Heritage Large Fowl - Phase II

[gjensen]

Actually chickens are omnivores... But i won't get into that.
In addition to bugs and small rodents via free range, my layers get BSF. I raise BSF the majority of the year here (for free thank goodness) but I don't feed them all directly. I freeze a percentage of them and feed them over the winter months when we have no bugs to forage.
They are actually included in my winter ration and I weigh them out each morning (yep... there's that anal side of me again) LOL

I never feed BSF to prelaying birds (well... almost never, I do toss them a few as a treat every once in a while). But BSF are way too high in calcium for chicks to eat on a regular basis.
When all other livestock is butchered throughout the year i save all the meat and bone meal... This is what the chicks get.
The remaining, non-animal protein part of the ration is grains we grow or acquire locally that are fermented prior to feeding. I have a hammer mill so I grind them a little finer for brooder chicks who begin on fermented grains from day 1. By the time they are 6-10 weeks old they are eating fermented whole grains like the rest of the flock.

Of course they are. They love meat, and it is great for them. No question.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: Vicki, I've not heard of this??

I have been looking for dogs via the sporting end, not the show end.

Showing also ruined a lot of sheep breeds, too. I don't look for show sheep anymore.

 

[RedRidge]

Actually chickens are omnivores... But i won't get into that.

In addition to bugs and small rodents via free range, my layers get BSF. I raise BSF the majority of the year here (for free thank goodness) but I don't feed them all directly. I freeze a percentage of them and feed them over the winter months when we have no bugs to forage.

They are actually included in my winter ration and I weigh them out each morning (yep... there's that anal side of me again) LOL


I never feed BSF to prelaying birds (well... almost never, I do toss them a few as a treat every once in a while). But BSF are way too high in calcium for chicks to eat on a regular basis.

When all other livestock is butchered throughout the year i save all the meat and bone meal... This is what the chicks get.

The remaining, non-animal protein part of the ration is grains we grow or acquire locally that are fermented prior to feeding. I have a hammer mill so I grind them a little finer for brooder chicks who begin on fermented grains from day 1. By the time they are 6-10 weeks old they are eating fermented whole grains like the rest of the flock.

I hear of a lot of people keeping Black Soldier Fly, if even just for quick composting.  My question is, how do you control the egg laying?  Do they ever end up laying eggs into the neighbors landscaping(mulch)?

You don't even know they are around. The adults don't even have a mouth and live only long enough to lay eggs. They tend to lay right where they pupate (where they have been feeding prior to crawl off).
I provide corrugated cardboard hanging from inside bins. They lay clutches of eggs there. Each spring I put several bait buckets around with fermenting corn in then to attract them with cardboard under the lids. I then move the clutches of eggs to my bins.
BSF will actually keep your regular fly population down. But you feed them fermenting feed... Not spoiled or moldy. There's a difference. Of course table scraps are great too. I have access to a weekly surplus from a church pantry of food handed out to the hungry once a week. Two of us raising bsf get all the food left over. .. old but not spoiled. .. We both raise bsf with it since we have very little food waste at our house.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: And it's worth noting...
Most commercial poultry feed does not contain enough "animal" protein.
Soy, peas, and other high protein ingredients are no substitute for the quality animal protein required by poultry. Nor can poultry get enough animal protein from fish meal only (unless you want fishy eggs that is).
So when designing customized rations it is critical that plenty of animal protein is included.
I formulate livestock rations for many types of livestock, and this is the single biggest problem people gave when feeding poultry - especially those times when poultry is in breeding pens and free range is not an option.
As I remember the limit is 10% by weight, then the eggs are fishy tasting. !0% is a good amt of protein isn't it?? How much animal protein do you add? ANd what is the analysis of the protein?

 

[Lacy Blues]

I feed my Buff Orps a really good diet, coupled with very good year round grazing. I now have uniformly good feather quality. Yes, I have selected for it, but diet plays a HUGE part in growing really good feathering. I furnish people who buy my birds with my feeding and worming schedule. Most follow it. Some who did not in the past, now do. Yardfullorocks is now using it too, and it pleased with the results. It takes good protein and fat, coupled with an absence of parasites, and crowding, to grow good feathers.

I wish I had any grazing at all. I have grandiose plans to try and change all that, I hope I have the stamina to make it all happen. I do have your feeding schedule and I've started feeding more BOSS. I may need to increase it more than that. I ferment my birds' feed. They get a mix of Feather Fixer, Game Bird Grower, rolled barley, whole wheat & ground alfalfa in their ferment bucket. In the other ferment bucket (which they get tossed on the ground first thing in the morning - gives them something to do) is whole oats, whole barley and BOSS. They get a little of this to start them off while I'm doing waters and then about an hour later (after I've had MY breakfast) they get their other ration. The other ration is given out again in the early evening. This serving varies. It has the basic already listed and sometimes they get grated carrots, hard-boiled or scrambled egg and/or sprouts of one seed or another mixed in. They really like their evening feed! I'm hoping that will continue on into summer as generally, they barely eat anything on summer evenings.

