Large breeds vs smaller ones - Feed

[rjohns39]

I guess my first question is what are you trying to achieve. My feed recipes are pretty simple: Whole roasted Soy, corn, oats, nutri-balancer, alfalfa meal and fish meal. Calcium of course as well. I'm very particular where I get my fish meal from (aka fertrell). If you have thoughts on what you want to feed,I can run it through a calculator and show you what it looks like compared to a complete feed..

 

[Arielle2]

The best conversion from feed to pounds meat is the cornish cross and similar types.
THe chicks grow fast and eat a lot in a short time. Which makes them, economical.

My birds liked to walk around until reaching bowling ball size at 9-10 weeks.

I did not put mine on grass, so cant speak with experience to that. CHeck Saladins work at Poly____ farm. He has a book on pasture raising chickens.

IMO a grass fed bird is a far better, healthier product. Note this means both grass and grain is fed. A young bird needs a lot of protein to put on all the muscle, and that includes any breed of chicken. Just the cornish types need MUCH more in a day.

It is aobut the muscle growth, not the final size of the breed. I had a very big rooster that was all bone. His half brother was smaller and a fuller breast.

 

[Arielle2]

If you are looking for eggs, consider the production reds or black stars. THey are a quieter bird. Also consider the hybrids like California GRay.

What ever grain you start with, you must provide a balance diet. At the big plants, it starts with a recipe based on the grains. Like if wheat, corn and barley. You must know the nutrient break down of each, then pick a mineral pack to fill in the gaps. THis takes some work, I took many college classes to be able to do this. My point is this is not for the novice--- better to buy ready made or consult your local feed company and see if they will help you. Remeber if they dont make any money on this they may not help.. Otherwise conntact you extension service for help.

 

[DontKnow-Lost]

Thanks guys,

THis takes some work, I took many college classes to be able to do this. My point is this is not for the novice--- better to buy ready made or consult your local feed company and see if they will help you. Remeber if they dont make any money on this they may not help.. Otherwise conntact you extension service for help.

Thanks but honestly, feeding them, it's not that hard. In the morning mine get some corn + wheat. They go out all day eating grass, dirt, small rocks, compost pile, insects when time comes and then later get some more. They are in excellent shape, produce plenty of eggs and they shine. For a period I had to keep them confined and they looked horrible and started to lose weight. They lacked foraging, where they get all the rest. Like chickens always did.

 

[cavemanrich]

I did not put mine on grass, so cant speak with experience to that.

It is legal in Massachusetts now. State with chickens with appetites.
















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