How much feed for two peafowl?

[WestKnollAmy]

Awesome thread, everyone!

 

[frenchblackcopper]

I'm wanting to start growing mealworms since they are 49% protein.and start incorporating this into feed about April 1st,,http://www.noamkelp.com/slfeed.html. I'm still researching growing the little buggers but i know diet affects quitters while incubating,at least it did here last summer and simply increasing the protein levels proved it.

 

[casportpony]

Very interesting... Do you think that one could feed enough mealworms to cause slipped tendon in peachicks? I ask because the feed store had 50% of their chicks with it this year, and mealworms were fed to them by the handfuls.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

Casportpony,
There have been discussions here about the fact that too high % protein feed given to peachicks causes leg problems; I believe that their body weight gain outstrips their leg structural development? For some reason I can't find the threads.
I think FBC is talking here about upping protein for the egg laying peahens, not the peachicks?

*edited to clarify that I was talking about peachicks.

 

[frenchblackcopper]

New2,,your correct.My chickens are the very last concern here anymore Peacocks are much more rewarding and better eye candy.I have been feeding 18% layer crumbles all year supplementing veggies in the summertime during egg laying season.But I think until I learn otherwise the kelp will add some very valuable trace minerals.If present feed intake stays the same during summertime and the peas are still fed 8oz of 18% layer crumbles,if I took away 2oz of crumbles and added 2oz of mealworms still equalling a total daily intake of 8oz,the protein level should increase protein to 25.75% of daily intake.With our extreme heat and humidity here summer feed rates drops somewhat but I still think on the average it may only drop 10% compared to wintertime comsumption.I know my charcoal pen will be the first to get this new ration.Only one hatched chick from over 40 eggs laid all summer,,and slightly more than 50% was all that was fertile.My male was only 2 years old last summer and I've been told Charcoals are slower to reach sexual maturity than other birds and since they only live about 7-8 yrs on average I don't have a long time to get a male hatched like the dad.

 

[new 2 pfowl]

FBC, It seems that there has been discussion here before about raising mealworms, which is apparently incredibly easy.
I'm really surprised that charcoals have such a short lifespan! I wonder why?

*edited to add: hey, I think Zazouse raises mealworms?

 

[frenchblackcopper]

With all the other issues with Charcoals I think they have a defeciency of some kind.Only a necropsy would possibly provide an answer but since diet is a key role in health I'm going to feed mine difrently once the breeding groups are seperated this spring,,which hopefully will be next month.

 

[Trefoil]

I raise mealworms but have so many animals that eat them I haven't been able to use for more than a treat. Please let us know how your charcoals do on their new and improved diet. Fish meal is considered a good protein source, if you can get good quality at a reasonable price. I've never used kelp because I've never found it at a price I could afford to feed it, except to tropical fish. Its supposed to be great, Do you feel its worth the cost?

 

[casportpony]

Casportpony,
There have been discussions here about the fact that too high % protein feed given to peachicks causes leg problems; I believe that their body weight gain outstrips their leg structural development? For some reason I can't find the threads.
I think FBC is talking here about upping protein for the egg laying peahens, not the peachicks?

*edited to clarify that I was talking about peachicks.

I know he was talking about upping the protein in the adult birds to increase hatch rates, which I find very interesting and can't wait to see how it works... I'm just trying to get as much info for the feed store owner so that I won't have to look at the crippled chicks next year. He started off feeding 27% and the worms and I told him as soon as I saw the first one to switch them to the lowest protein that they carry, which is 22%, but he was still feeding the worms and several more of the chicks developed slipped tendon. The store doesn't cull these chicks, they just let them starve to death, literally, and animal control doesn't do anything about it.

 

[casportpony]

New2,,your correct.My chickens are the very last concern here anymore Peacocks are much more rewarding and better eye candy.I have been feeding 18% layer crumbles all year supplementing veggies in the summertime during egg laying season.But I think until I learn otherwise the kelp will add some very valuable trace minerals.If present feed intake stays the same during summertime and the peas are still fed 8oz of 18% layer crumbles,if I took away 2oz of crumbles and added 2oz of mealworms still equalling a total daily intake of 8oz,the protein level should increase protein to 25.75% of daily intake.With our extreme heat and humidity here summer feed rates drops somewhat but I still think on the average it may only drop 10% compared to wintertime comsumption.I know my charcoal pen will be the first to get this new ration.Only one hatched chick from over 40 eggs laid all summer,,and slightly more than 50% was all that was fertile.My male was only 2 years old last summer and I've been told Charcoals are slower to reach sexual maturity than other birds and since they only live about 7-8 yrs on average I don't have a long time to get a male hatched like the dad.

Based on those numbers, if chicks were getting 22% crumbles and several handfuls of worms a day, that *could* put their protein level over 30%, right, and way over 30% when they were getting the 30% crumble?