- Sep 20, 2010
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Let me start by apologizing to the OP. If I offended or hurt your feelings, I apologize! That was not my intention. I was simply trying to bring reason and logic to the conversation. I was also not telling anyone not to raise or feed meal worms to their birds. Since it is apparently a totally emotional issue. I will stick to the facts as best I know, and provide evidence, scientific, anecdotal and mathematical figures to the best of my knowledge.
Anecdotal statements:
TREATS: Things that humans feed animals that make humans feel good. Just because any animal appears to love/goes crazy over anything doesn't mean that it's the best thing for them! Is there anything greater than an !..? Sorry, I'm bad with the emoticons.
Scientific statements:
Good feed: The hands down best thing you can feed any animal is a complete and balanced diet. For most game birds generally is game bird starter. For coturnix specifically, it's game bird starter from hatch to dispatch.
Mathematical statements:
A good quality complete nutrition game bird starter contains 28-30% protein, as well as being a complete nutritional ration, it costs me 36 cents a pound. That's the basic math I work from.
Let me tie that all in with the meal worm variable. For anyone that raises meal worms, can you produce 200 pounds of complete balanced GBS a week from spilled flour and kitchen refuse? I don't think so.
Can you have it on property ready to feed in less than 1 hour of my time for less than 36 cents a pound? I don't think so. Is it superior to my 200 pounds of 36 cent per pound GBS+1 hour of work? NO,IT IS NOT!
This is why I say that raising meal worms for game bird feed is a waste of time and money.
If you want to raise them for treats, then please remember that they are at best 24% protein, so you will be diluting 28-30% complete GBS, plus adding other elements that may be unhealthy, not to mention causing possible aggression problems. A side effect of feeding live food. Just things to think about.
It is my opinion that meal worms fed to game birds has a zero upside as far as nutrition is concerned, and a possible downside. Please asses your flocks needs and adjust feed as needed.
Now, if you just want to grow/raise things that will actually add nutrition to that bag of GBS you feed your birds, then may I suggest.....
Any green leafy vegetable, especially anything in the Brassica oleracea species. Most notably kale. Other nutritious greens like collards, mustard, turnips, etc...
Anything in in the winter squash/guard family will also add, not detract from a good quality GBS.
A hand full of kale can replace pounds of oyster shell as far as game birds go. When raising game birds, the first thing you have to forget, is raising chickens. Last time I checked, they are totally different species.
Just some things to think about...Nothing more
Anecdotal statements:
TREATS: Things that humans feed animals that make humans feel good. Just because any animal appears to love/goes crazy over anything doesn't mean that it's the best thing for them! Is there anything greater than an !..? Sorry, I'm bad with the emoticons.
Scientific statements:
Good feed: The hands down best thing you can feed any animal is a complete and balanced diet. For most game birds generally is game bird starter. For coturnix specifically, it's game bird starter from hatch to dispatch.
Mathematical statements:
A good quality complete nutrition game bird starter contains 28-30% protein, as well as being a complete nutritional ration, it costs me 36 cents a pound. That's the basic math I work from.
Let me tie that all in with the meal worm variable. For anyone that raises meal worms, can you produce 200 pounds of complete balanced GBS a week from spilled flour and kitchen refuse? I don't think so.
Can you have it on property ready to feed in less than 1 hour of my time for less than 36 cents a pound? I don't think so. Is it superior to my 200 pounds of 36 cent per pound GBS+1 hour of work? NO,IT IS NOT!
This is why I say that raising meal worms for game bird feed is a waste of time and money.
If you want to raise them for treats, then please remember that they are at best 24% protein, so you will be diluting 28-30% complete GBS, plus adding other elements that may be unhealthy, not to mention causing possible aggression problems. A side effect of feeding live food. Just things to think about.
It is my opinion that meal worms fed to game birds has a zero upside as far as nutrition is concerned, and a possible downside. Please asses your flocks needs and adjust feed as needed.
Now, if you just want to grow/raise things that will actually add nutrition to that bag of GBS you feed your birds, then may I suggest.....
Any green leafy vegetable, especially anything in the Brassica oleracea species. Most notably kale. Other nutritious greens like collards, mustard, turnips, etc...
Anything in in the winter squash/guard family will also add, not detract from a good quality GBS.
A hand full of kale can replace pounds of oyster shell as far as game birds go. When raising game birds, the first thing you have to forget, is raising chickens. Last time I checked, they are totally different species.
Just some things to think about...Nothing more
