How old are your oldest Guinea Fowl?

[BennieAnTheJets]

I am so sad - started my flock in 2012 and most of my guys and gals are gone - still have 3 from that flock and 3 from the addition the year after. So I have (3) 12-year olds and (3) 11-year olds of my flock of 25 left. My Milton is sick and I lost a very dear hen yesterday.

How long do yours live? Just curious. As consolation or maybe I could have done better?

My old ones get very thin and then die (get sick from something, I guess).

I know some of this is just life.

Forrest-Forrest-Gump, who has been crippled since he was a baby is still with us and he is now 11 years old. Hurray for Forrest! He is my avatar.

 

[R2elk]

I parted with mine last year when I had to cut back for personal reasons.

None of my males lived past 9 years most likely due to kidney damage caused from being fed layer feed in their younger years.

The oldest hens were 11 years old. They seemed fine health wise but were at the point that they very seldomly laid any eggs.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

I parted with mine last year when I had to cut back for personal reasons.

None of my males lived past 9 years most likely due to kidney damage caused from being fed layer feed in their younger years.

The oldest hens were 11 years old. They seemed fine health wise but were at the point that they very seldomly laid any eggs.

Thank you, R2elk! Sorry to hear but I get it. All my animals, including me, are getting old here, too.

About the feed: what do you think is best for them to keep them healthy all their lives? I wondered about that before. My dried mealworms are all from China and God knows what is in those...I hope they are fine but I don't know. American meal worms seem impossible to find. Mine are getting organic layer pellets and you think that is bad for the males because of the calcium? How could one feed them differently in the same coop as the girls? Maybe no layer pellet and separate calcium for the hens?

Glad you are still on the forum!

 

[R2elk]

Thank you, R2elk! Sorry to hear but I get it. All my animals, including me, are getting old here, too.

About the feed: what do you think is best for them to keep them healthy all their lives? I wondered about that before. My dried mealworms are all from China and God knows what is in those...I hope they are fine but I don't know. American meal worms seem impossible to find. Mine are getting organic layer pellets and you think that is bad for the males because of the calcium? How could one feed them differently in the same coop as the girls? Maybe no layer pellet and separate calcium for the hens?

Glad you are still on the forum!

These last years I have been feeding 20% protein all flock pellets with free choice oyster shell to all my poultry.

I won't buy organic because most of the organic feed that I have checked on does not include the proper levels of some nutrients plus most of it isn't really organic and the label is being used for the sole purpose of getting a higher price for the product.

I never feed mealworms. They are naturally occurring here and my poultry help themselves to them. They should be considered a treat and fall into the no more than 10% of the total diet.

You could raise your own mealworms if you are concerned about the quality of the ones you are buying.

It's good to see you posting again.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

These last years I have been feeding 20% protein all flock pellets with free choice oyster shell to all my poultry.

I won't buy organic because most of the organic feed that I have checked on does not include the proper levels of some nutrients plus most of it isn't really organic and the label is being used for the sole purpose of getting a higher price for the product.

I never feed mealworms. They are naturally occurring here and my poultry help themselves to them. They should be considered a treat and fall into the no more than 10% of the total diet.

You could raise your own mealworms if you are concerned about the quality of the ones you are buying.

It's good to see you posting again.

Hey, I would love to talk more but got to go - I'll be on later again - hope to catch you!

 

[R2elk]

Hey, I would love to talk more but got to go - I'll be on later again - hope to catch you!

Have a great day.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

These last years I have been feeding 20% protein all flock pellets with free choice oyster shell to all my poultry.

I won't buy organic because most of the organic feed that I have checked on does not include the proper levels of some nutrients plus most of it isn't really organic and the label is being used for the sole purpose of getting a higher price for the product.

I never feed mealworms. They are naturally occurring here and my poultry help themselves to them. They should be considered a treat and fall into the no more than 10% of the total diet.

You could raise your own mealworms if you are concerned about the quality of the ones you are buying.

It's good to see you posting again.

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, R2elk!

Yeah, I tried to homegrow mealworms but never could produce enough. I use them as a supplement in protein to the layer feed. Also as highly valued foods for them to return to the coop at night or lately just to cut boredom if I can't let them out.

What brand 20% protein feeds do you have out there? I am limited here to Tractor Supply Company mostly.

 

[Logar]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, R2elk!

Yeah, I tried to homegrow mealworms but never could produce enough. I use them as a supplement in protein to the layer feed. Also as highly valued foods for them to return to the coop at night or lately just to cut boredom if I can't let them out.

What brand 20% protein feeds do you have out there? I am limited here to Tractor Supply Company mostly.

I use the Nutrena 20% All Flock. I get it from tractor supply and I like it. It isn’t quite as cheap as some options but it isn’t outrageously expensive either. I pay $22 for a 40 pound bag

 

[R2elk]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, R2elk!

Yeah, I tried to homegrow mealworms but never could produce enough. I use them as a supplement in protein to the layer feed. Also as highly valued foods for them to return to the coop at night or lately just to cut boredom if I can't let them out.

What brand 20% protein feeds do you have out there? I am limited here to Tractor Supply Company mostly.

TSC does carry a 20% protein all flock in Nutrena in 40 lb. bags. Murdoch's is much closer to me so I use the Country Companion 20% protein all flock pellets that they carry. Works for me because it saves me a trip across town and comes in 50 lb. bags for essentially the same price that TSC gets for 40 lb. bags of Nutrena.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thanks so much for the detailed reply, R2elk!

Yeah, I tried to homegrow mealworms but never could produce enough. I use them as a supplement in protein to the layer feed. Also as highly valued foods for them to return to the coop at night or lately just to cut boredom if I can't let them out.

What brand 20% protein feeds do you have out there? I am limited here to Tractor Supply Company mostly.

Thanks! I'll take a look. They could use more protein, I think. Is it from fish waste? Soy? I'll take a look...