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rjohns39 said:
I'm convinced they won't eat OS unless they feel they need it. There are so many Don'ts out there that are based in fact but not reality.

I recently answered a thread about plants from the cabbage family killing chickens. It's true that 40 years ago, feeding cabbage type plants to your chickens would kill them. All foods have toxins, the key is to not overload on any one. 40 years ago, feed was rich in rapeseed meal because it was a cheap by product of making the oil. Back then they formulated feed assuming that we don't provide treats and maximized the meal to the absolute limit. So the toxin was at it's max tolerable level in the feed. Sorry, can't spell it and too lazy to look it up. So, if chickens were eating that feed and given anything from the cabbage family, they would die. Canada saw this as a huge problem and underwent a process to hybridize the rapeseed plant and eliminate the toxin... Well they got a 90% reduction in the toxin and re-branded the product as canola. So using canola meal in feed didn't cause the other problems.

I recently also had a conversation about oats. Oats have a nutrient blocker in them and if fed too many the birds can't absorb the nutrients they need from their feed. The OP on this thread was feeding 100% oats... And not understanding why the birds were declining. I told her to stop with the oats and just give a balanced ration and give the girls time to adjust. I was challenged by another member (who btw is clueless—but knows everything). Oats and barley in combination or alone cannot exceed more than 20% of the birds diet or they will inhibit the birds ability to absorb vital nutrients. Another word I can't spell and am too lazy to look up.

Ok... Off my feed soap box. I do have frustrating days out here and do have friends who just don't get it, but better left alone than addressing directly.
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Man. Don't stop!
I love learning about this stuff from you!
 
rjohns39 said:
I'm convinced they won't eat OS unless they feel they need it. There are so many Don'ts out there that are based in fact but not reality.

I recently answered a thread about plants from the cabbage family killing chickens. It's true that 40 years ago, feeding cabbage type plants to your chickens would kill them. All foods have toxins, the key is to not overload on any one. 40 years ago, feed was rich in rapeseed meal because it was a cheap by product of making the oil. Back then they formulated feed assuming that we don't provide treats and maximized the meal to the absolute limit. So the toxin was at it's max tolerable level in the feed. Sorry, can't spell it and too lazy to look it up. So, if chickens were eating that feed and given anything from the cabbage family, they would die. Canada saw this as a huge problem and underwent a process to hybridize the rapeseed plant and eliminate the toxin... Well they got a 90% reduction in the toxin and re-branded the product as canola. So using canola meal in feed didn't cause the other problems.

I recently also had a conversation about oats. Oats have a nutrient blocker in them and if fed too many the birds can't absorb the nutrients they need from their feed. The OP on this thread was feeding 100% oats... And not understanding why the birds were declining. I told her to stop with the oats and just give a balanced ration and give the girls time to adjust. I was challenged by another member (who btw is clueless—but knows everything). Oats and barley in combination or alone cannot exceed more than 20% of the birds diet or they will inhibit the birds ability to absorb vital nutrients. Another word I can't spell and am too lazy to look up.

Ok... Off my feed soap box. I do have frustrating days out here and do have friends who just don't get it, but better left alone than addressing directly.
Click to expand...
And this is why you are my favourite. :bow
 
Molpet said:
I kept all the pullets I hatched :oops: wanted to make sure I didn't lose any over winter before I sell any
I have over 12 dozen eggs and have been eating 10 a day.. selling 4 dozen last week...should be 5 dz sold this week.. 20 eggs today and they are not all laying yet
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I have 44 hens and pullets. We are currently getting 8-12 eggs a day. I can’t imagine how many we’ll be drowning in a few months from now.
 

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