California Greys???

[tommysgirl]

Congrats! I have everyone on a flock raiser and my big girls have free choice calcium but I guess next week I should start offering it to the young ones too. Thanks for sharing your experience. How big was the egg?

 

[Michael Apple]

Congrats! I have everyone on a flock raiser and my big girls have free choice calcium but I guess next week I should start offering it to the young ones too. Thanks for sharing your experience. How big was the egg?

Thanks. The egg laid was typically Bantam sized. 17-18 weeks seems to be a good time for this breed to start mixing in layer pellets/crumbles with the starter/grower. The introduction of a layer feed won't get them to lay any faster. The length of day and maturity will determine that. When you see the first egg you can switch to a complete layer ration. May I recommend something? Purina makes a substandard product. They have been on the recall list before: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm313507.htm

Some people say they feed Purina feeds with no trouble, but for me, substandard/inconsistent/GMO ingredients are unacceptable. You may want to introduce a high quality feed such as KIng Feeds, Modesto Milling, or Bar Ale's organic line of feeds. You aren't that far from me, so those feeds should be available. For palatability, I've found the first two I mentioned favored by my birds.

 

[tommysgirl]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been feeding King but they didn't have their versionof flock raiser in 50 lb bags last time I went to buy feed, only in 10s so I moved to the Flock raiser for the short term. I am on my last of two bags and will be going back to the King everyone seems to prefer the crumbles.

Chicken feed is confusing so I appreciate the input. I will try out your recommendations if I have trouble getting the King again. A local feed store sells Farmers Best. Do you know anything about it?

 

[Michael Apple]

Anything not certified organic will contain GMO ingredients. I saw King has a labeled brand called Freedom which is supposed to be GMO-free. There's also a soy-free one. I don't like the soy-free rations because they use canola meal, a garbage replacement, for soy. Organic soy has been an acceptable protein source in feeds for many years. I think so long as the birds receive some animal proteins a couple times a week, organic soy, wheat, oats, barley are good plant protein sources.

 

[Michael Apple]

The eggs are increasing in size at 21 weeks old. This one weighed just shy of 2 oz.


The cockerel and hens are all bright and vigorous.

 

[tommysgirl]

Very Nice! I bought Bar-Ale's version of flock raiser today. I hope they like it.

 

[Michael Apple]

Very Nice! I bought Bar-Ale's version of flock raiser today. I hope they like it.

You mean the 22% game bird crumbles or their 25% ration? I have used those in addition to layer pellets for my adults during breeding season or when many are molting. In other states, game bird crumbles/pellets were actually labeled as "breeder" rations.

 

[tommysgirl]

it's called 20% multi use poultry pellet. I feed one thing to everyone and have 4 wk old chicks, 17-21 week old pullets two cockerels and 6 laying hens. My older girls are moulting right now so I am keeping with the extra protein. I give oyster and egg shell on the side.

The Game bird crumbles sound like a good call. I didn't ask the feed store guy about them. I just said that I had to have a feed I could give chicks, hens and roosters and he brought out this. They do seem to like it. I have it mixed with the flock raiser right now.

Looking for eggs in a few weeks It's exciting.

How many girls did you end up with? One of my "girls" that I gave to a friend turned out to be a cockerel. I thought they were more easily feather sexable but apparently there are some blurred lines since I don't remember this one looking any different than the other 4 I got. I told my friend I would let Privett know and we could get her a replacement but she likes the little guy. He is her only male and she has 20+ girls. The girls are all larger breeds than CGs but it doesn't stop him from acting like a proper rooster. She named him Napoleon because he is so small but doesn't let it stop him

 

[Michael Apple]

Cockerel chicks are lighter colored and generally larger than pullet chicks. Privett often color marks males with a blue dauber. I have 11 pullets and one cockerel of the CA Greys. My old flock is in a separate coop and yard. The cockerel I have is quite aggressive when it comes to protecting his hens, which I appreciate. I haven't had a cockerel this aggressive for years. He's alright with me since he sees me so often, and I coax him to jump on my knee and eat out of my hand. At maturity they usually get to be 5-6 lbs. I also appreciate that because big roosters can be too hard on the hens. Rivertown has some nice Iowa Blue chicks in right now if your friend is interested in pullets. They are from Privett.

 

[ClintD]

This is pinky. He's named pinky becaus he was eaten by my dogs. Twice. The last time they ate his wings. One side his finger bones and the other side all the way up to the elbow. Couldn't tell it now tho unless you picked him up and checked him out. I'm not a real believer in chicken hospital but . . . .anyway he was pink with redcote for a long time.


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