Best feed for my hens to lay hatching quality eggs

[RustyHoosier]

I agree...I love giving them treats. I just love it when I walk out to their pen & they run to the gate to meet me. Now I realize they are after the food & not as excited to see me as I am to see them.
I too just started giving frozen treats this summer & I'm dabbling w/ the herbs.
Thank you for your advice.

 

[RustyHoosier]

What kind of incubator are you using?

Farm innovators. I believe I've talked my husband into a Brinsea EX.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Farm innovators. I believe I've talked my husband into a Brinsea EX.

Brinsea?!! OOoooh SNAP!!! Living that high life, eh?

 

[Mosey2003]

Again "meat bird"... another confusing name used by possibly even the same company with a SLIGHTLY different guaranteed analysis, so they can have more "marketing"... I do LOVE to read those tags though and choose the one that has at least as much protein and not more than how much calcium I want fed to my birds. "Meat birds" in most cases are only intended to live 8-16 weeks and grow as fast as possible during that time... the one I used to buy had 25% protein. I wonder if they have any "extra" stuff, that alters processing outcome... since a reputable site states this in regards to waterfowl...

I know, but that's literally what's on the bag, "Meatbird Crumbles." I guess I could add that I buy the Rural King house brand, Country Roads. But I always check the tags, that's how I ended up going with the Meatbird, as it's the only product available in my area that actually includes animal protein. I suppose I could shop around at the farther stores and find a Gamebird feed, and then cut it with a Chick Starter, but that's a lot more driving and faffing around. I do wonder about the vitamin/mineral profile because it IS meant to be fed to broilers with an expiration date on their little lives, which is why I want to get some Nutr-Drench to add here and there

I appreciate your reply. I'm trying to convince my husband to agree w/making the switch. For me I enjoy my chickens no matter how many eggs they lay. For him it's more of a "they cost more than they produce" issue. But I know I need to use all the advice to breed better hens.
I have to say that the nutri drench is an amazing product. It saved the life of my blue splash marans when she fell I'll.
Thanks again

I can't remember if you said what you currently feed, is it a layer crumble or pellet? What you could do is just add a little animal protein for a couple weeks before you plan to collect hatching eggs, something like a decent quality dog food, or if you have extra eggs (or if stores put them on a fire sale under a dollar a dozen like they do here) you can give them some boiled egg daily for a couple weeks ahead. That should cover it pretty well without really making a drastic change to what you're already feeding.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Meatbird, as it's the only product available in my area that actually includes animal protein. I suppose I could shop around at the farther stores and find a Gamebird feed,

Even game bird feeds are likely veggie based... they just have more protein usually and *possibly* more vitamins/minerals as I know they have some higher requirements.

It's great that you read labels! Buy the feed with the ingredient list you like... again, I say "meat bird" is JUST a marketing term. No, I wouldn't spend a ton of time driving around either.

You might get equal or better results using poultry cell rooster booster product as the nutri drench... I would at LEAST research it, since you seem to have plenty of interest.

Though broilers may have expiration dates on life... they also have a very high demand for rapid growth. I don't truly think the feed has any long term harmful side effects.

What you could do is just add a little animal protein for a couple weeks before you plan to collect hatching eggs, something like a decent quality dog food,

Well... that's formulated for dogs... if you are going for animal protein... cat food is likely higher... I wouldn't do either, personally.

you can give them some boiled egg daily for a couple weeks ahead.

I guess I would just remind that eggs are still 64% fat... I wouldn't do it daily, unless we mean a very small amount spread out. No supplement should be given for more than 10 days in a row.

Really your "meat bird" formula is very likely adequate for hatching... It should be better already than "layer" in that department. I would try as is with NO supplementing FIRST to see your hatch rates. And then with supplementing for comparison.

And I would note that it isn't JUST hatch rate you will be looking for but also chick quality/viability. These things are also HIGHLY effected by our incubation parameters... I prefer "dry hatches" around 30-40% humidity through day 18. If I haven't already shared my very favorite hatching resource with you...
https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

I hope you find it as useful and intriguing as I have!

 

[Mosey2003]

Well... that's formulated for dogs... if you are going for animal protein... cat food is likely higher... I wouldn't do either, personally.


I guess I would just remind that eggs are still 64% fat... I wouldn't do it daily, unless we mean a very small amount spread out. No supplement should be given for more than 10 days in a row.

Really your "meat bird" formula is very likely adequate for hatching... It should be better already than "layer" in that department. I would try as is with NO supplementing FIRST to see your hatch rates. And then with supplementing for comparison.

And I would note that it isn't JUST hatch rate you will be looking for but also chick quality/viability. These things are also HIGHLY effected by our incubation parameters... I prefer "dry hatches" around 30-40% humidity through day 18. If I haven't already shared my very favorite hatching resource with you...
https://www.hubbardbreeders.com/media/incubation_guideen__053407700_1525_26062017.pdf

Oh, I know, I was just trying to come up with something she could sneak past her husband

This last hatch I did was everyone on straight meatbird with the typical mealworms and meat scraps occasionally like usual, and I had an excellent hatch rate. Excellent viability, too. I've just been wanting to get a vitamin supplement for breeders and chicks mostly to make myself feel better, I think.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I've just been wanting to get a vitamin supplement for breeders and chicks mostly to make myself feel better, I think.

Regarding chicks... a quick share...

Since I had the nutri drench on hand for shipped chicks, I decided to use it for the first drinker full in my personal hatches this past year.

Well I discovered ultimately... that it was keeping some chicks alive longer than they should be... ones that weren't connecting with food or digesting correctly, as I would have some that would fail VERY soon after switching to plain water. So it was essentially hiding genetic weakness.

Since my chicks aren't going through shipping stress or dehydration from shipping... if parent stock nutrition is good... fresh water and appropriate feed is all the chicks need in addition to warmth of course.

I want to give all my birds the best start, but I don't want weakness hiding in my breed stock. So I think I will NOT be supplementing chicks for no reason this next season.
I think we all like to feel better like we are doing something!

 

[Mosey2003]

Good point!

 

[RustyHoosier]

I know, but that's literally what's on the bag, "Meatbird Crumbles." I guess I could add that I buy the Rural King house brand, Country Roads. But I always check the tags, that's how I ended up going with the Meatbird, as it's the only product available in my area that actually includes animal protein. I suppose I could shop around at the farther stores and find a Gamebird feed, and then cut it with a Chick Starter, but that's a lot more driving and faffing around. I do wonder about the vitamin/mineral profile because it IS meant to be fed to broilers with an expiration date on their little lives, which is why I want to get some Nutr-Drench to add here and there


I can't remember if you said what you currently feed, is it a layer crumble or pellet? What you could do is just add a little animal protein for a couple weeks before you plan to collect hatching eggs, something like a decent quality dog food, or if you have extra eggs (or if stores put them on a fire sale under a dollar a dozen like they do here) you can give them some boiled egg daily for a couple weeks ahead. That should cover it pretty well without really making a drastic change to what you're already feeding.

 

[RustyHoosier]

We currently have the layer pellet, we felt like too much of the crumble was being lost on the ground.
I like the idea of the boiled eggs & I'm pretty sure the girls will too.
Oh...what incubator do you use? I'm shopping for a new one.