cochin feeding

[chicken head34]

Hi!

at what age do you switch ur cochins from chick starter to scratch?

 

[Mahonri]

Scratch is only a treat.

We go from Chick starter to grower at 5 weeks.

They stay on grower (flock raiser) to week 19-20 and then onto layer feed after that.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Chicks should ideally be kept in chick starter until about 16-21 weeks (when they are due to start laying). Then, they should be feed a good quality layer/breeding ration. Scratch should only be fed in the cooler months and sparingly. The corn and grains take longer for the birds to digest and contain a lot of fats and oils, which can make them overweight and put them as risk for heat stroke, heart attack, and other issues.

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
I didnt know that about the scratch, thanks for posting

 

[Chickenaddict]

I didn't know that about scratch either, I have always fed it to them year round and never had any problems as a treat of course.

 

[chicken head34]

I feed my silver phoenix rooster scratch year around, and did that with my roosters before him. what is the best feed to feed him?

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Quote:
He can have the same feed as the hens (layer/breeder ration). If you would him to be in top condition for show, etc. I would put him on a game cock feed. It has higher levels of the ingredients needed to help him grow those long, beautiful feathers.

Here are some links about chicken nutrition that may be some interest to ya'll:

http://www.mybackyardchickenfarm.com/chickenfeed.html

http://www.lionsgrip.com/topics.html

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/pnw/pnw477/

 

[mcorliss74]

I would like to get my 6 mos old Cochins off chick feed, but find crumbles to be very wasteful.. so what is next ?

 

[Percheron chick]

It's more to do with the shape. Get them on a pelleted feed or ferment what you have. Some chickens have a terrible time picking up a mash or crumbles.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Pellets would be the next feed. If your wanting to use a layer feed then they usually come in pellet form. Myself use a Turkey/gamebird finisher. That would be considered an all flock feed as any poultry can eat it and any age as long as they are large enough to do so. With my chickens we wait until they are 10ish weeks or more then switch over to the turkey finisher which is pellet form. In doing this any age and gender and if laying or not can be eating the feed. Supplement calicum for the birds laying with oyster shell. Toss a handful on the ground once a week or have separate small dish they can use free choice.