Feed and Growth QUESTIONS????? Have you ever thought about this?

[Ridgerunner]

My thinking is along the lines of Gritsar and Beekissed. If you want your chickens as a laying flock, their growth and development needs to be normal. If you force them to grow unnaturally, you are probably giving them internal problems. They will be more productive and healthier over a period of time if they grow normally.

 

[HBuehler]

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I have a 4'5" 6 year old that weighs 53 pounds..should I give her away since she's not "normal" A lot of girls in this family are well in excess of 6' so that is normal for us
We feed all of our chickens alfalfa as a normal part of their diet-right along with our horses...been doing it for 30+ years and it's wonderful stuff but don't overdo it because it can be real hard on their organs to process.It rates right up there with clover by the chickens preference.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

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This simple sentence explains why your birds are not the same size, it appears to me that you have limited their feed intake by using whole oats and free range. I would also speculate that even though you provided fishmeal the amino acid ratios were not appropriate which would also limit growth by not allowing the birds to utilize all of the amino acids consumed.

Jim

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

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Well actually my feeding program is to free feed all the ingrediants in seperate feeders. So the whole oats are in the largest feeder. I mix the 2 powders, fish meal and alfalfa meal, in another feeder. I mix it 50/50, sometimes 60/40 if they seem like they need more protein. Everything is self regulated by the chickens. I also provide grit and oyster shell in another dish. And I do give whole wheat and sunflower seed and crushed corn as treat every night.I give them an ample amount. I do this by tossing it out like scratch. I dont free feed this because they like this so much more then the oats. And the oats are better for them. And to answer the wasting/ eating question... I watch them when I feed. One of my pens go through alot of the fish/ alfalfa mixture. When they do that I know it is time to add more protein. That seems to do the trick.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Quote:
This simple sentence explains why your birds are not the same size, it appears to me that you have limited their feed intake by using whole oats and free range. I would also speculate that even though you provided fishmeal the amino acid ratios were not appropriate which would also limit growth by not allowing the birds to utilize all of the amino acids consumed.

Jim

Do you know of a better way of feeding a non soy diet? I really wanted to be able to feed a whole grain diet. Am I missing something?​

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

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Yep my suspicions are correct.

If you want the birds to grow fast you need to stop providing ingredients and nutrients in the incorrect ratios. Based on your comments on growth rate and your feeding program is doesn't "seem to do the trick".

Feeding programs supplied by both national and regional feed manufacturers have much research behind them to provide for growth and production. That would be a good option for you.

Jim

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

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Well first thing I like to ask is? Have you ever treated your chickens with a coccidiostats?
Your friends birds being on a turkey starter might be getting treated with a coccidiostats because most turkey and chick starter are medicated..
The other question I have is what is the amount of each ingredient you are adding to your feed mix?

Something I found on a site I was on...
"Alfalfa is one of the most beneficial foods. It is one of the richest sources of all minerals necessary for great health. It is especially rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron in their most digestible forms. Alfalfa also contains fluoride in a natural form and most beneficial trace minerals, fiber, all vitamins including vitamin A as beta carotene, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K, essential fatty acids, antioxidants such as chlorophyll, Octacosanol, Saponins, Carotenoids and other phytonutrients. Alfalfa is another extremely effective method of raising pH and increasing phytonutrient levels.
In centuries past, the Arabian claimed that Alfalfa made their horses strong and swift. As a result, they began to use this nutrient rich grass in their diets and noticed right away that those who consumed it remained healthier than those who didn't. Being convinced just how beneficial it was for their health they named it Al-Fal-Fa, meaning Father Of All Foods."


Chris

Well first thing I like to ask is? Have you ever treated your chickens with a coccidiostats? No I have never. They just got a regular chick starter, and when they were old enough to eat the wheat I moved them to wheat with the same diet. The wheat is more paletable and digestable. Then when they were able to eat the oats I switched to the regime they are on now. I have oly read good things about alfalfa. So that is why I chose to feed it. Plus it was recomended to me by another lady that feeds the same diet.

 

[TACEYPERKINS]

Jim- Do you feed a pre blended feed or do you feed your own mixture?

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

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I feed a pre blended feed.

Our flock size does not justify either the use of a grain-supplement program or a grain-protein-basemix program.

Jim

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Well first thing I like to ask is? Have you ever treated your chickens with a coccidiostats?
Your friends birds being on a turkey starter might be getting treated with a coccidiostats because most turkey and chick starter are medicated..
The other question I have is what is the amount of each ingredient you are adding to your feed mix?

Something I found on a site I was on...
"Alfalfa is one of the most beneficial foods. It is one of the richest sources of all minerals necessary for great health. It is especially rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron in their most digestible forms. Alfalfa also contains fluoride in a natural form and most beneficial trace minerals, fiber, all vitamins including vitamin A as beta carotene, B6, B12, C, D, E, and K, essential fatty acids, antioxidants such as chlorophyll, Octacosanol, Saponins, Carotenoids and other phytonutrients. Alfalfa is another extremely effective method of raising pH and increasing phytonutrient levels.
In centuries past, the Arabian claimed that Alfalfa made their horses strong and swift. As a result, they began to use this nutrient rich grass in their diets and noticed right away that those who consumed it remained healthier than those who didn't. Being convinced just how beneficial it was for their health they named it Al-Fal-Fa, meaning Father Of All Foods."


Chris

Well first thing I like to ask is? Have you ever treated your chickens with a coccidiostats? No I have never. They just got a regular chick starter, and when they were old enough to eat the wheat I moved them to wheat with the same diet. The wheat is more paletable and digestable. Then when they were able to eat the oats I switched to the regime they are on now. I have oly read good things about alfalfa. So that is why I chose to feed it. Plus it was recomended to me by another lady that feeds the same diet.

You might think about giving them someting like Sulmet they might have Coccidiosis.

Chris