Hatching issues

[Pathfinders]

I do wonder if/when we'll start seeing an impact of GMO grains in our poultry.

 

[Bill 101]

Gee Laura, why don't you ask Mike Gilbert ???

 

[Pathfinders]

Hahahaha.

No.

 

[loveourbirds]

I do wonder if/when we'll start seeing an impact of GMO grains in our poultry.

we already have, in the 80's on commercial egg farms they claimed to feed the chickens 3 oz per chicken per day (egg strain leghorns). with a similar strain we now feed 5-6 oz a day. it takes almost twice as much feed to accomplish the same nutrition. i cant remember where i read it, but they talked about an increase in manure and a decline of eggs from '96 to 2000

on the other end of it, a properly mixed feed - even if it contains GMO's is not as dangerous as alot of people want to believe. there are no positive ties to GMO's causing cancer or any other health problems - other than a possible tie to the decline in the bee population.

 

[loveourbirds]

They vary in stages. Most stop 3 to 7 days before they are suppose to hatch

the common problems at that point are:
low or high humidity - high humidity will have small air cells, low humidity will have large air cells; and usually some internal but no external pipping.

low temperature - usually you will see some defects in feet or deformed/crossed beaks.

low protein/ vitamin deficiency - all signs of formation are normal, they just are to weak to get out of the shells.

overly thick shell - hard to candle, extra hard shells will sometimes keep a chick from pipping.

 

[Bill 101]

Quote:
Not sure when, but isn't that about the time the feed manufactures got the bright idea to go to "all vegetarian diets" in poultry feeds?
The question being, is the decline in egg production due to GMO'S or Veggie diets?

 

[loveourbirds]

i have only read about this, it was a period in my life when i didnt own chickens. i will see if i can find that again, i looked in my favorites and it wasnt there. i think it did state liquid animal fat as the protein builder in the feed.

the vegetarian diet for chickens has been proven a bad idea. its not impossible to have healthy chickens on a vegetarian diet - but most of us dont understand nutrition enough to try it. most of the vegetarian feeds contain large amounts of soy. we are learning that GMO soys may do more harm than good as far as nutrition goes. the nutrition is in them, but the antivitamins block the absorption of needed nutrients. with the lack of nutrients due partially to modern farming techniques and the addition of more antivitamins, the immune systems are weakened.

there was a test performed on tomatoes in the 70's showing 14 essential vitamins, and several needed micronutrients (for humans). around 2005-2010 the same test was done again, the tomatoes only contained an average of 4 or 6 essential vitamins, and hardly any micronutrients. corn suffers from the same nutritional drop.

most farmers only replace nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash in the soil. some will add chealated iron, and lime (calcium). about 97% of the farmers out there neglect the micronutrients that us and plants need. gold, titanium, molybendium, copper, and several others. if the nutrients aren't put back in the soil, the fruits/vegetables cannot absorb them. this is why im against hydroponics, those plants can only absorb what is mixed in the water.

 

[loveourbirds]

i guess i should add, with all my research i dont know if we should blame GMO's or modern farming methods more. however since corn is 50% of my feed, next year im raising my own self pollinating (non GMO) variety. using micronutrient supplements (Rich Earth), and old fashioned techniques. i believe i will see a decrease in feed consumption but im not sure.

 

[Bill 101]

Quote:
Anyone that thinks "store bought" Tomatoes are Tomatoes has never tasted a real home grown one. The ones you get in a store are just disgusting. The may be red (probably from chemicals), but that's about it.

I don't know that growing your own corn is the answer, but I do believe it would be better than what is grown currently. After all, how much nutritional value do you need in corn if your going to use it to make ethanol? I believe animal protein in feeds is a better approach JMHO

 

[loveourbirds]

i agree completely, with the animal proteins. we feed mealworms, extra eggs, and even some meat leftovers for animal proteins. the whole idea of the corn is just attempting to bring back that extra 4% protein that it lacks now. since that is half of my feed pretty much, i believe things will become more efficient. for lack of comparison, we will use cake and brownies. both are basically a bread with an icing covering. most cakes have bigger air bubbles, meaning you can eat more (volume wise) than the brownies that are a nearly solid consistency.