How can I turn meat bird feed into layer feed?

[Forestfarm]

Ahh that makes sense that the birds higher in rank would pick through it! Thanks!

 

[NatJ]

My only concern is that wet feed would go bad quickly in a warm brooder. Do you toss it after 24 hours? 12 hours?

You said you have layers, right?

Maybe start by giving the chicks a new dish of wet mash each morning and evening, and give any extra to the layers at that point. Try to have a little leftover each time, so you know all the chicks had a chance to eat as much as they wanted.

Because chicks grow so quickly, you might want to change things as they get older.

As they get bigger, you can put the wet mash in a cooler area (away from the heat source) so it is not as warm. At that point, maybe leave the dish for a bit longer, say 24 hours instead of 12.

You might be able to put out a day's worth of wet mash in the late morning, deliberately have some left in the evening, then in the morning they eat yesterday's leftovers before you serve them a new batch. That lets them have as much as they want for most of their waking hours but does not leave it standing long enough that spoilage would be a big danger.

Of course they will eat more feed as they get older, so you will be wetting more and more feed each day.

What would the minimum soaking time be if I'm not necessarily trying to ferment it?

Try adding water to a small amount and see how long it takes for everything to be wet (stuck together enough that the powdery bits will get eaten too.) That would be how long it needs. I know pelleted or crumbled feed only takes a few minutes, but I don't know about the feed you have there.

If you are testing this before your chicks arrive, you can give the test sample to the layers rather than throwing it out.

My main concern now is that this broiler starter had some bigger grains. I don't think that young chicks could digest the bigger pieces of wheat and peas so I bought an inexpensive hand crank grain mill. On its finest setting it broke down the bigger grains quite well. Any thoughts on if I should feed as is (first photo) or re-grind (second photo)?

I would probably use the finer texture (re-grind) for the first week or two. To test if they are ready for the bigger feed, give it at one feeding and see if they eat it all or if they eat around the bigger bits. If they skip the bigger bits, go back to grinding for a bit longer.

To grind the feed in their own gizzards, of course they need grit. I would make sure they have access to grit for at least a few days before trying the coarser texture (not re-ground.)

 

[Forestfarm]

You said you have layers, right?

Maybe start by giving the chicks a new dish of wet mash each morning and evening, and give any extra to the layers at that point. Try to have a little leftover each time, so you know all the chicks had a chance to eat as much as they wanted.

Because chicks grow so quickly, you might want to change things as they get older.

As they get bigger, you can put the wet mash in a cooler area (away from the heat source) so it is not as warm. At that point, maybe leave the dish for a bit longer, say 24 hours instead of 12.

You might be able to put out a day's worth of wet mash in the late morning, deliberately have some left in the evening, then in the morning they eat yesterday's leftovers before you serve them a new batch. That lets them have as much as they want for most of their waking hours but does not leave it standing long enough that spoilage would be a big danger.

Of course they will eat more feed as they get older, so you will be wetting more and more feed each day.


Try adding water to a small amount and see how long it takes for everything to be wet (stuck together enough that the powdery bits will get eaten too.) That would be how long it needs. I know pelleted or crumbled feed only takes a few minutes, but I don't know about the feed you have there.

If you are testing this before your chicks arrive, you can give the test sample to the layers rather than throwing it out.


I would probably use the finer texture (re-grind) for the first week or two. To test if they are ready for the bigger feed, give it at one feeding and see if they eat it all or if they eat around the bigger bits. If they skip the bigger bits, go back to grinding for a bit longer.

To grind the feed in their own gizzards, of course they need grit. I would make sure they have access to grit for at least a few days before trying the coarser texture (not re-ground.)

Thank you so much, all really helpful points. I'm feeling good about this. I like the idea of being able to give the leftovers to the layers so nothing goes to waste.
Do you have a prefered way encourage chicks to take some grit? I've done little plates near the feed and just sprinkled it over the feed but I haven't seen either way work particularly better than the other.

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you so much, all really helpful points. I'm feeling good about this. I like the idea of being able to give the leftovers to the layers so nothing goes to waste.
Do you have a prefered way encourage chicks to take some grit? I've done little plates near the feed and just sprinkled it over the feed but I haven't seen either way work particularly better than the other.

Nope, I just give them a little on the side and let their curiosity take over