How come..

[cheyfrie26]

How come when I buy baby chicks from the feed store they grow faster and stronger then the ones I hatch on my own? Is there anything they give them that I might not?

 

[CapricornFarm]

I think it makes a difference how old your hens are. Young hens lay small eggs. Older hens lay bigger eggs, therefore the chicks are bigger and have more yolk to get started well. Imo

 

[cheyfrie26]

I mean from the incubator.

 

[cmom]

Some breeders feed their breeding stock a higher protein feed developed for their breeders. Some feed stores sell breeder feed.

 

[Country Heart]

Never heard of breeder feed before now. Is it only fed to broody hens or also to laying hens?

 

[cmom]

The birds you are breeding for laying eggs to hatch weather you use a broody or you use an incubator. The claim is that you get a better hatch if your birds are fed a breeding feed which is specially formulated with extra goodies. Breeders Pellets are designed for birds in lay or coming into lay (this means for birds whom are already laying eggs and you are using the eggs for incubating).

 

[Country Heart]

Got it. Thanks cmom - you learn something new every day here on BYC.

 

[cheyfrie26]

Oh ok! Thanks for your post.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Quote:
A good breeder will only breed their best, healthiest hens to their best, healthiest roosters, selecting the mating pair to get rid of undesirable traits. Perhaps the chicks you get from the feed store are from a more responsible breeder than where you're getting your eggs for incubation. Or, if you are incubating your own chicken's eggs, perhaps you aren't being as selective as a breeder would be.