Thought I would share...They are now 16 weeks old and are healthy.
When my pullets were about 10 weeks, their feathers were dull. I decided to integrate grains & BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) in their medicated starter feed. I wanted them to still have the protection of the feed. First 20% then gradually upped to 50%. Within a week I started to notice a difference. Now my second batch of chicks, I decided to do the same thing. Within a week, their feathers began to shine. The older Pullets, their feathers shimmer in the sun and is gorgeous after a month. They are RIR and when the sun hits their feathers just right, next to the black border is a thin lipstick red border...They are mahogany in color that glistens in the sun.
I don't know if it is the BOSS that improved their feathers or the combination of grains.
This is what I feed them:
50% Medicated Chick Feed
I purchased these at Winco...Sprouts carry some but locally Winco had more selections.
2 parts each: Oat groats, cracked wheat, bran, oat bran, red wheat
1 part each: split green peas, lentils, hulled millets, BOSS, (Flax--saving when laying)
1/2 part each: Quinoa,
Pinch each: Nutritious Yeast, powdered/granulated kelp
Chicken grit is available on the side
******************************
Locally they have a co-op that sells Layer organic mash that has fish meal, no soy or corn, and I think flax too. This comes out to about $0.50 a pound where the above grains combined cost about $1.00 a pound.
I will transition them over to this feed once they are ready to lay. I will continue the BOSS since they seem to love them. Buying BOSS in bulk is cheaper than the bagged at the store.
I already purchased oyster shells to give them once they are ready to lay.
Please let me know if this mode of feeding is OK because I really like the improvement in their feathers from dull to shimmery.
I tried to take pix to show the difference, but the camera didn't pick up what the eye saw. Will keep trying with different lighting so I can share the before and after.
When my pullets were about 10 weeks, their feathers were dull. I decided to integrate grains & BOSS (Black Oil Sunflower Seeds) in their medicated starter feed. I wanted them to still have the protection of the feed. First 20% then gradually upped to 50%. Within a week I started to notice a difference. Now my second batch of chicks, I decided to do the same thing. Within a week, their feathers began to shine. The older Pullets, their feathers shimmer in the sun and is gorgeous after a month. They are RIR and when the sun hits their feathers just right, next to the black border is a thin lipstick red border...They are mahogany in color that glistens in the sun.
I don't know if it is the BOSS that improved their feathers or the combination of grains.
This is what I feed them:
50% Medicated Chick Feed
I purchased these at Winco...Sprouts carry some but locally Winco had more selections.
2 parts each: Oat groats, cracked wheat, bran, oat bran, red wheat
1 part each: split green peas, lentils, hulled millets, BOSS, (Flax--saving when laying)
1/2 part each: Quinoa,
Pinch each: Nutritious Yeast, powdered/granulated kelp
Chicken grit is available on the side
******************************
Locally they have a co-op that sells Layer organic mash that has fish meal, no soy or corn, and I think flax too. This comes out to about $0.50 a pound where the above grains combined cost about $1.00 a pound.
I will transition them over to this feed once they are ready to lay. I will continue the BOSS since they seem to love them. Buying BOSS in bulk is cheaper than the bagged at the store.
I already purchased oyster shells to give them once they are ready to lay.
Please let me know if this mode of feeding is OK because I really like the improvement in their feathers from dull to shimmery.
I tried to take pix to show the difference, but the camera didn't pick up what the eye saw. Will keep trying with different lighting so I can share the before and after.
