SillyBird
In the Brooder
Hi,
I'm new on here and hoping for some positive feedback about two meat kings I have kept as 'pets' when the rest of the flock (about 45 of them) went for 'processing' at a government inspected plant a few days ago. I do realize meat kings are not intended as pets as their life expectancy is from chick to huge in nine weeks and that's about it. However, one was a runt who never even took on the appearance of a meat king in my opinion (and 'she'? won my heart over early on). The other had, I believe, a hurt foot and remained in a big dog kennel for pretty much half of the time but recovered pretty well with our care, eats, drinks, seems happy, but couldn't walk too fast, didn't get huge either, and my boyfriend didn't feel comfortable eating this one as he felt it was possibly, 'sick', so long story short I decided if he wasn't going to eat it, why not keep it back also to keep the other one, the runt, happy. They do have names...runt is Coconut, and the bird that was in the kennel is Kiwi. SO, MY QUESTION IS TO ALL OF YOU ON BYC...what would be the best food to feed them? We were given three laying hens so I have started feeding the two meat kings the layer mash (which has added calcium). Would this be the most beneficial feed to give to the meat kings though or should I be feeding them something else? (The meat kings are NOT in with the layers). Does anyone out there have a meat king they've held back as a 'pet'? They are truly each other's BFF and I have no regrets holding them back despite their short life expectancy. They are truly enjoying themselves. I tried to be very practical and let them go to the plant that day...but I spend alot of time with these birds (they are my first bird experience) and I grew very fond of them, and I mean all of them. Most were very tame and friendly and it was extremely difficult for me to take them to the plant. Coconut and Kiwi are the birds in my avatar pic. Thank you. PS--what are your thoughts about kelp meal for birds.
I'm new on here and hoping for some positive feedback about two meat kings I have kept as 'pets' when the rest of the flock (about 45 of them) went for 'processing' at a government inspected plant a few days ago. I do realize meat kings are not intended as pets as their life expectancy is from chick to huge in nine weeks and that's about it. However, one was a runt who never even took on the appearance of a meat king in my opinion (and 'she'? won my heart over early on). The other had, I believe, a hurt foot and remained in a big dog kennel for pretty much half of the time but recovered pretty well with our care, eats, drinks, seems happy, but couldn't walk too fast, didn't get huge either, and my boyfriend didn't feel comfortable eating this one as he felt it was possibly, 'sick', so long story short I decided if he wasn't going to eat it, why not keep it back also to keep the other one, the runt, happy. They do have names...runt is Coconut, and the bird that was in the kennel is Kiwi. SO, MY QUESTION IS TO ALL OF YOU ON BYC...what would be the best food to feed them? We were given three laying hens so I have started feeding the two meat kings the layer mash (which has added calcium). Would this be the most beneficial feed to give to the meat kings though or should I be feeding them something else? (The meat kings are NOT in with the layers). Does anyone out there have a meat king they've held back as a 'pet'? They are truly each other's BFF and I have no regrets holding them back despite their short life expectancy. They are truly enjoying themselves. I tried to be very practical and let them go to the plant that day...but I spend alot of time with these birds (they are my first bird experience) and I grew very fond of them, and I mean all of them. Most were very tame and friendly and it was extremely difficult for me to take them to the plant. Coconut and Kiwi are the birds in my avatar pic. Thank you. PS--what are your thoughts about kelp meal for birds.
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