining size and feathering..

 

[MeanV2]

On the other thread I saw about feeding Game Bird Starter it was said to keep the chicks on it only 8 weeks then drop them to the Game Bird Conditioner. I look forward to it all!

Dan

 

[RattlesnakeRidgeWV]

I use Blue Seal Feed starter grower for the first 8 weeks, I think it is 20 or 22% protein. I switch to Grower Cal up to 20 weeks. The rest of their life they are on Breeder Pellets which is 18% protein. The Grower and Grower Cal has very little calcium that they do not need until they start to lay. I have been very happy with the results for the last three years with no problems.

Kurt

 

[aveca]

Here are a few pics Not much to see just yet..But coming along..several aussies, a couple english import orps and more of those on the way...and blk orp from my back yard..there are only 3 of those.Just having the time of my life here..waiting to see what shapes up for fall shows..My relaxing fall fun. Its work..but happy work. I stil wish there were a magic wand you could wave and have it say boy girl boy boy whos who in there..guess I will find out soon enough..we go through this every year, the blk orps were bred with slightly lower comb, makes it even harder with those..one year I thought, look at me with all my blk orp pullets...nope 5 Ks and 1 Pullet..
Had them outside for an hour today in the sun..it was really nice in the afternoon..but when the wind picked up..back in

 

[aveca]

On the other thread I saw about feeding Game Bird Starter it was said to keep the chicks on it only 8 weeks then drop them to the Game Bird Conditioner. I look forward to it all!

Dan

Thats about right ..Ive have never had a problem with it, just big robust birds fertile longer, longer lived..but its a balancing act for sure..it looks like im running a zoo in winter with all of the stuff I chop up and offer..lots of exercise, cant stress that enough..even cage training..I let them out lot so they dont get sour and dull about it..if they are good and quiet, thier reward is a turn out day....

there was a famous sebright breeder that wrote a book years ago, he raised all of his babies on oats and eggs..that was all they got except picking greens..that was back befor they had commercial feeds..My vet said an egg is a complete food, it has every nutriant known to science and complex protiens...the old timers beleived it helped babies develope immunity to whatever your flock had been exposed to..not sure if that part is true..but the nutrition part is..once or twice a week I give a little scrambled egg..they get salmon scraps or whatever..but not too much and not too often..

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

Changing the Subject a bit. I have read on some Breed threads where they talk about feeding a 30% protein Game Bird starter to chicks for better growth and the animal protein. Is that a good Idea for BA's?

I got the BOB Ron!

As I read this thread I took notes just like I was studying for a test. I am sure there were things I missed but it is amazing how many times I go back through those notes to remind me of something I know I read.

Zach, I love the pictures you have posted of your Aussies! Nice!!

Dan

How long do you feed the 30% protein game bird starter to the chicks ? And what is BOB ??

I feed that Dan..it helps them feather out very nice for show..

Aveca - do you feed this to adult birds to help their condition for shows ? If so , what time frame do you feed it, before the show ? I have a couple of nice hens I would like show at a local show this June, but really want them to look their best !! Who knows I might get hooked

 

[aveca]

I hope you do come out and show!! Love to meet you in person..its a great time...good clean fun..nice people most of them..you will really like it..where abouts in NY are you?

Old saying from shell to showroom..you pretty much have to start day 1..scrambled eggs puts quite a glow on growing pullet and cockeral feathers as they shed the baby feathers ..couple times a week..in addition to your normal feed..I have a special feed mix ordered by a APA poultry judge..they keep birds of all ages on it..the birds that tend to be real heavy they switch to layer pellets..they used to call it turkey grower but so many show poultry people were buying it they changed the name to pullet grower..lot of people come up from down in pa after it too..its at a local mill..lot less soybean lot more oat and other stuff and some greens added..as im switching out from the baby food, I mix it right into the grower crumbs and wet it for them..then after a while remove the baby food..