Naked Neck/Turken Thread

[draye]

I should try asking in the proper section but wanted to try asking here too:

I've noticed a trend in vegetarian only chicken feed.  I'm not a fan because chickens are natural omnivores.    But a few months ago the feed store forced this option on me by replacing all layer feed with this vegetarian feed.  Grr.

So my question......  is there an easy way to add animal protein to a large flock, and one divided up into many separate pens at that....?   My ideal would be a dry feed of some sort that would mix well with the layer feed.   It is not feasible for me to raise/buy live insects...

The only two real things I am able to consider are either dry cat food, but I worry not all of them will take to it....   or checking the gamebird feed to see if it has animal protein, however it;s now Way expensive- last I checked 2 yrs ago it was already at 22 per bag.. yikes.

aside- what do y'all think of black oil sunflower?  I see it mentioned here n there..  is it really a good extra thing to have in their feed or...?

edit: there are now TSC within driving distance(bit far and very out of the way though)..   so many byc members go to those,  do they carry brands with animal protein in them...? 

Since I've been back into chickens, I have not been able to locate any chicken feed that is not plant based. I've looked around at different places and can't find it at all.

I've recently switched to a game bird layer feed 22%. Even that is plant based. I'm paying $11.00 a 50lb. I have a friend that buys it by bulk and drives about 4 hours to pick it up. I have no idem what he us actually paying for it himself, but at $11.00 a bag I don't really care, that us the cheapest I've found feed, a 16% chicken layer was costing me a tad over $12.00 a 50 lb. it seems to have made mine pick up a bit on their laying.

As far as BOSS and Sunflower seeds, way too expensive here. I just throw out any meat scraps I have around here. Maybe not the best solution, but it's what I have.

 

[hellbender]

I tapped on them all.....very nice chickens!!

 

[Pensmaster]

I should try asking in the proper section but wanted to try asking here too:

I've noticed a trend in vegetarian only chicken feed.  I'm not a fan because chickens are natural omnivores.    But a few months ago the feed store forced this option on me by replacing all layer feed with this vegetarian feed.  Grr.

So my question......  is there an easy way to add animal protein to a large flock, and one divided up into many separate pens at that....?   My ideal would be a dry feed of some sort that would mix well with the layer feed.   It is not feasible for me to raise/buy live insects...

The only two real things I am able to consider are either dry cat food, but I worry not all of them will take to it....   or checking the gamebird feed to see if it has animal protein, however it;s now Way expensive- last I checked 2 yrs ago it was already at 22 per bag.. yikes.

aside- what do y'all think of black oil sunflower?  I see it mentioned here n there..  is it really a good extra thing to have in their feed or...?

edit: there are now TSC within driving distance(bit far and very out of the way though)..   so many byc members go to those,  do they carry brands with animal protein in them...? 

Kev,
What about fish meal? I don't know how it's added or where to get it. A guy on Sally's hatching with friends mixes his own feed. That's what he uses for protein along with soybeans. His recipe is mixed in the 100# measurements so big operation from the sounds of things.
A friend uses black sunflower seeds and mealworms as treats. Don't know if it helps them but they sure love it.

 

[Pensmaster]

Since I've been back into chickens, I have not been able to locate any chicken feed that is not plant based. I've looked around at different places and can't find it at all.

I've recently switched to a game bird layer feed 22%. Even that is plant based. I'm paying $11.00 a 50lb. I have a friend that buys it by bulk and drives about 4 hours to pick it up. I have no idem what he us actually paying for it himself, but at $11.00 a bag I don't really care, that us the cheapest I've found feed, a 16% chicken layer was costing me a tad over $12.00 a 50 lb. it seems to have made mine pick up a bit on their laying.

As far as BOSS and Sunflower seeds, way too expensive here. I just throw out any meat scraps I have around here. Maybe not the best solution, but it's what I have.

That's great price for the 16%. I'm lucky to find it at 15.25 per 50
Mine also get any meat scraps I have.

 

[chickengr]

A video of Houdini getting it on would be worth cash!

I should try asking in the proper section but wanted to try asking here too:

I've noticed a trend in vegetarian only chicken feed. I'm not a fan because chickens are natural omnivores. But a few months ago the feed store forced this option on me by replacing all layer feed with this vegetarian feed. Grr.

