Just thought I'd share.....I see alot of ?'s on this subject here.

[Chicksdigit]

We got our chicks last November and I asked the lady at the feed store (Owner)
what to feed them she said Start/Grow/Lay one all inclusive feed so that is what I have been feeding until this month I have been reading on here that I am supposed to be feeding Laying pellets so I bought Laying pellets they eat them but they act like they are starving when I take them treats outside and when I go out the back door they haul butt to see what I have, way more than is normal for them. The Starter was 20% protein and the layer is what? 17% maybe 16% I forgot but they are having to free reange a lot more and I saw a couple off them a little farther from the house than they usually go, today, I guess they are a little hungrier, so this is a good thread I have been thinking the same. Oh by the way they are using less of the pellets than they were the starter. I think I am going back ...... they have always layed good eggs and plenty of them since about 21 weeks so I don't want that to stop. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[catdaddyfro]

I see that alot of the slow or non producing posts are from northern climates just a little different from here in La. So I'll try to help with some of your Ques.

What makes it harder for me is not knowing much about yall's local feeds. as far as the higher protien ration to tell you to try besides Lonestar brand Nutri-boost its made kinda local here in Nacadoches,TX.

Calf-manna is by Manna Pro. It's around 25to30% protien should be widely availible and should have mixing instructions with it or you can ask at your feed supply about ratios or even a substitute brand in the local brand.

About the cat food I've read here also its a good substitute but its also a little high in salt so use sparingly. I would stick more to a chicken type diet maybe game bird crumbles they're around 25% They should be a good additive along with your reg. rations.

Remember don't make a drastic change in their diet as chickens are very sensitive to change. Sorta delicate you might say just add gradual amounts of supplement to their feed.

I still see alot of people questioning adding grain to their layers diet. Its perfectly acceptable to mix in some grain with their reg. rations. Now don't go and pour out a five gallon pale of whole corn out for 10 hens. A little extra this time if year is okay. If you don't want to feed grain during warm weather then just feed layer feed. Right know its cold and another thing the hens are doing when molting is storing the extra fat on their bodies for warmth, and they use the protien for feather growth(a feather is 100% dead protien just like the hair on your head) so it takes a lot of the goodies in their feed just to grow them.

Chicksdigit asked about the layer pellets. Your hens are used to eating crumbled stater grower feed so when you switched they probably gorged the pellets and got a more full feeling than they really ate maybe. You can get layer crumbles at about 20% might try that. I wouldn't feed the chick ration as most has a coccidiostat(meds) in it esp. if you plan on eating the eggs.

I know I didn't answer all of the ques. directly but just holler here and I'll keep plugin' away. We"ll get some kind of results even if it takes all winter.

Anybody else got something to add jump right in here I can't answer all of these right and I think most BYCers I've seen here are pretty much game for anything. Well maybe once but we'll try 'er.

catdaddyfro



P.S. don't forget them Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches. They're good for ya.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I had noticed that my birds were really tearing into the earth and plowing up areas that were grassy. I took this to mean they were deficient in protein as they were looking for bugs and as the summer fades, the bugs were fading too. Egg production was slightly down as well. I went and bought some game chick raiser (30% protein) and filled one feeder with it, and left the other with the regular layer mix. They seem to eat both at the same rate. And I supplement them by mixing it with water to a mush and giving it as a treat in a seperate bowl. Egg production rebounded pretty quickly (make sure to have extra oyster shell available). I think the chickens, when free ranging, get alot more than 18% worth of protein. They love eating them bugs and they are pure protein. So I am experimenting. I also have noted an iimprovement in the feather. More glossy. So far so good. We shall see.

 

[Sandrachx]

Quote:
couple of ???s.
1. do you measure/put your feed out daily? i just fill up the 3 feeders in their coop (3# each) and ck it daily to see if it needs refilling.

2. what are "chops"? not familiar with the term.

3. mine get a mix of laying pellets and scratch - should i be adding oats? if so, where do you get them? also, will that help them through the winter (i'm in michigan).

thanks.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Sandrachx: I use the same container to feed in of known weight. Yes I put the same usually twice daily. I know just how much they eat in a days time so I don't have to empty the feeder out in the evening. You don't have to do that. I just do it to keep the varmits from coming and getting a gut-full at nite.

Chops are coarsely-ground corn, your scratch has this in it. As a matter of fact its usually about 50% chops , 25% milo(sorghum), and a little oats and some have wheat. The latter depends on manufactures choice.

