- Aug 30, 2009
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I have a mixed flock of laying breeds (Autralorps, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes) and also decided to keep two Dark Cornish hens from my meat birds, just for some variety.
They're only 4.5 months old at the moment and I've been mixing their feed with oats from about 10 weeks of age, so they don't lay too early and recently started offering oyster shell, free choice.
Then yesterday I was shocked to find eggs in the nest boxes! This morning I heard some clucking and I found one of the Dark Cornish hens in a nest laying another egg.
I suppose it makes sense b/c meat birds are bred to grow faster, but I'm wondering how to keep my layers on grower pellets with oats and not have my Dark Cornish become malnourished.
Will Grower Cal pellets mixed with oats (plus oyster shells free choice) be enough to sustain a laying Dark Cornish until the others are ready for Layer rations in another month or so?
They also forage quite a bit in our 1/8th acre back yard.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...
They're only 4.5 months old at the moment and I've been mixing their feed with oats from about 10 weeks of age, so they don't lay too early and recently started offering oyster shell, free choice.
Then yesterday I was shocked to find eggs in the nest boxes! This morning I heard some clucking and I found one of the Dark Cornish hens in a nest laying another egg.
I suppose it makes sense b/c meat birds are bred to grow faster, but I'm wondering how to keep my layers on grower pellets with oats and not have my Dark Cornish become malnourished.
Will Grower Cal pellets mixed with oats (plus oyster shells free choice) be enough to sustain a laying Dark Cornish until the others are ready for Layer rations in another month or so?
They also forage quite a bit in our 1/8th acre back yard.
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks...
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