Layer Test!!! Ho ho ho.

[TheTwoRoos]

Weather most definitely isn’t harsh conditions,,when I think of harsh conditions I think of a dirty,Filthy mud pen.

Harsh conditions: rain, mud, predators, soil, bacteria, noise, heat, cold, snow, cruel roosters, etc.
And the most important a lower density and cheaper feed.
In all these conditions a heritage layer can adapt better and lay better.

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

Layer feed is regarded to be a high density feed.
Mixed grain is a low density feed.
If you use mixed grain as the feed of braekel campines and of commercial brown layers, the first ones will overlay the others.
If you feed them layer feed, the second ones will overlay the others.
100% sure.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Layer feed is regarded to be a high density feed.
Mixed grain is a low density feed.
If you use mixed grain as the feed of braekel campines and of commercial brown layers, the first ones will overlay the others.
If you feed them layer feed, the second ones will overlay the others.
100% sure.

Yes. They've found that many heritage breeds will regulate their feed intake depending on what they need, and production layers just eat what tastes good. I believe that I found that in the book "Pastured Poultry; Feeding and Management" by Jeff Mattocks, but as the book's at the library, I can't guarantee it.

But I don't feed mixed grains because they don't have adequate nutrition for the hens. When I started with chickens, I had two flocks—a mixed bunch of Old English Game bantams, and a laying flock. Only the layer flock got layer feed. The others got corn, oats, and whatever they could scrounge.

When hatching time came around, the bantams did not hatch eggs successfully because they had too little nutrition. When I put eggs from the layer flock under them, they hatched the eggs. I switched the bantams to 18% starter and got a much better hatch rate after that (it got even better after I began adding riboflavin tablets to their water... but that's another story.)

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

Yes. They've found that many heritage breeds will regulate their feed intake depending on what they need, and production layers just eat what tastes good. I believe that I found that in the book "Pastured Poultry; Feeding and Management" by Jeff Mattocks, but as the book's at the library, I can't guarantee it.

But I don't feed mixed grains because they don't have adequate nutrition for the hens. When I started with chickens, I had two flocks—a mixed bunch of Old English Game bantams, and a laying flock. Only the layer flock got layer feed. The others got corn, oats, and whatever they c atould scrounge.

When hatching time came around, the bantams did not hatch eggs successfully because they had too little nutrition. When I put eggs from the layer flock under them, they hatched the eggs. I switched the bantams to 18% starter and got a much better hatch rate after that (it got even better after I began adding riboflavin tablets to their water... but that's another story.)

The problem with the commercial feed in some countries is that it contains gmo products.

 

[sylviethecochin]

The problem with the commercial feed in some countries is that it contains gmo products.

In the US, it always does unless you specifically get it without. I've never had a problem with that.

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

In the US, it always does unless you specifically get it without. I've never had a problem with that.

Soy free mixed feed and corn free mixed feed is not available in Greece.
I make my own feed and there are many disadvantages because it doesn't contain lysine etc.
But, I don't want to give gmo soy to my ladies.