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

[Tala]

I noticed that my adults went pretty crazy for Flock Raiser (they usually get Layena) so maybe they know that they need the higher protein food??

 

[feathersnuggles]

I don't worry about feeding them fish, since I see birds around here (near the ocean) eating fish, crabs, etc. Recently I watched a crow chasing a seagull with a flapping fish, which dropped somewhere nearby. I never found it.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Does the fish change the taste the eggs? I'm not fond of fish and the thought of eggs having a more fishy flavor turns my tummy a bit...

 

[feathersnuggles]

I don't taste fishyness in my eggs. Neither do my neighbors and family members. They just prefer our eggs over ANY other eggs!

Also, I have never tasted a wormy flavor, nor a buggy or spidery flavor in our girl's eggs - even though they eat a TON of bugs and dirt and worms, etc.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

My mother tells the story of her father, who was a commercial fisherman on the Mississippi River. The cleanings of the day's catfish catch went into the pen of broilers they were raising, which really cut their feed bill and provided plenty of protien.

However, when the birds were roasted later, the whole house would smell of fish instead of chicken! They would sit down to the meal and the chicken would taste like fish!

Now, my mom admits they sold some of these broilers to a neighbor who didn't notice any of this, so it might have been just a thing in their own house or family.

But still...

Most things in moderation are probably acceptable.

The cost effective thing is to find a protein source that makes sense in your area and use it in wisely. Fish on the coast and along the rivers makes a lot of sense, in moderation.

I am not opposed to using mammal protein myself in moderate amounts, as birds have been scavengers of that kind of meat for a very long time (and I cannot prevent them from hunting and eating mice).

I would prefer to feed them invertebrates, but if I start growing bugs for the chickens my DH will have me institutionalized.

And yes, the birds get anything freezer burned. The medical doctor told me freezer burn does not indicate bacteria or spoilage, just a texture change that people usually find offensive. The birds do not seem to care.

 

[SilkieTime]

This might not go in here but I have 1 to 3 week silkies. Was told to give them 24% protein for stronger chicks. I have Purina 16% S%G and Purina 30% Game. I mix 1/2 in 1/2 makes 23%. Can I keep them on this till there older?

 

[catdaddyfro]

I'd say 23% is plenty enough protien for growing chicks. I just wonder how much the medication(coccidiosat)your S&G should have in it is dillluted down to.

Most game bird rations that I'm familiar with does not have the meds in them. Might want to check into that, the chicks need this for at least around the first 8-12 wks.

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Lots of people don't feed medicated starter at all (myself included) so don't think that reducing the concentration would really hurt healthy birds.

 

[SilkieTime]

Is 23% to much? The chicks are in the house. Two and three weeks old. Have two pens one for day one for night. Clean each out. I could do 3/4 S/G 1/4 Game.

 

[catdaddyfro]

Quote:
Yeah 23% protien is a little high for the silkies but its just about the right % to feed for broilers/ meat birds. Instead of 3/4 to 1/4 I'd try 2/3 to 1/3 this should put you in the 18 to 20% range just right to grow healthy chicks.

And I do recommend feeding a medicated starter for the first few weeks to the chicks. If you've ever dealt with a bad case of coccidiosis you'd wished that the feed would have been medicated.

I know some people don't feed the meds to their babies in loo of it not being organic or something of this nature but to me I'd rather give my chicks a good chance of living a healty lifestyle than worry about what a little bit of medication might do to/for them.

All the chicken you eat from Tyson, Wal-mart, KFC, all were medicated at one time or another. Those growers aren't going to take a chance on getting sick chickens. So they give them meds for this reason.

Now on a little different note Growth Hormones and Steriods, NO I don't go for that but meds in the chick starter yes its a preventative for your investment or at the least a healthier life for the chick.

I'll shut up for now before I get some one flustered.

Catdaddy

It all comes down to $$$$ spend a little now or a lot later if they live through it.