Feed and Growth Concerns....Black Australorps

[m1chelle1]

BYC Fam,

So I'm experienced with raising BO's, but this year I decided to try for Black Australorps (BA's). My BA's are 4 months old, and not as large as I was expecting them to be, by this point. I know my BO's would be larger at this age, but I was under the impression that BA's are similar, and the breed derived from BO's, so I do expect a large breed here. So far, they are concerningly small. No, i dont have an actual weight on them. Just know they are smaller than I expect. I do feed them Organic Scratch and Peck feed, they have a feeder that is always full, and I scatter some in their run because they enjoy foraging. They also get a few decent servings of mealworms every week, and a healthy helping of table scraps, bugs, etc. Is there something im doing wrong with feeding my gals, or am I concerned for nothing? Is there anything I can do to help with growth, in general? Ive never had this "issue" if it is an issue....

thanks all!!!
M

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

Perhaps try posting a picture of them to show how small they are? It seems like you are feeding them everything they need. Also, Black Austrolorps aren't as big as Orps.

 

[Folly's place]

Get weights on a couple of them, at least. The largest and smallest, and also weigh a couple of your Orphingtons. Do you have a record of their weights at the same age?
My hatchery birds are often not up to official breed standard weights, for several reasons. Statistically, at least, egg production is higher in smaller birds, while meat qualities are better larger. Hatcheries are happy with good egg production, and don't worry about having bigger birds.
Mary

 

[m1chelle1]

Get weights on a couple of them, at least. The largest and smallest, and also weigh a couple of your Orphingtons. Do you have a record of their weights at the same age?
My hatchery birds are often not up to official breed standard weights, for several reasons. Statistically, at least, egg production is higher in smaller birds, while meat qualities are better larger. Hatcheries are happy with good egg production, and don't worry about having bigger birds.
Mary

Ahhhhhhhh, very good point. I've never done Hatchery birds before, these are my first. I usually got birds locally but I couldn't find BA's in the winter locally. Makes sense they would generally be smaller.....sigh. I suppose it's ok...

 

[Folly's place]

Your hatchery birds may produce more eggs, not a bad thing!
Mary

 

[m1chelle1]

Your hatchery birds may produce more eggs, not a bad thing!
Mary

agreed! im not upset about that, for sure!

 

[Mosey2003]

Hatchery birds are almost always smaller than breeder birds, yes.

At 4 months, it's too late to push for more growth. If you feed high protein for the first 8 weeks, you'll get the maximum size possible for each bird. After that, as long as the protein and vitamins/minerals are sufficient, it's just finishing out.

My breeder Buffs were *enormous*, I don't think the Australorps are meant to be quite as big as the "regular" Orpingtons anyway, but I could be wrong about that. A large breed, yes, but they were developed with high egg production as the goal.

 

[Abdalnassir]

Here is some steps you can take to correct the situation:

• Use E-Se it is proven to have positive effect on bird daily gain and boosts the immune system. use it regularly [preferably 5 days every 2 weeks]
• Use calcium fortified with minerals such as zinc and copper they have essential role in the digestive system along side vitamin AD3E 5 days every month.
• Use anthelmintics (drugs to kill internal parasites especially worms).

 

[m1chelle1]

Hatchery birds are almost always smaller than breeder birds, yes.

At 4 months, it's too late to push for more growth. If you feed high protein for the first 8 weeks, you'll get the maximum size possible for each bird. After that, as long as the protein and vitamins/minerals are sufficient, it's just finishing out.

My breeder Buffs were *enormous*, I don't think the Australorps are meant to be quite as big as the "regular" Orpingtons anyway, but I could be wrong about that. A large breed, yes, but they were developed with high egg production as the goal.

Thanks! Yep, my breeder BO's were absolutely Huge. But it was fantastic