BREEDING FOR PRODUCTION...EGGS AND OR MEAT.

[pigsflyacres]

Like BGMatt, I don't think most of us can come up with better feed than a professionally formulated ration. My problem with what i can get is that its full of soy, which I think is a poor source of protein for a number of reasons.

For simplicity sake, I'm switching to flock raiser. I've got geese and multiple feeds has become a hassle. My geese like my fermented grain mix. I've switched over to barley, oats and wheat with some flax added on top. The chicks struggle with the whole grains so I run it thru the mill for them right now. I'm doing too much. Gotta figure out a simpler way. Free choice calcium source, grit, fermented grain at night and free choice flock raiser. The things like alfalfa I normally add in the winter months when they can't get out as much. When I start doing breeding pens, I'll have to change a couple things. I'm on a quest to find a good breeder ration. I can just keep their food in their building. Grrr....KISS otherwise when someone other than me takes care of things it will get messed up.

Jennifer

 

[mithious]

I discussed this with someone today. They used to do it.

I just can't see myself leaving the residue on the feeders from day to day.

My comment about the flies was in jest as much as any.

I was telling someone today. I am going to trial it three ways. A dry pen, wet pen, and fermented pen. Side by side. Related birds, same age, same pen arraignments, and in the same location. Same feed, just prepare differently. I will see for myself this year. I am curious to see if their is any measurable differences.

Please let us know what your results are. I am VERY curious to see the differences, if any. I did feed wet food this past winter in the AM for a warm meal, just enough that they ate it all at once. But it's only a small flock and had to wash the feeder every day for them. Not sure about fermented feed. I have been reading the thread on it, and haven't read anything about people washing the feeders yet.

Got to page 35, yet nothing on washing them so no idea if there is a difference in wet to fermented, when washing perhaps? or maybe it is taken as understood as part of the process? I wouldn't want to leave it unwashed, personally.

 

[mithious]

Question, I can't find a meat based protein feed up where I live. Can I feed meat? If so, what % per feed ratio?

Again, if so, what is the best meat to feed chicks? I don't have year round room to grow worms, like meal worms. No way am I growing them in tiny cabin

Already have spider issues in here

and not by choice

I could have our local little grocery grind up anything I needed if that is an option?

Thanks for any info!

 

[mithious]

Question, I can't find a meat based protein feed up where I live. Can I feed meat? If so, what % per feed ratio?

Again, if so, what is the best meat to feed chicks? I don't have year round room to grow worms, like meal worms. No way am I growing them in tiny cabin

Already have spider issues in here

and not by choice

I could have our local little grocery grind up anything I needed if that is an option?

Thanks for any info!

Sorry can't edit. Just thought about feeding meat and the reason I am raising dual purpose birds. Seems I would be just adding all that I am trying to get away from, unless I can get some venison, or rabbits? But then I would have to grind them up myself.

I do love living in the middle of nowhere, but this feed issue has me stumped. I need a meat protein. No room for growing creepy crawlies in my little cabin in the winter time.

ANY suggestions on how to add a meat protein to the chicks diet? ALL of the feeds sold here are plant based. I tried to find game birds feed or duck breeder today, no luck and the feed store guy was NO help with a meat protein either.

Anyone with ANY suggestions, besides creepy crawlies in my cabin, would be greatly appreciated!!!! Once the chicks are old enough, they WILL be supervised free ranged, so can supplement their diet that way, but until then????

Thanks once again!

 

[doubleleft]

Sorry can't edit. Just thought about feeding meat and the reason I am raising dual purpose birds. Seems I would be just adding all that I am trying to get away from, unless I can get some venison, or rabbits? But then I would have to grind them up myself.

I do love living in the middle of nowhere, but this feed issue has me stumped. I need a meat protein. No room for growing creepy crawlies in my little cabin in the winter time.

ANY suggestions on how to add a meat protein to the chicks diet? ALL of the feeds sold here are plant based. I tried to find game birds feed or duck breeder today, no luck and the feed store guy was NO help with a meat protein either.

Anyone with ANY suggestions, besides creepy crawlies in my cabin, would be greatly appreciated!!!! Once the chicks are old enough, they WILL be supervised free ranged, so can supplement their diet that way, but until then????

Thanks once again!

You could try boiling beef liver and crumbling it and if you want you can mix it with chick start & grow or any other feed or just by itself . Keep the juice the liver boiled in as it can be mixed with crumbles and etc . We used this in raising show birds . (beef hearts also work absolutely great)
We also use fresh ground beef (least expensive) and offer it to the chickens ... once they taste and realize what you've got they will be on you like white on rice .
Shannon Nelson

 

[3riverschick]

I get leg bones and the left over ham shank bones. I freeze them and when needed hang them up in the run by a rope.

