Hi
,
Well, let's see. This is my "internal development" regimen.
Using the proper size grit helps keep things flowing thru the digestive tract because the food is ground up properly in the gizzard before it get to the G.I. tract. For 18 week olds you can use adult size grit. Granit grit is best because it stays sharp and does not get rounded off by the acid in the gizzard. Proper size is important because too small grit just gets washed on thru the digestive system and eliminated.
Next you want to make sure the G.I. tract has the proper levels of favorable flora in it. That helps keep bad pathogens from getting established. Greek Yogurt is good for that. No sugar.
Next you want to make sure the birds are getting addition nutrition because the stress of adjusting to a new home and flock may cause them to not uptake all the nutrition you are supplying. Until they get adjusted to their new home and flock. I Use Bovidr Labs Nutri-Drench and Nutri-Drops emergency nutritional supplements. This is a specialist company with a great rep. . Now their products are species specific, however they also meet the scientific standards for a universal dose. This year, I raised my chicks on Goat Nutri-Drench and Poultry Nutri-Drench, using the usage and dosage instructions on the Poultry product bottle. This is great stuff because it does not need to be digested like other products ( i.e. electrolytes). It is absorbed directly into the bloodstream. Detectable within 15 minutes with 50% uptake in 30 minutes and 99% utilization. Excellent for dealing with stress which compromises the digestive systems uptake ability.
Here are cites for further info:
Bovidr Products: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/746509/how-to-deal-with-travel-stress-in-baby-chicks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/bovidr-labs-poultry-nutri-drench
Tractor Supply has the cheapest price. 6.99 for Poultry formula, 11.99 for Goat formula(much bigger bottle). All their products are very concentrated ad last a long time. Note the dosages are per "Gallon". so reduce for qt. waterers.
Gran-I-Grit poultry grit : After 7 weeks, feed : Layer( usually says "Developer" on the bag) (3/16"-5/16") I get mine at
Tractor Supply, about 10.00 for a 50 lb. bag.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/gran-i-grit-insoluable-crushed-granite
Company product brochure PDF . Note the 20% increase in eggs.
http://www.ncgranite.com/images/gritmailer.pdf
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/891051/the-science-of-feeding-grit-to-poultry Grit is fed to develop a larger healthier gizzard for better adult production. Not for growth purposes.
Greek Yogurt : I do not have a reference for the Greek Yogurt. I only know
veteran poultry folk use it with success. It is cheaper than feeding Fastrack
Microbial Supplement by far. And very natural.
Best Success,
Karen and the Light Sussex
in western PA, USA