I may try adding the calf manna and see how that goes.

There is actually a fast feathering gene vs a slow feathering gene. Then there is a wicked slow feathering gene. This latter is not desirable. In the Barred Rocks, the slow feathering gene is necessary. In many breeds the fast feathering gene is present. Now within the confines of the gene one can select for faster growth, meaning within the spectrum of the slow feathering gene, one could select those that feather the fastest. The same is true for the fast feathering gene. All of the chicks might feather faster that chicks with the slow feathering gene, but among those chicks feathering out some are doing it faster than others, and one could select those birds.

As Dragonlady pointed out, this doesn't impose itself on quality of feather, by which we tend to mean width of feather. When selecting for width of feather, one of the easiest places to train the eye is in the tail or the wing. Look at the main tail feathers, how broad are they? Compare several birds of the same age. Look at the differences in width of feather:



These birds are better insulated, they appear more luxuriously cloaked, and they will weather the breeding season more in tact. I, personally, wouldn't think it would have a direct effect on egg production, unless indirectly via contributing to general stamina.

The thin feathered tragedy in the Barred Rocks is a conundrum to me. However, in trying to draw a (potentially BS) conclusion, I wonder if general preoccupation for perfection of barring did not blind the breeders to width. As Dragonlady mentioned, it can be lost relatively quickly, and if it's happening across the flock, it can be hard to notice. Or, maybe, the impact will not be as immediately obvious. Besides the challenge of the single comb, that thinness of feather is the major deterrent for me with regards to Barred Rocks, I have my hands full trying to pull these Dorkings out of the gutter, I don't want to start trying to select 1/2" feathers into 2" feathers.

Those are beautiful feathers Joseph! How do their wing feathers compare?

Ask to join the Brown Leghorn page on Facebook. He's on there.

Thank you. I will do that.

And it's worth noting...
Most commercial poultry feed does not contain enough "animal" protein.
Soy, peas, and other high protein ingredients are no substitute for the quality animal protein required by poultry. Nor can poultry get enough animal protein from fish meal only (unless you want fishy eggs that is).
So when designing customized rations it is critical that plenty of animal protein is included.
I formulate livestock rations for many types of livestock, and this is the single biggest problem people gave when feeding poultry - especially those times when poultry is in breeding pens and free range is not an option.

I will be trying to attract some BSF this year... if our nights ever get up to a good temperature. We've been having very nice warm days and then the mercury plunges again at night and the dog's dish is frozen again.

 

[RedRidge]

Actually I believe you can get fishy eggs with half that if you feed fish meal. I'll go back and look at me ration sheet on the computer later and tell you by weight and ratios.

 

[BGMatt]

Actually I believe you can get fishy eggs with half that if you feed fish meal. I'll go back and look at me ration sheet on the computer later and tell you by weight and ratios.

I found it depends on the individual. Every study I could ever find agrees with the 10% number, but some of my feed customers still reported fishy eggs until we got down to about 7% (if I did my math right, I use about 150# per ton.)

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THis begs the question, how does the meat taste on 7%?? Or if anyone feeds fishmeal , is a finisher ration used that is fishmeal free??

 

[hellbender]

Vicki, I've not heard of this??

I have been looking for dogs via the sporting end, not the show end.

Showing also ruined a lot of sheep breeds, too. I don't look for show sheep anymore.

No, I'm not Vcki but I'm free at the moment. Just google stock dog registries and you will get info for at least three. I would recommend The American Stock Dog Registry but nothing wrong with The National Dog Registry that I'm aware of.



EDIT: I suspect you could feed your chickens something close to 100% fish meal and the eggs would likely taste like...eggs. Wouldn't want to think about what it might do to the birds' alimentary systems. Right through a screened door.

Some of you are aware of MY feeding program and only a few have given it favorable reviews...but that doesn't matter. I have healthy long-lived and very productive birds with more folks seeking to buy our eggs daily.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: THanks ROn.

I"ve connected with a local breeder and he is definitely leary about finding the right homes for this breed, CBR. Tough dogs. I read the long bio designed to turn away inappropirate homes and it made me fall in love with the breed more. lol

Waiting for the right pup is tough-- have plenty of crates waiting for her. . .4 currently available , as other 2 are used by the chickens now !! lol THe dog collars still hang on the fence and the crates stand empty . . . .