Meat Bird Feeding Experiment

[BCMaraniac]

My 2 sources of gamebird are both 22%. One is crumbles the other pellets. WEll, to be more accurate. One is a 22% broiler crumble and the other is 22% pelleted game bird. Now I need to look at the ingedients list to be sure they are the same. I raise turkeys too, so I'm betting these feeds are the same.

The gamebird starter from the brand that I use is 28%, with recommended use until 36 days, then change to gamebird starter which is 21%(these recommendations, of course, are for game birds. I use their regular starter/grower feed for chickens, and they have ordered meat bird grower/finisher for me, which is 19% protein, but contains supplemental amino acids to promote rapid growth.

I am considering starting with the gamebird with the chicks I am getting next week, and am wondering since I will be free ranging these birds(Red Rangers, White Rocks, White Orpingtons, and White Giants), if they should stay on the higher protein feed, since they will be free ranging and eating less feed or be switched to the meat grower/finisher. The white birds are all males and will be caponized, so they will be grown over a longer period than the Red Rangers. I guess this will be an experiment in feed management.

 

[BCMaraniac]

Bought crumbles today. For meat birds. Cost more than source A by $3 a bag. ouch. Cannot find 30% feed. And don't think fish meal is a good options as I am not interested in fishy tasting chicken if I over feed on the fishmeal.

Have you ever eaten the eggs from the store with Omega-3? They taste fishy....gross!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: You have hit on a few good points.

Each feed company has its own names for the feed, so reading the label is a must.

Protein is important for the rapid growth and two factors play a part: total protein and profile of the amino acids. THe added methinone, is that the one?, is expensive to manufacture commercially. I concidered adding fish meal but cannot control the consumption rate. Well, now that I think of it perhaps to put out a pan for 15 minutes twice a day might work. Hmmmm.

I do know of many remarks on "flip" when fed high % protein. WHat no one really mentions is the volume of feed consumed which I do think is a contributing factor. Only a couple people mention removing the feed to a 12 on-12 off pattern. HOnestly I am suspect that the gorging may cause other issues. Birds are designed to fill up of course, just not convinced they are suppsed to be at the point of starving for food. ANd I am also concerned about a complete emptiying of the bowels as the GI is a source of microbes that digests the food. So I prefer food available most of the time. ANd a lower protein would be better I suspect, UNLESS grass consumption dilutes the total protein when fed high 28-30% feed.

My feed dealer did n't know feed could be 30%.

I'm teaching him so much about chickens!! lol

 

[Arielle]

One chick got injured, not sure how. Limping badly. Much imporved today and getting to feed and water.

Put on heat lamp last night because of the rain soaking into the ground and making it damp. Shut off at 10 am. Sunny today.