Nutritional needs during egg laying

[idealfriends]

Where do you live?

-Kathy

I live in pakistan

 

[casportpony]

Quote: @ChickenCanoe , any feed suggestions for folks in Pakistan?

-Kathy

 

[hhn2002]

I've read reviews that some owners had problems getting their hens to lay consistently on 16% then when they switched to 18% they were up to full production, and those were chickens. I'd say 18% protein as a minimum for just good production and 20% as recommended. Obviously anything else besides layer feed will need calcium supplement and vitamins/mineral supplement as optional to assure you won't run into Chick development deficiencies like slipped tendon or crazy Chick disease.

 

[Birdrain92]

I've read reviews that some owners had problems getting their hens to lay consistently on 16% then when they switched to 18% they were up to full production, and those were chickens. I'd say 18% protein as a minimum for just good production and 20% as recommended. Obviously anything else besides layer feed will need calcium supplement and vitamins/mineral supplement as optional to assure you won't run into Chick development deficiencies like slipped tendon or crazy Chick disease.

Protein Deficiency, Vitamin B deficiency, inbreeding, hatching problems can cause Curly Toes. Peafowl don't need the extra calcium supplement like egg laying breeds of chickens. Mainly because peahens usually lay every other day and don't lay nearly as many eggs.

 

[barkerg]

India Blues are chow hounds/pigs when compared to Greens. We feed 28% crumbles in the season and 22-24% with emphasis on whole grains during fall-winter for the carb value,

.

Gerald Barker

 

[KsKingBee]

For healthy peas do not treat them like turkeys or chickens. They are very different and have evolved from completely different environments. Chickens and turkeys have been selected for faster growth and egg laying and are fed to fatten quicker and for egg production.

Peafowl evolved from jungle and deserts and rely on a more lean diet of unprocessed foods. Whole ingredients should be the emphases and limiting processed feeds with soy. The foraging instincts leads to less feed more often and the need for a variety is greater.

When you only have a few peas you can concentrate on more whole grains, vegetables and over ripe fruit. Treats like cat food with animal and fish by-products base, not grain based, are very beneficial as well. Cut as much soy out of the diet as possible, these are not meat birds and should have a lean diet that leads to better growth and body structure.

 

[KsKingBee]

Another consideration is that the eggs to be lain in the coming season are being created during the molt, months before they are to be laid. This is the time of the year that good nutrition is going to pay off with healthier chicks. The same with the cocks requiring better nutrition during molt as they are developing the feathers that entice the hens to breed. Remember that there is a lot of stress on the birds as they use up a lot of their stored minerals growing feathers and developing eggs before the laying season begins.

 

[Birdrain92]

During molt? Wouldn't it be after molt? During molt the body changes mode. Instead of reproducing, it's focusing on rest and regeneration.Nutrition is critical during molt as well because better nutrition during molt, means better regeneration, maybe even less time spending on regenerating. Nutrients will be going towards the body instead of reproduction. Molting happens when the body becomes fatigued, nutrition changes rapidly, or hormones have declined. Hormones follow length of day time and night time. When FSH is being produced, nutrients are going towards the production of gametes. FSH, LH, and estrogen or testosterone follow each other. When one goes up the others go up, same with decline. When mating behaviors (caused by increase in estrogen or testosterone) is being observed FSH is being produced as well. So nutrients going towards reproduction would be critical after molt, right before or during mating behaviors are being observed. Technically though nutrition is important for reproduction all the time. Better body, better reproductive success.

 

[KsKingBee]

During molt? Wouldn't it be after molt? During molt the body changes mode. Instead of reproducing, it's focusing on rest and regeneration.Nutrition is critical during molt as well because better nutrition during molt, means better regeneration, maybe even less time spending on regenerating. Nutrients will be going towards the body instead of reproduction. Molting happens when the body becomes fatigued, nutrition changes rapidly, or hormones have declined. Hormones follow length of day time and night time. When FSH is being produced, nutrients are going towards the production of gametes. FSH, LH, and estrogen or testosterone follow each other. When one goes up the others go up, same with decline. When mating behaviors (caused by increase in estrogen or testosterone) is being observed FSH is being produced as well. So nutrients going towards reproduction would be critical after molt, right before or during mating behaviors are being observed. Technically though nutrition is important for reproduction all the time. Better body, better reproductive success.

You said it yourself, molt is regeneration, and that includes the regeneration of the eggs that will be produced during the laying season.

 

[izigg]

Whats the reasoning behind the lower protein formula, I have been giving mine SPORTMIX 33% protein dog food they all seem to love it along with corn sunflower seeds and collard greens however also its about breeding season for the first time so maybe I need to switch to some other stuff I don't know this is all new to me as well, I never intended on owning peas but they just moved in one day and took over. They r free range in summer and hide out in my garage in the winter or any severe rain storm they run and fast into the garage.