The birds love to bat and peck at it. Man can they strip it lean quick. But if I lived where you do, I would take it in at night

so not to attract predtors.
Best,
Karen

 

[neopolitancrazy]

Fwiw, my husband and I are going to try the hydroponic fodder/sprouts thing for our chickens. I really like dark orange egg yolks, but don't trust the puppies or coyotes enough to free range my breeders.

I used to use Purina Flockraiser for all the birds, chickens and ducks of all ages. It really helped simplify feeding time. In my new locale, a locally milled feed is available that contains fresher, higher quality ingredients, (fish meal, and all grains are NON-GMO.). However, I have no guarantee that the feed was professionally formulated or balanced for chickens. I think I will add trace minerals to the sprouts water and powdered milk (for extra lysine and methionine,) to my breeders feed this fall. I have considered adding brewers yeast (high in lysine, methionine and B vitamins,) as well.

Any suggestions on finding a lab to analyse my chicken feed?

 

[Arielle]

Has anyone used this in their poultry feed regimen? If so, how and at what ratio?
Purina

Omolene #100

Active Pleasure Horse Feed, 50 lb. $18.39
Thanks so much,
Karen

Karen-- my free ranging birds clean up all the horse feed, and they even try to steal right from under the horse's nose-- gets them pinned ears.

Each species has slight differences in needs. Hence the multitude of indiviually formulated feeds. CHicken feeds for layers or meat birds; horse feeds for foals or light work; feed for small dogs or large dogs.

I would stick to a formulated chicken feed as the primary food. I have recently added calf manna and rabbit chow-- one to get the protein level higher until I could find the 27% protein recommended for the buckeyes; and the rabbit chow to add "greens" in a balanced-ish formula for the chicks.

Generally speaking all nutrients need to stay within a range for optimal health. Most GIs need a slow change in feeds-- not a dump of something radically different than from the usual. THat results in GI issues.

Quote: Karen-- I'm stunned-- you wont eat a wonderful sussex roaster but you will eat the rabbit--- We need to live closer! I can process a chicken, but my meat rabbit is still here!!

Fwiw, my husband and I are going to try the hydroponic fodder/sprouts thing for our chickens. I really like dark orange egg yolks, but don't trust the puppies or coyotes enough to free range my breeders.

I used to use Purina Flockraiser for all the birds, chickens and ducks of all ages. It really helped simplify feeding time. In my new locale, a locally milled feed is available that contains fresher, higher quality ingredients, (fish meal, and all grains are NON-GMO.). However, I have no guarantee that the feed was professionally formulated or balanced for chickens. I think I will add trace minerals to the sprouts water and powdered milk (for extra lysine and methionine,) to my breeders feed this fall. I have considered adding brewers yeast (high in lysine, methionine and B vitamins,) as well.

Any suggestions on finding a lab to analyse my chicken feed?

Ironically the big feed companies will test hay so the feed customer will choose the right grain formulated for the horses. . . .

 

[RedRidge]

 
Well do you think it would be too salty to feed the birds?  I don't know how much salt birds can

handle before it becomes an issue. And I proudly stand by my no gooey ghoulies for birds philosophy.

 So from whom did you get the Florida White rabbits? And what does your avatar think of being

upstaged by some fancy dancy show bunnies?

 Best,

 Karen

Show Bunnies? No.  These are part of our food 'on-the-hoof.  Not sure she want's her name given out but she lives neat Toledo Ohio and wins when she shows.  That alone will tell anyone who knows Florida Whites, pretty well who the breeder is.

We will be eating some of the offspring of the Florida Whites but the primary source of our rabbit meat will come from the hybrid FWs X NZ Whites.

[COLOR=FF0000]Sorry...if you do boil the hell out of it, you could add it to their regular grub over a period of a few days without causing any problems.  Too much at one time might scour the birds.[/COLOR]

NZ Reds and Amer Chins here. I avoid white poultry and rabbits since they tend to be more of a predator attractant. Not that I have to worry about that with the Maremma but is just an old habit that had been ingrained in me for years.

 

[RedRidge]

Question, I can't find a meat based protein feed up where I live. Can I feed meat? If so, what % per feed ratio?

Again, if so, what is the best meat to feed chicks? I don't have year round room to grow worms, like meal worms. No way am I growing them in tiny cabin  Already have spider issues in here and not by choice

I could have our local little grocery grind up anything I needed if that is an option?

Thanks for any info!

Yes. Ground liver is great. Google ration balancer and get a program which will balance your ration for you.
Better yet... raise BSF... Best animal protein source I know of and very easy to raise (and free).