I'm feeding about the same rations you are. but on the scratch I mix it 2 parts scratch to 1 part whole oats. You should be able to get oats at most feed suppliers. They usually are called horse oats or race horse oats. Yes oats are good in the winter especially for molting hens(I don't know all the whys and how comes about the oats but they help). Now, I live just a little bit south of you(Louisiana) and the cold hasn't hit here too bad yet, so far 38'&39' degrees has been our coldest nights yet, but its comming. About the end of this month I'll substitute about half of my scratch/oats ratio in the evening with whole corn. It gives them something in their crawl(gizzard) during the cold nights for heat. Remember that most grain is high in starches (carbs) so don't over feed them grain as they cannot use all the fat energy and it will start adding up and you'll end up with too fat a ol' hens and they will slow in laying just as they would if they weren't getting enough nutrition. And always make sure they have some sort of grit(not just oyster shell as this dissolves in their crawl when injested) espcially if not yarded or turned out where they can get pebbles and grains of sand/ stuff to grind the grain esp. whole corn and the like.

catdaddy

P.S. I don't combine the pellets with the grain as they will pick out all the grain first and gorge themselves, then they don't eat the right amount of layer feed.

 

[biddyboo]

I'm jumping on the bandwagon for upping the protein factor in hens' diets for increased egg production. We had slipped to only 3-4 eggs daily from our 15 hen backyard flock. After reading this, we added Calf Manna, 1/3 to roughly 2/3 laying mash. We always offer chard and kitchen veggie scraps as well. Eggs began increasing, until today we gathered 9 eggs, a number that we are excited about, and the day is young yet; we often get a late afternoon egg from them. Is it the additive feed? Slowing down of molt? I'm not sure--probably a combination of factors, but I'm happy and I'll keep giving them the CManna for a while. ~G

 

[happyfrenchman]

I think the molt demands alot of protein from the birds and the eggs are the first economy they take. Makes good sense really. Alot of places up the protein and collect eggs all through the molt. I am noticing more gloss in the feather since I have been supplementing.

 

[crazy huhn]

http://www.mannapro.com/cm_coupon.html

Is this the calf manna some of you guys are talking about or is it the show conditioner?
I personally do not mind to give my girls a very well deserved break in egg laying. They are molting a lot, so they need more protein for sure just for that.

The regular feed is the Layena layer crumble, which is only 16% protein. A small (!) handful of scratch, some lettuce leafs that is all my 9 girls normally get.
How many mealworms or crickets would make a difference in the protein level intake? They get some of those, too, but it probably just makes a difference in my wallet

So cat food I bought: highest quality from "Solid Gold" with low sodium and animal protein levels other than chicken (you all get my point?!). There were just no more bugs from my compost left to feed them......

Anyhow, my girls are really spoiled and egg production is just secondary important to me. However, I want them to feel good, look good and get over the molt in a healthy way, so I was also thinking of adding a little ground meat or some fish to their diet. Am I going over board here?

 

[catdaddyfro]

Yes that's the brand feed supliment you can add with your reg. rations.

About the meal worms and crickets, I don't feed my girls any of this because I let mine out everyday to grub for themselves.

And as far as ground meat or fish don't know either don't use it. To me chickens are too canniblistic to me to be giving them the influnce or the taste of red meat.

I just don't do it, kinda like giving them raw fresh cracked egg shells and not expecting them to try and crack another one for another treat.

I'll probly get some feedback on the red meat thing but I just don't think chickens are supposed to eat cow, the buzzards yes, just not chickens.

I'll stick to more natural things that I know they're supposed to eat. I know they are omnivours( that means they'll eat anything), but I'll try to control what they eat.

Remember MAD COW disease and how all that got started.

catdaddy

 

[feathersnuggles]

Quote:
During our recent stretch of cold dark rainy days, I've been giving my girls an early a.m. treat of warm, smashed up, cooked fish (including the bones) with a sprinkle of kelp and yogurt. They are c-r-a-z-y for it! I just used up some freezer burned salmon & trout. And their feeder is filled with a mix of layer & grower mashes. Even with no visible sun and no artificial light in the coop, my girls are laying at an amazing rate. Several days a week, the BA is laying an egg at intervals of slightly LESS than 24 hours. It's actually freaking me out! But I think it must be the extra protein, based on what you all are saying.

Besides the feed I give them, they free-range several hours a day even in the rain, they gobble up those bugs, worms, and all kinds of creepy crawling spiders that hide under our deck in the rain.