Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[Lacy Blues]

Specific to the word "hot". Last century, during the horse and buggy days, dog and horse people used to talk abut feed which contained a lot of corn as a feed which "made the animal's blood run hot". What they meant was the corn required a higher metabolism to digest the corn. Thus the higher running metabolism would make the blood run "hot". To this day, in collie dogs, breeders insist that if one feeds a collie a feed with a lot of corn in it, the animal can break out in "hot spots", an open weeping sore that is hard to cure. That's why you hear of so many collies being fed on lamb and rice kibbles. Thought is changing now that this may be an immune problem instead.
Best,
Karen

What about the situation where oats would make a horse hot? I've read where this was considered in error, for whatever reason. But I've seen horses, when given too many oats, get quite persnickety and start behaving badly!

Ok, so "hot" feed is very high protein.

I know that feed in general causes the body's temperature to go up because that's what it takes to digest but I wonder sometimes if there are some ingredients I might be feeding to my birds that would cause their bodies to heat up more. I don't feed corn but when it's really hot here in the summer, like now, my adult birds only take a few bites of their dinner before going to roost. Does anyone know if there are any foods that are "cooling?" I've read that cucumbers are cooling and I'm trying to grow some of those for them. I had a couple of zucchini the other day that were beginning to wither so I grated them up into my birds' dinner. They also got hard boiled eggs, soaked alfalfa cubes and beet pulp pellets along with their fermented grains (wheat, oats, milo & barley). They cleaned up their feed pans that night! I think I might have thrown some sprouted lentils in the mix too. Boy they liked dinner that night! I like to see them eat heartily, it does my heart good.

 

[thedragonlady]

Here's a few quick pics of the Buff Rocks at 5 weeks.
These are 2 cockerels that made it in front of the camera....think I'm 'male heavy' on this hatch.

...may not be a bad thing since I've read the buff coloration from the male should be most prepotent for future breeding...so, having more than a few to choose from may actually be the best thing.
I need to get some proper ones of all of them grazing...they were out on grass for the first time...they've had the opportunity for over 3 weeks, but just got the courage to head out in the open grass area today...but alas, no camera...just enjoyed watching them at twilight

Cindy,
These guys look wonderful ! Look for the male who is buff to the roots for your cock bird.The good ones will have solid buff shafts in their flights when the adult feathers come in, even top color, and very buff under fluff . Love to see photos of the whole gang. How are the freckled ones coloring up ?

 

[thedragonlady]

What about the situation where oats would make a horse hot? I've read where this was considered in error, for whatever reason. But I've seen horses, when given too many oats, get quite persnickety and start behaving badly!

Ok, so "hot" feed is very high protein.

I know that feed in general causes the body's temperature to go up because that's what it takes to digest but I wonder sometimes if there are some ingredients I might be feeding to my birds that would cause their bodies to heat up more. I don't feed corn but when it's really hot here in the summer, like now, my adult birds only take a few bites of their dinner before going to roost. Does anyone know if there are any foods that are "cooling?" I've read that cucumbers are cooling and I'm trying to grow some of those for them. I had a couple of zucchini the other day that were beginning to wither so I grated them up into my birds' dinner. They also got hard boiled eggs, soaked alfalfa cubes and beet pulp pellets along with their fermented grains (wheat, oats, milo & barley). They cleaned up their feed pans that night! I think I might have thrown some sprouted lentils in the mix too. Boy they liked dinner that night! I like to see them eat heartily, it does my heart good.

There is a vast difference between a horse's digestive system, and a chicken's. A horse gets" hot " from the TDN/ total digestible nutrients, plus protein and fat in feeds that provide energy . I have always fed added corn in the winter to give them the fat and calories , and fed less in the warmer months.

A chicken stays warm from the indigestible fiber in it's feed . The crop is a fermentation vat that produces heat from breaking down that fiber, more like a ruminant. I feed less fiber ( whole grains ) in the summer. I would not feed birds beet pulp at all in the summer. It has a small amount of sugar, but is all fiber. It is used to prevent colic in horses by keeping things moving through the intestines, rather like Metamucil.