So my question...... is there an easy way to add animal protein to a large flock, and one divided up into many separate pens at that....? My ideal would be a dry feed of some sort that would mix well with the layer feed. It is not feasible for me to raise/buy live insects...

The only two real things I am able to consider are either dry cat food, but I worry not all of them will take to it.... or checking the gamebird feed to see if it has animal protein, however it;s now Way expensive- last I checked 2 yrs ago it was already at 22 per bag.. yikes.

aside- what do y'all think of black oil sunflower? I see it mentioned here n there.. is it really a good extra thing to have in their feed or...?

edit: there are now TSC within driving distance(bit far and very out of the way though).. so many byc members go to those, do they carry brands with animal protein in them...?

when you cook meat for you (soup or similar) reserve some and mix it with chicken feed. any meat/fish/bone leftovers would be ok. if they want more send them to catch bugs, etc!

 

[chickengr]

Got a few pics from today, before I let them free range.







This one hatched last year. I don't like how her tail stands upright, but she is pretty big and great layer of big eggs.



Mottled?!? She has more white feathers under the wings. I see that when she flapps with her wings.



Can somebody say what color are these and what will they produce with my columbian rooster? I really like it, and they are a bit darker in person. Nn one is exceptional broody. The best we have ever had.



These two are favourites.

If you tap the picture, it will show better.

beautiful birds! I like your favourites. I hope to get a black NN.

 

[DesertChic]

I should try asking in the proper section but wanted to try asking here too:

I've noticed a trend in vegetarian only chicken feed. I'm not a fan because chickens are natural omnivores. But a few months ago the feed store forced this option on me by replacing all layer feed with this vegetarian feed. Grr.

So my question...... is there an easy way to add animal protein to a large flock, and one divided up into many separate pens at that....? My ideal would be a dry feed of some sort that would mix well with the layer feed. It is not feasible for me to raise/buy live insects...

The only two real things I am able to consider are either dry cat food, but I worry not all of them will take to it.... or checking the gamebird feed to see if it has animal protein, however it;s now Way expensive- last I checked 2 yrs ago it was already at 22 per bag.. yikes.

aside- what do y'all think of black oil sunflower? I see it mentioned here n there.. is it really a good extra thing to have in their feed or...?

edit: there are now TSC within driving distance(bit far and very out of the way though).. so many byc members go to those, do they carry brands with animal protein in them...?

I hate the vegetarian feed trend!

Okay...I just had to get that out of my system. I know there's an economical influence pushing the vegetarian chicken feed, but I also suspect there's a "moral" one from the community that believes we should all be vegetarians...including our chickens. As far as an inexpensive way to add animal protein without growing insects....I think that's nearly as great a quest as the search for the "perfect" dual purpose chicken that supplies 300 eggs per year and 5 lb processed carcasses in 10 weeks or less.

Protein is expensive. There's no way around that. During molt or breeding time I feed my chickens dessicated or freeze-dried bison treats made for dogs that I get at one of the local feed stores. I've also given them scraps of salmon from our dinners, but feeding them fish can make the eggs taste fishy. Maybe starting an earthworm colony?

As far as Black Oil Sunflower seeds are concerned...YES! They absolutely help! I've not only noticed an improvement in feather appearance, but the eggs taste better when I feed my birds the seeds...though the already shelled seeds are higher in protein. Here are a couple articles I found supporting the benefits of BOSS, but there are many others:

http://www.ehow.com/list_7362092_effects-sunflower-seeds-laying-hens.html

http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/li...ional-benefits-black-oil-sunflower-seeds.html

 

[DesertChic]

Kev,
What about fish meal? I don't know how it's added or where to get it. A guy on Sally's hatching with friends mixes his own feed. That's what he uses for protein along with soybeans. His recipe is mixed in the 100# measurements so big operation from the sounds of things.
A friend uses black sunflower seeds and mealworms as treats. Don't know if it helps them but they sure love it.

This is what my feed supplier uses and the chickens love it. It's not cheap though...far more expensive that the $11.00/50# bag that @draye pays.

@Kev This is who I get my feed from. http://www.tucsonorganicfeed.com/

Maybe you could contact them to see if there's a similar extension in your area?

 

[Hholly]

Just curious about why people differentiate between protein sources. If feed contains all the nutrients to support life and bodily functions, what difference does it make where the nutrient came from as far as plant or animal? Isn't protein, protein?

 

[mothergoose]

Just had to show off this photo. My beautiful turken in among the not so naked!