when do you switch them from medicated chick start to grower? is bird grit cheaper then chick grit? when do you start giving them non processed grains?
You are right, when I worked at the pet store we sold alfalfa cubes to bunny people. It was an expensive little bag for a few cubes! Occasionally we'd open a bag for the store bunnies and they never got excited for them. I hope my feed store has a small bag of alfalfa cubes or pellets, otherwise I am sure the sheep might like it if the chickens don't. Sheep should be able to eat that, right? At the moment the sheep get a local mix of hay and they eat snow for their water source..
Many feed or pet supply stores will carry alfalfa cubes. They are small compressed cubes of alfalfa made for bunnies, I think. I have rehydrated them and put out with my fermented grains/seeds but they weren't a big hit with my chickens. They ate them but prefer the sprouted grains/seeds for green food.
I have a friend that raises alfalfa hay and has goats. There are always plenty of "fines" (the small leaves that fall off the stems and onto the ground) that she lets me have if I bring a 5 gallon bucket over and scoop them up. I have stirred these into the fermented grains just before taking it out and feeding the chickens. They seem to like it better than the cubes......but they are spoiled little buggersI wouldn't put the alfalfa in the ferment until time to feed, I've read that some tried it and it stank......same with feeds that contain fishmeal....don't ferment those....stick with grains/seeds or pellets/crumble/mash for fermenting.
Quote: What brand does your feed store carry?
Purina makes StartnGrow (18% protein) that they recommend feeding chicks until they are laying age (or butchering age if male) and then switch them to Layena (16% and extra calcium). They also make Flock Raiser which is good if you want a bit more protein (20%) or have a mixed flock. Ask what they carry besides chicken feed. They may have a mixed flock feed that will work for you.
I feed Purina Startena which is a 30% gamebird (meant for quail, turkeys, pheasants) starter in crumble form. I feed this free choice to my whole flock. I also feed fermented grains/seeds, sprouted grains/seeds, homegrown mealworms, store bought freeze dried mealworms and any other scraps from the kitchen at least once a day. I keep oyster shell free choice and they have grit in the coarse sand that is In the two runs (and the gravel driveway when it isn't covered in snow). If I find frozen eggs or manage to crack/break one while collecting or getting them into the house, I will scramble it/them and feed it back to the flock.
Quote: Many feed or pet supply stores will carry alfalfa cubes. They are small compressed cubes of alfalfa made for bunnies, I think. I have rehydrated them and put out with my fermented grains/seeds but they weren't a big hit with my chickens. They ate them but prefer the sprouted grains/seeds for green food.
I have a friend that raises alfalfa hay and has goats. There are always plenty of "fines" (the small leaves that fall off the stems and onto the ground) that she lets me have if I bring a 5 gallon bucket over and scoop them up. I have stirred these into the fermented grains just before taking it out and feeding the chickens. They seem to like it better than the cubes......but they are spoiled little buggersI wouldn't put the alfalfa in the ferment until time to feed, I've read that some tried it and it stank......same with feeds that contain fishmeal....don't ferment those....stick with grains/seeds or pellets/crumble/mash for fermenting.
cubes have everything compressed in them.... so not as many leaves.... its the leaves the chcikens like. when they are done with a flake of hay its just stems....
The smaller pellets have more finely ground alfalfa in them... allowed to ferment with the regular feed they would disappear....
deb
purina and some asbass or something forget the name.. I went with the purina...ok I will I'll have to write this down so I dont fluff it off when I go to speak to them.............ohh would love to hear more about your live mealworm use and how you go about it... I had thought about doing a fly bucket but just ugh lolWhat brand does your feed store carry?
Purina makes StartnGrow (18% protein) that they recommend feeding chicks until they are laying age (or butchering age if male) and then switch them to Layena (16% and extra calcium). They also make Flock Raiser which is good if you want a bit more protein (20%) or have a mixed flock. Ask what they carry besides chicken feed. They may have a mixed flock feed that will work for you.
I feed Purina Startena which is a 30% gamebird (meant for quail, turkeys, pheasants) starter in crumble form. I feed this free choice to my whole flock. I also feed fermented grains/seeds, sprouted grains/seeds, homegrown mealworms, store bought freeze dried mealworms and any other scraps from the kitchen at least once a day. I keep oyster shell free choice and they have grit in the coarse sand that is In the two runs (and the gravel driveway when it isn't covered in snow). If I find frozen eggs or manage to crack/break one while collecting or getting them into the house, I will scramble it/them and feed it back to the flock.
Many feed or pet supply stores will carry alfalfa cubes. They are small compressed cubes of alfalfa made for bunnies, I think. I have rehydrated them and put out with my fermented grains/seeds but they weren't a big hit with my chickens. They ate them but prefer the sprouted grains/seeds for green food.
I have a friend that raises alfalfa hay and has goats. There are always plenty of "fines" (the small leaves that fall off the stems and onto the ground) that she lets me have if I bring a 5 gallon bucket over and scoop them up. I have stirred these into the fermented grains just before taking it out and feeding the chickens. They seem to like it better than the cubes......but they are spoiled little buggersI wouldn't put the alfalfa in the ferment until time to feed, I've read that some tried it and it stank......same with feeds that contain fishmeal....don't ferment those....stick with grains/seeds or pellets/crumble/mash for fermenting.