It is very hot and muggy here now. My birds are on Flockraiser , with Calf Manna, and hulled sunflower seeds added. I have birds in molt, and the trick now is to get them to consume enough protein and fat to grow nice plumage, without overheating them.The Flockraiser and the CM are ground , and require very little effort to digest, while not making gas/heat in the crop.The hulled sunflower seeds also are easier to digest than the BOSS, which I feed in the winter. The hulls of BOSS are what produce heat in the crop, while the seed kernels provide fat and energy.

My birds turn into lawnmowers when the weather turns hot too.They want the tender stuff, thank you, and follow me behind the mower eating that ,and any bugs. It looks like I'm being pursued by a flock of very portly buff egrets. They want the moisture and vitamins of the less fibrous new shoots , plus those high protein tasty bugs .Any veggies, melons etc., are high on their list too.

Feeding is an art. There is an old saying that a horse, thin at Christmas, will be a hat rack by Valentines Day. I've found it to be true. You have to adjust feeding for climate and energy expended, whether that energy is needed to stay warm , or work. It works for chickens too.

 

[Apdeb]

My chicks are 9 weeks on starter/grower and range from 630 am to around 4
Is the suggestion to change to wild game from weeks 12 to 20? They get treats raw yogurt raisins squash apples havent got them melons yet!!! They are Barnevelders

 

[appps]

I don't seem to be able to read fast enough to keep up with this thread . Some great information especially for a newbie like myself.

We have four salmon favorelles that have almost reached laying age at almost seven months. In guessing they fit under this threads heading?

 

[Pathfinders]

My experience with Buckeyes has shown that when a higher protein feed is used for the first 8 weeks or so, they develop a much bigger frame than if a lower percentage is used.

I have been using a 30% turkey starter for them for a number of years now, and have been very pleased with the results. I then move to the Purina Game Bird feed, and let them flesh the frames out.

Of course, genetics plays a part, to be sure. But I think a higher protein feed at the beginning, at least with these birds, is a very good thing.

I heard a funny story this past year, about a past customer of mine who went to a show down south just to observe (she didn't take her birds for some reason, I guess being new to the whole show thing.) At the show she saw another of my birds, which had been sold to a guy who then sold it to another guy. Big, monster cock bird, who won CH American at the show.

I heard later the woman was surprised at how big the cock bird had gotten, as her birds didn't get that big. Later she realized (when she asked the other guy about it), it was because she hadn't used the high protein feed I suggested she use in the beginning. That same cock bird went on to win at several other shows that spring. The proof is in the pudding, as my granny used to say.

 

[Regin]

Pathfinders,
How big do your buckeyes end up being?

 

[Apdeb]

Laura, starter or layena
The starter still has 30 percent protein
So basically a finishing food for large fowl should have? Percent of protein
In your opinion

 

[capayvalleychick]

I know that feed in general causes the body's temperature to go up because that's what it takes to digest but I wonder sometimes if there are some ingredients I might be feeding to my birds that would cause their bodies to heat up more. I don't feed corn but when it's really hot here in the summer, like now, my adult birds only take a few bites of their dinner before going to roost. Does anyone know if there are any foods that are "cooling?"

My vets have been in practice for many years, using traditional medicine. A few years ago, they started integrating Chinese medicine into their practice. Much of it involves foods that are heating or cooling.
If you scroll down, there is a list of heating or cooling foods here. It's written for people, but they said that the same applies to animals. They have warned me against feeding oats in our summer heat.

http://www.chinesemedicinedoc.com/b...cles-and-handouts/diet-chinese-medicine/#temp

 

[capayvalleychick]

Here's a few quick pics of the Buff Rocks at 5 weeks.

Love the breast on this one! Buff colored poultry have never really interested me, but these chicks of yours have really caught my eye.