BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[bnjrob]

That makes a little more sense, though I have never had reproductive issues do to too much fat. I do not have too much fat on my hens, so maybe that is why. Earlier on before I learned to handle them, I might have had some hens with too much fat, and not known it. I free feed my birds, but they are allowed to range most days at least. I think it is more likely in birds that are fed poorly balanced rations in confinement.

I have a few hens or pullets prolapse through the years. More earlier on with commercial layers than sense then, and they were usually pullets. It seams that every now and then, you get one that seams susceptible. I have had a couple egg bound hens to. Again, more with the commercial layers early on. I can probably think of a few of each over a couple decades so it is at least rare.

I shouldn't have commented. Now I will have two of each this year.

We haven't had much visible fat in our birds, it's been intra-abdominal fat that you would never know was there until you butchered them. Makes it harder to know how your feeding regimen is doing if you can't see the fat building up.

 

[Arielle]

My husband just showed me Onegirlsrant.com and we are busting a gut.

THe hazzards of raising chickens. . . .OMG, I suspect DH had a point behind showing me the video. As a gateway livestock, for us chickens lead to turkeys and ducks, and currently looking at dairy goats. ANd I have a note here to track down the organic milk source in town. lol Though I can honestly say, the horses and sheep were here LONG before the chickens. lol Maybe I do need an intervention. . .. nahhhhh . . . ..

( might be more than one video out there for onegirlsrant.com

 

[Dead Rabbit]

When looking at the commercial feeds, know that the least amt of protein is in the feed to get the job done. BECAUSE protein is the  most expensive  component of feed. Whether grain source or meat source. 

IMO I am not sure I buy into there being a limit to how much protein an animal can eat.  In that I would look to the normal "wild " animal intake as a basis. What does a wild ground dwelling bird "normally" eat?  ( Talking chickens here.) OR if ducks, what a wild duck eats. Some one reminded me that seeds are an important basis of a chicken's diet.

Having said this,in regards to humans,  I know the people of the far north traditionally ate a diet primarily of fats and protein ALL the time.Think whale, seal, polar bear, and caribou.  The veg was limited to the lichen from the rumen of the caribou. ( No food wasted in a traditional diet.) WHen I am working to shed a few unwanted fat pounds, I switch to a very similar diet. ANd I know of many many people who also follow this eating program safely as well.  I would be comfortable eating a diet soley of wild caught meat as this was a documented study of a year done MANY years ago. Most people dont know, or dont question, that there is NO nutritional requirement for carbohydrates in the human diet. What we do gain by eating grains, and other carb sources like potatoes, beets,turnips etc, is a source of calories and wonderful vitamins and minerals. But the carbs themselves are not  required for survival. Carbs are not an essential nutrient for humans. Fats and proteins are, as well as a slew of vitamins and minerals.

PS. WHo noticed that a beagle won Westminster. Miss P !!

I have used soaked dog food for almost 15 yrs now. It has high protein and its animal protein. It has high fat. Immediatly after pouring water over the amount I'm soaking you can see the fat (grease) start floating I do this twice a week which equals 4 feedings

Ps. I was rooting for the buff cocker spaniel

 

[bnjrob]

My husband just showed me Onegirlsrant.com and we are busting a gut.

THe hazzards of raising chickens. . . .OMG, I suspect DH had a point behind showing me the video. As a gateway livestock, for us chickens lead to turkeys and ducks, and currently looking at dairy goats. ANd I have a note here to track down the organic milk source in town. lol Though I can honestly say, the horses and sheep were here LONG before the chickens. lol Maybe I do need an intervention. . .. nahhhhh . . . ..

( might be more than one video out there for onegirlsrant.com

LOL. Right there with you. Already paid for my turkeys, just waiting for them to be hatched and sent to me. Have a line on the guineas that I want. Seriously researching dairy cows and honey bees. Loosely researching horses. Looking toward some ducks and geese farther into the future.

 

[Beekissed]

I've had some birds with quite a bit of fat...mostly older hens past their prime...and they were hugely fat on very little feed(fermented) but really good forage. My WR hens are birds that don't eat overly much at the feeder but their slow metabolism allows them to keep good condition and lots of fat despite that...that's one reason I love this breed. Don't take much feed to turn one of them into a huge and fat carcass, nor a lot to fuel their laying.

Here's an old WR hen past laying that had been sharing a cup and a half of FF with 13 other adult birds each day for a couple of months and eating on some really good pasture and forage. I wouldn't want to see this level of fat on my layer hens but this ol' gal hadn't laid in a year, so she wasn't using up much nutrition. Fattest bird I've ever butchered.







This is just half her carcass lying next to the whole carcass of an old BO/RIR cross rooster...big ol'guy.

 

[Dead Rabbit]

Reminds me of my grandfathers older rir and nh layer hens we would butcher as a kid

 

[bnjrob]

I've had some birds with quite a bit of fat...mostly older hens past their prime...and they were hugely fat on very little feed(fermented) but really good forage. My WR hens are birds that don't eat overly much at the feeder but their slow metabolism allows them to keep good condition and lots of fat despite that...that's one reason I love this breed. Don't take much feed to turn one of them into a huge and fat carcass, nor a lot to fuel their laying.

Here's an old WR hen past laying that had been sharing a cup and a half of FF with 13 other adult birds each day for a couple of months and eating on some really good pasture and forage. I wouldn't want to see this level of fat on my layer hens but this ol' gal hadn't laid in a year, so she wasn't using up much nutrition. Fattest bird I've ever butchered.


This is just half her carcass lying next to the whole carcass of an old BO/RIR cross rooster...big ol'guy.

Now that would be some good eating. I fattened up the cockerels we butchered recently but they didn't have nearly that much fat on them. I'd love to get that much fat to be able to render and use it.

 

[gjensen]

We haven't had much visible fat in our birds, it's been intra-abdominal fat that you would never know was there until you butchered them. Makes it harder to know how your feeding regimen is doing if you can't see the fat building up.

Feel the keel. Feel them before you butcher them, and you will start seeing a correlation. It took me a bit to tell what was too much. It is easier to feel what is not enough.

You are right. Processing them at the end of the season is revealing.

A lot of how fat is laid on is genetic. Some are more prone to intra-abdominal fat. Guess it points back to knowing our birds. They are not all the same.

 

[Arielle]

I followed the recommendation of my buckeyes-- minimum protein was to be 28%. He had tried raising them on a lesser amount and didnt like the results. So 28% or higher is his recommend.

Protein that is not used for making muscle or other protein structures is also used for making hormones, and composite biochemicals the body needs. THe "extra' protein is used for energy, and if energy is in excess , is stored as fat.

 

[gjensen]

I've had some birds with quite a bit of fat...mostly older hens past their prime...and they were hugely fat on very little feed(fermented) but really good forage. My WR hens are birds that don't eat overly much at the feeder but their slow metabolism allows them to keep good condition and lots of fat despite that...that's one reason I love this breed. Don't take much feed to turn one of them into a huge and fat carcass, nor a lot to fuel their laying.

Here's an old WR hen past laying that had been sharing a cup and a half of FF with 13 other adult birds each day for a couple of months and eating on some really good pasture and forage. I wouldn't want to see this level of fat on my layer hens but this ol' gal hadn't laid in a year, so she wasn't using up much nutrition. Fattest bird I've ever butchered.







This is just half her carcass lying next to the whole carcass of an old BO/RIR cross rooster...big ol'guy.

That is a lot of fat.