BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[CanadianBuckeye]

I think the issue with feeding cat food is too much salt- I have no idea what too much means, but something to watch for. I feed raw bone dust-it's the stuff that's left after meat (beef and pork) is cut up, like sawdust. The chickens just love it. I only feed once a week in summertime, but in the winter they get it 3 times per week, about a pound between a dozen chickens. Supplies calcium too.
Still trying to figure how to have sustainable black soldier fly larvae, winter looks a bit problematic- they need fairly warm temperatures and strong light to mate and lay eggs. Maybe the easiest way is just to buy them.

 

[jbkirk]

Well, all of my chickens receive organic, non-gmo, soy-free, corn-free, canola-free feed and are super healthy. The primary protein source in my feed is fish meal, with additional protein coming from spring peas. I never use pharmaceuticals to treat any of them and have several hens approaching 2 yrs of age that still lay 6-7 jumbo eggs per week. Since the desert environment doesn't supply me with much forage for the birds, I supplement with home-grown organically grown kale, Swiss chard, snap peas, shelling peas, sunflower seeds, lettuce and whatever native grasses that grow around my garden beds. I understand what you mean about organic possibly being a scam, but I've researched my feed supplier pretty thoroughly and feel pretty confident about the quality of what I'm buying. Since I eat both the birds and the eggs, I just want to ensure that whatever the bird consumes translates into healthier food for my family and myself.

What kind of feed do you use?

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

I think the issue with feeding cat food is too much salt- I have no idea what too much means, but something to watch for. I feed raw bone dust-it's the stuff that's left after meat (beef and pork) is cut up, like sawdust. The chickens just love it. I only feed once a week in summertime, but in the winter they get it 3 times per week, about a pound between a dozen chickens. Supplies calcium too.
Still trying to figure how to have sustainable black soldier fly larvae, winter looks a bit problematic- they need fairly warm temperatures and strong light to mate and lay eggs. Maybe the easiest way is just to buy them.

Well, they should work out fine here. I should really look into this...

- Ant Farm

 

[Rock Home Isle]

I think the issue with feeding cat food is too much salt- I have no idea what too much means, but something to watch for. I feed raw bone dust-it's the stuff that's left after meat (beef and pork)  is cut up, like sawdust. The chickens just love it. I only feed once a week in summertime, but in the winter they get it 3 times per week, about a pound between a dozen chickens. Supplies calcium too.
Still trying to figure how to have sustainable black soldier fly larvae, winter looks a bit problematic- they need fairly warm temperatures and strong light to mate and lay eggs. Maybe the easiest way is just to buy them.

Its been a few years since I really sat down and went through this book for content. I believe there is an entire section on rearing Soldier Flies...

 

[angry rooster]

I think the issue with feeding cat food is too much salt- I have no idea what too much means, but something to watch for. I feed raw bone dust-it's the stuff that's left after meat (beef and pork)  is cut up, like sawdust. The chickens just love it. I only feed once a week in summertime, but in the winter they get it 3 times per week, about a pound between a dozen chickens. Supplies calcium too.
Still trying to figure how to have sustainable black soldier fly larvae, winter looks a bit problematic- they need fairly warm temperatures and strong light to mate and lay eggs. Maybe the easiest way is just to buy them.

I have been looking into the soldier fly thing to and I think I can over winter some in a old fish tank that I have to get a good amount of them to the spring I was reading that if you keep them at a lower temperature like 18°c you can extend the life of them by weeks

 

[Fire Ant Farm]

Quote:
I have this book and love it. I need to pull it back out again...

- Ant Farm

 

[DesertChic]

Yes, but do I recall correctly that you get your feed custom ground/prepared a ton at a time? (Vs. buying a bagged organic/non-GMO feed from the feed store...)

True...sort of. I buy it in bulk every 2 months, so the last bag does sit in the garage for a couple months, but as long as it's no older than that I'm happy. I get your point though.

 

[DesertChic]

Its been a few years since I really sat down and went through this book for content. I believe there is an entire section on rearing Soldier Flies...

This was the first book I ever read about poultry keeping beginning about 2 years before I purchased my first chick. I LOVE this book!

 

[DesertChic]

What kind of feed do you use?

It's from these people:
http://www.tucsonorganicfeed.com/

 

[DesertChic]

Well, this weekend was weights, measures and photo time! The last batch of incubator chicks are 10 weeks old now and I've selected my meat breeders. I'm still thrilled with their growth rates, personalities, temperaments and health.

Breeding cockerel #1: Simon - NN/White Rock mix: 51.78 ounces



Breeding cockerel #2: Monty - White Rock/Ameraucana-Dorking mix: 51.36 ounces



Breeding pullet #1: Senna - White Rock/Ameraucana-Dorking mix: 42.4 ounces


Breeding pullet #2: Mags - Australorp/Ameraucana-Dorking mix: 44.2 ounces


Breeding pullet #3: Willow - NN/White Rock mix: 40.04 ounces


Breeding pullet #4: Haley - White Rock/Ameraucana-Dorking mix: 39.89 ounces



@Kev - I'm mystified as to how Haley (pictured above) managed to remain pure white. Her father is my copper-colored Ameraucana-Dorking mix, the same as Willow's, Senna's and Monty's, and yet they're all colorful. She also has the same mother as Simon, also pictured above. (Chicken color genetics continues to amaze and confound me.)