BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[DesertChic]

I give the birds all the food they want. It is there all the time and these couple of days the birds are running up to me acting like they are starving.. They also have about 1/4 acre of fenced in land with grass galore and they still act this way. Any thoughts? Shall I spoil them with corn, mixed grain, or something like that? Their food is clean and dry.

Have you tried changing to a different feed, or a different percentage of protein in their feed? Or maybe even fermented feed?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Mine are like this right now - they are on Feather Fixer, but I think they are hungry for animal protein. I'm going to be giving them more eggs (didn't get to tonight before bed).

I have some kitten food I bought a while ago (very high quality, probably paid too much - I blame pet store paralysis of choice). How would be the best way to give it to the chickens who are molting and hungry (might as well not let it go to waste...)

- Ant Farm

 

[Kev]

Mine are like this right now - they are on Feather Fixer, but I think they are hungry for animal protein. I'm going to be giving them more eggs (didn't get to tonight before bed).

I have some kitten food I bought a while ago (very high quality, probably paid too much - I blame pet store paralysis of choice). How would be the best way to give it to the chickens who are molting and hungry (might as well not let it go to waste...)

- Ant Farm

See if they will eat it straight up like scratch. All of mine will(and fight for it too), but new birds or juveniles offered it for the first time often do take a look/taste and decline their first try. They do the exact same thing with BOSS.. after a while they gobble both of them up. Still unsure about that? check out youtube videos of chickens shooing cats off the cat bowl...

If they refuse, mix them straight into the wet feed with egg mixed in. I do that for the juveniles once theyre big enough to handle the cat food.

They do show there is an obvious taste difference between brands and flavors. Apparently some are simply too horrible for a second chance so when you find one they all accept easily, stick to it but also be sure the animal protein source isn't buried way down deep.. currently, costco chicken/rice is a big hit, sam's generic seems to be "so-so" (interestingly the latter seems to use less animal protein sources). The cat says the same.. haha

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

Mine are like this right now - they are on Feather Fixer, but I think they are hungry for animal protein. I'm going to be giving them more eggs (didn't get to tonight before bed).

I have some kitten food I bought a while ago (very high quality, probably paid too much - I blame pet store paralysis of choice). How would be the best way to give it to the chickens who are molting and hungry (might as well not let it go to waste...)

- Ant Farm

Mine would not eat the kibble until I soaked it in water - they even drank the liquid.

 

[ocap]

Anyone notice those 'Sagitta' chickens on Dunap's website?

"The Sagitta is a dual purpose bird that is a cross between a Rhode Island Red, New Hampshire Red and Cornish Cross. They are a heavy, docile breed that will provide large eggs as well as a nice size bird on the table."

Sounds interesting. I'm not interested but thought I'd mention them.
Kinda wonder if they are a actual breed that will breed true or more like those sexlinks that do not?
Anyone heard of them? Not much info out there.

I wonder how they (Sagitta) compare to the "Freedom Ranger"

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:

Mine would not eat the kibble until I soaked it in water - they even drank the liquid.

Thanks!!! I'm trying this when I get home today...

- Ant Farm

 

[stryker]

Have you tried changing to a different feed, or a different percentage of protein in their feed? Or maybe even fermented feed?

I will try that. I usually feed a 20 percent starter mixed with a layer but I will change it up for a while.

 

[GabrielBane]

More weighing pics!

Our lone silver wheaten pullet:




Cockerel #1 (He's a TRIP. He's made me laugh several times during weighing);


Cockerel #2:

Cockerel #3:


I was going to wrangle the little Silver non-conformist, but he was snuggled up with the Spitzhauben, and since he doesn't need a leg band to identify him, I spared him the photo shoot (this time...)

 

[CanadianBuckeye]

More weighing pics!

Our lone silver wheaten pullet:




Cockerel #1 (He's a TRIP. He's made me laugh several times during weighing);


Cockerel #2:

Cockerel #3:


I was going to wrangle the little Silver non-conformist, but he was snuggled up with the Spitzhauben, and since he doesn't need a leg band to identify him, I spared him the photo shoot (this time...)

They are growing nicely!

 

[lpatelski]

Is anyone else out there a foot fairy? I can say that I strive to breed for good feet. The CX have terrible feet! Trying to breed for size and great feet. I have eaten a lot of giants because i did not like their feet. Note in the first picture below. This bird's rear toe is hanging through the wire, just as it's inside toe. Long, thinish, and weak...yuck

In this pic, note Igor the black's feet. Thick, strong, and shorter toes.






Mathew has great feet too!



Hugo's feet are a mess! Long thinish toes with looser joints. You can't go big if you have no base. It's all about the base, bout the base,base,base!