Ok, so options were.... feeding question update from other post

[chrishel]

I'm learning that I'm in the pheasant belt...

That would explain why when I asked for Gamebird Layer, I they gave me Maintenance (my husband bought it and I didn't find out until he got home). Because what crazy person wants Gamebird Layer in Winter?

My goal was to mix GBS with Layer since I just have primarily a laying flock at the moment.

I was kind of grumpy too because the feed was buggy but I knew it was a new shipment since I had to use Flock Raiser the bag before since they had run out of all Gamebird everything.

 

[JJMR794]

Quote:
THEY'LL DO BEST ON STRAIT GBS... NO MAD SCIENTIST ROUTINE MIXING FEED IN AN UNDERGROUND BUNKER NECESSARY

 

[chrishel]

My whole quail keeping adventure is one giant experiment!

I started first experimenting with my kids but that's generally frowned upon...

 

[joe125]

Quote:
You can raise your self a big old mess of kids on #5419 GBS. A can of tomatoes and kidney beans and it's Chili!

All kidding aside, and if you can find a good batch of GBS...It's all you really need for most species of quail. Mixing up a batch of this, that and the other thing in your basement is folly.

Aside from the lower protein level of the "Game bird Layer" offerings, the only real difference is 0.5% extra calcium. You can poke that in their eyes.

 

[joe125]

Quote:
Probably because you live in the "pheasant belt" and PHEASANTS are the only GAME BIRDS that exist within this belt, and the only thing they need is 19% protein game bird pellets to see them through the winter. Until spring, when the only game birds that exist needs higher protein crumbles.

Find a good Purina Mills dealer. Commit to buying a constant amount of product #5419. Once you find a good feed store, don't jerk them around to save a buck a 50# bag!

Sorry for the edit, but please tell them what you want #5419, and don't take feed advice from them.

X2 on the don't take advise from them. I would take advise from Joe125 on the matter, Quaillady, TwoCrows, JJ who is darn near an unofficial Vet with his knowledge of disease and needs.

Take Joe's words. Gospel...(if you're going for convenient crumble feed, which is what we all want to do....Gosh I want to go back to the days of one bag and no cooking for the "other set of kids")....But I sell organic non gmo by DEMAND ...(like come to my house DEMAND). Egg people are funny that way. I digress as usual!

You just have very special feed requirements my friend. You seam to be doing well for yourself, so I'm envying you!

I just tell folks what works for me. I think Alex,JJ, and others just do the same. God love them!

 

[chrishel]

Since the feed store was out of Gamebird anything, I had to use Flockraiser (20% protein, less calcium that GBS) for 2 weeks and that led to some shell-less eggs. So I was trying to up the calcium with the GB Layer 5438 (20% protein, twice as much calcium that GBS).

The GBS I get is the good 5419, however, being in the Pheasant belt, it's got the antibiotic added...so...what to do?

Probably put in some oystershell in the GBS and be done.

 

[chickbird]

Quote:
i would think that feeding an antibiotic to a meat bird is NOT a good idea for human consumption.

 

[chrishel]

That was one of my concerns when I first realized my feed had it in there. We intend to eat the eggs and the birds. So I did a little research and found this:

http://www.asp-inc.com/products/documents/prodinfo/b/bmd50.pdf

Sounds like it's commonly used and there's no withdraw time required so although I'd prefer not to have it, I'm OK with it.

With the choices I have: GBS with BMD50 or feeds with less protein, I picked the GBS with antibiotic.

Some people are surprised when they hear I have livestock quail and they say, "Oh, so you must be concerned about where your food comes from." (I live in the city). Yes, but more for the fun of having them. And I can't say my birds are fed organically and are antibiotic free because of the feed I use. But really, my only concern is that they are happy and have good lives before we process them.

 

[joe125]

Quote:
Well, "Bacitracin Methylene Disalicylate" doesn't generally make it's way into the eggs or meat. It stays in the GI tract, and is used to treat bacteria within the tract. Whether or not one feeds antibiotics or not is a personal choice based on a number of things. Whether or not you want to be antibiotic free, the well being of your flock, etc...
I'm not going to touch the Medicated feed button with a 10 foot pole. Only to say this....Purina Mills GBS with BMD is product #5422, not #5419.....and...There is not a single 50# bag of the stuff within 1000Miles of me.

Now, just a little coturnix titbits.
Shell-less eggs are generally cause by physiological problems, not the lack of calcium! Stress is the major cause, and stress to a coturnix could mean almost anything. Just a few that spring to mind....New pens, new pen mates. New feeders/waters or new T-shirt worn by the feed monster. CONSTANT FEED CHANGES!!!! A rat trying to eat my toes, falcon fly-by. 70 deg. daytime temp, and 30 deg nighttime temp, or any drastic temp., or fluctuation between temps..

 

[Orange Ribbon]

As most everyone knows I had a terrible time finding any game bird feed, but at the last minute (a few days before my first coturnix were about to hatch) Southern States got in some game bird feed which I think is 28%. It is medicated, but I understand from several here that it is okay to eat the quail. Anyway, if you have a SS store out there you might ask them about getting some if you can't find any elsewhere. It is tough when you live in an area where no one else raises quail!