Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[thedragonlady]

Walt is right most of the time, but it sure is fun to play Devil's Advocate with him!

 

[buffalogal]

wow... what % protein where they feeding them???

They said they started feeding organic from Azure Standard.com, and now they mix their own with organic Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer, They use that premix supplement instead of kelp, BOSS and brewer's yeast. They were posting about it on facebook.

Edited to add: Here's the recipe: 6# of each of the following - Hard Red & White Wheat, Whole Buckwheat, Whole Oats, Rye berries, Milo, Barley, Millet, Split Lentils, 1.5# Poultry Balance, 1/5# DE. Free feed oyster shell. They pasture during the day, so no grit.

 

[Chris09]

They said they started feeding organic from Azure Standard.com, and now they mix their own with organic Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer, They use that premix supplement instead of kelp, BOSS and brewer's yeast. They were posting about it on facebook.

Edited to add: Here's the recipe: 6# of each of the following - Hard Red & White Wheat, Whole Buckwheat, Whole Oats, Rye berries, Milo, Barley, Millet, Split Lentils, 1.5# Poultry Balance, 1/5# DE. Free feed oyster shell. They pasture during the day, so no grit.

Sound like a decent mix but I wouldn't add the Buckwheat or the Barley because both can cause problems.

Buckwheat has a low digestible nutrition level and contains fagopyrin which can cause photosensitization in light skinned animals and unprotected skin will become sunburned easily. Barley is a high fiber, high starch low energy feed that contains beta-glucans which causes low digestibility and sticky droppings.


Chris

 

[buffalogal]

Sound like a decent mix but I wouldn't add the Buckwheat or the Barley because both can cause problems.

Buckwheat has a low digestible nutrition level and contains fagopyrin which can cause photosensitization in light skinned animals and unprotected skin will become sunburned easily. Barley is a high fiber, high starch low energy feed that contains beta-glucans which causes low digestibility and sticky droppings.

It's not my mixture (I avoid 'exotic' ingredients because the cost is prohibitive), but I'll pass that along. What would you recommend they use instead?

 

[Chris09]

It's not my mixture (I avoid 'exotic' ingredients because the cost is prohibitive), but I'll pass that along. What would you recommend they use instead?

A lot depends on what they want to feed and the type of fowl they are feeding (are just for eggs or are they being shown also), the one major thing I see that is missing in the mix is a good animal protein. Even if the fowl are being free ranged they should have a animal protein in there feed. Other grain/seeds that could be added are Black oil sunflower seed, rice, hemp seed, safflower seed, kafir corn, pop corn, etc.

Also keep in mind that a whole grain died can play heck on the feathers of soft feather breeds. There feed should be around 75% ground feed and 25% whole grain and seeds.


Chris

 

[Lacy Blues]

A lot depends on what they want to feed and the type of fowl they are feeding (are just for eggs or are they being shown also), the one major thing I see that is missing in the mix is a good animal protein. Even if the fowl are being free ranged they should have a animal protein in there feed. Other grain/seeds that could be added are Black oil sunflower seed, rice, hemp seed, safflower seed, kafir corn, pop corn, etc.

Also keep in mind that a whole grain died can play heck on the feathers of soft feather breeds. There feed should be around 75% ground feed and 25% whole grain and seeds.


Chris

What does whole grain do to soft feathers?

 

[JulieNKC]

If you have just bantams, the bantam standard would work. If you have bantams, large fowl, waterfowl, turkeys or guineas you need the APA Standard. There are a few small difference in some bantam breeds between the ABA and APA, but they are trying to standardize those few differences so both books say the same thing.

Walt

Check out... http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/APA_ShoppingMall3.htm

You will be happier with the Standard of Perfection

The New 2010 Standard of Perfection

Regular 2010 Edition Price $59.00

Ok, thanks! I'll go with the APA one then. It'll come in handy if I ever want to switch up to real birds instead of my little toy birds anyway.

 

[fowlman01]

Ok, thanks! I'll go with the APA one then. It'll come in handy if I ever want to switch up to real birds instead of my little toy birds anyway.

Good choice, read the first 40 pagers first. After you have read them you will be one of the most knowledgeable people on BYC. I guarantee it!

Walt

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I have to admit, I chuckled at that one!

 

[JulieNKC]

Good choice, read the first 40 pagers first. After you have read them you will be one of the most knowledgeable people on BYC. I guarantee it!

Walt

Aww, I can't just look at the pictures?