Nuts for Oyster Shells.

[Wyorp Rock]

[B][U]@GC-Raptor[/U][/B] has been around the block

Wonders how @aart knows this about GC, do tell

 

[aart]

Wonders how @aart knows this about GC, do tell

He's been here posting for a couple-few years, has learned and taught a lot.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Careful on the scratch that is candy and not good for them on a daily basis. You want most of their nutrition to come from the feed and not diluted from treats. I don’t feed treats every day just couple times a week and no more than couple tablespoons per bird. Too high a protein feed with too much scratch can lead to fatty liver disease. My chickens have never had scratch because a poultry chart I discovered recommended no scratch till at least 28 weeks of age and must be limited.

Yeah, I didn't offer my Barred Rocks treats of any kind till 10 weeks old.
I give this , to my 7 pullets daily around 9 am, scattered under their coop. . 4 hours after wake-up. They have to fill up on feed before treats. A quarter cup when they were 10 weeks and gradually increasing to a half cup. No more increases.
Interesting chart. GC

 

[Melky]

Yeah, I didn't offer my Barred Rocks treats of any kind till 10 weeks old.
I give this View attachment 1616649, to my 7 pullets daily around 9 am, scattered under their coop.View attachment 1616657 . 4 hours after wake-up. They have to fill up on feed before treats. A quarter cup when they were 10 weeks and gradually increasing to a half cup. No more increases.
Interesting chart. GC

It was from a previous BYC thread to help provide nutritional guidance. I saved it and

Yeah, I didn't offer my Barred Rocks treats of any kind till 10 weeks old.
I give this View attachment 1616649, to my 7 pullets daily around 9 am, scattered under their coop.View attachment 1616657 . 4 hours after wake-up. They have to fill up on feed before treats. A quarter cup when they were 10 weeks and gradually increasing to a half cup. No more increases.
Interesting chart. GC

I probably wouldn’t feed scratch till after 28 weeks as recommended and of course limit it when use. It is considered an adult treat not meant for young pullets if you read the nutritional label on the bag. I use occasionally dried mealworms or handful of greens I grow a couple times a week but not till after 3-4 weeks of life as recommended. Enjoy your chickens!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Now some people think they will slow down and only eat what they need. Mine did not

I will keep an eye on their Oyster Shells consumption, and adjust as needed. That's why I posted this thread, because they scoffed it down like I do with a bag of chips (no one can eat just one). GC

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well...that just blows all this out of the water doesn't it!! I guess I'm doing it all wrong!! I suppose I need to start reading the poultry bag labels!
I give chick grit first thing! Then the chicks get food/water. They get eggs, dirt, plug of sod with grass/roots attached, greens and sometimes scratch the very first week
Oyster shell and grit are supplied at all times for older birds in separated containers and never added to feed.
Wonder how people that have broody hens with chicks keep them from eating scratch and such if they are in a mixed flock?

He's been here posting for a couple-few years, has learned and taught a lot.

I knew all that!! I thought maybe you had some kind of good story about GC (wink/wink) LOL

 

[Melky]

Well...that just blows all this out of the water doesn't it!! I guess I'm doing it all wrong!! I suppose I need to start reading the poultry bag labels!
I give chick grit first thing! Then the chicks get food/water. They get eggs, dirt, plug of sod with grass/roots attached, greens and sometimes scratch the very first week
Oyster shell and grit are supplied at all times for older birds in separated containers and never added to feed.
Wonder how people that have broody hens with chicks keep them from eating scratch and such if they are in a mixed flock?



I knew all that!! I thought maybe you had some kind of good story about GC (wink/wink) LOL

In mixed aged flocks probably just don’t feed it. There is better nutrition out there and just take the cost savings just my opinion. I’m sure you have had your own experience as well as you describe. I typically do not step outside traditional recommendations. Think of it like a pregnant woman. When not pregnant may drink coffee or glass of wine. During pregnancy we do not because we know it can cause potential harm. There will be those that try it and take the risk and no harm that they can tell and others will see harm when try it. So most just don’t take the risk.

 

[aart]

I suppose I need to start reading the poultry bag labels!

OyVey, Right!! <smacksselfonhead> the bag writers know best!!
(know best how to sell stuff to folks who can't think for them selves)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

In mixed aged flocks probably just don’t feed it. There is better nutrition out there and just take the cost savings just my opinion. I’m sure you have had your own experience as well as you describe. I typically do not step outside traditional recommendations. Think of it like a pregnant woman. When not pregnant may drink coffee or glass of wine. During pregnancy we do not because we know it can cause potential harm. There will be those that try it and take the risk and no harm that they can tell and others will see harm when try it. So most just don’t take the risk.

What is traditional recommendations?

 

[Melky]

What is traditional recommendations?

Well good point. To me it means never stepping out of the guidelines of intended use. So following manufacturer recommendations as these are the only reported safe standards as studied by the manufacturer therefore the guidelines. Otherwise can’t guarantee it’s use would not cause harm. Following research guidelines and standard guidelines developed by experts in the poultry industry who have studied and managed poultry many more years than we have.

All of this is designed to extend the life and productivity of our flock and who wouldn’t want that.

Even if something doesn’t cause harm. If it offers no benefit then is a waste of time and money. Good conversation!