***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Buckguy20]

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Well go outside but I have it from a very good source that "it is stupid cold and wet and snowy"

 

[BetsyOK]

Silkies hatched 4 splashes and 2 blues today. Wasn't expecting ANY to hatch, as I thought the eggs had likely gotten too cold.

 

[GotGame]

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Hmmm....Red Rooster's got 18% protein and Black's got 13% (which is probably what I need) but Chandler is a lot closer than Shawnee. But I'm really liking your mixture....especially since I'll free feed them Nutrena anyway. By 'sweet grain', do you mean sweet feed? If I can get everything at S&S to mix up enough for a month that'd sure be handy. The price isn't that much different that feeding straight Nutrena. But I like the idea of feeding those multiple kinds of grain.

There is less than $1 difference in the red rooster versus black rooster. The sweet grains are just some grains and alfalfa pellets that have been hit with molasses. They have several different types of sweet grains or sweet feed there. I don't really like the one I got this time because it had a lot of big alfalfa pellets in it that my birds don't hardly eat, plus the black rooster already has small alfalfa pellets in it. I like the sweet grains, just not all the alfalfa pellets. I tried the sweet feed that is in pelletted form but my birds didn't like it. I will be looking at the other sweet feeds next time, but I have probably three months worth of feed mixed up already so will be a while. Rather than buy cheaper feed, i simply cut down harder on what birds I keep. Feed good feed, don't have to buy as much, birds are less cramped now, and you raise better quality birds due to only hatching from your very absolute best. You raise less chicks, meaning more room per chick, which means healthier birds, and your number of culls as down and quality of young birds is up. You win all around.

 

[Allbreeds]

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I have the same question, my birds are all healthy but I would like to see them FAT. Especially going into winter. Did anyone ever suggest anything?

 

[Ksane]

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I have the same question, my birds are all healthy but I would like to see them FAT. Especially going into winter. Did anyone ever suggest anything?

Well....like I said mine are free fed the Game Cock Feed plus Nutrena the past 4 wks and I'll be faced with ration feeding them if they keep going at this rate. The layers had been on about 1/4 Game Cock but mostly an 18% layer feed and they're not near as plumped up as the ones free fed Nutrena and Game Cock. If you can get the Black or Red Rooster and maybe use GotGame's recipe, plus feed one of the complete All Flock feeds? You'll have fat birds lol Be sure to put out oyster shell for the layers though as it doesn't have added calcium.

 

[GotGame]

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I have the same question, my birds are all healthy but I would like to see them FAT. Especially going into winter. Did anyone ever suggest anything?

A fat bird is an unhealthy bird, and in more danger in the cold than a thin bird that is busy. You are better off coming into winter having birds in good shape, and keep them scrounging and active looking for food, rather than fat and simply staying up on the roost. An active bird is a warm, healthy bird. Just my opinion, worth what it cost ya.

 

[GotGame]

Oh, and by making a hen fat, you are increasing the risk of complications while laying, and are decreasing their productivity.

 

[Ksane]

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Whoops. Looks like ration feeding will be what I have to do after all.

 

[artsyrobin]

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hey betsy, do you ever ship eggs? just wondering as i still have a broody...

 

[sjarvis00]

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I have the same question, my birds are all healthy but I would like to see them FAT. Especially going into winter. Did anyone ever suggest anything?

A healthy well fed, and cared for bird will do well in the cold weather. You do not want a "fat" bird as the fat first builds around the heart before setting in on th erest of the body it also makes laying very labored, increasing the opportunity for getting egg bound.
I have been cutting the layer feed I use with either oat extender or Colt 16-P wich is the same product just a bot higher in protien. vitamin, and mineral levels. I started cutting it 1/2 and 1/2 but now use it at a rate of 2/3 layer and 1/3 colt 16 p. this feed contains several ground grains, dried brewers grain and brewers yeast. I also allow for some sweet grain (all grain mix of oat, wheat, barley, and corn coated in mollasses). The grain helps keep body temps up while the layer and colt 16 p provide a great deal of highly digestable grain products. Since I started using the oat extender and Colt 16 P I have seen the birds feather quality and sheen improve considerably while putting on a harder firmer body without excess fat developing.
The key to this time of year is to care for them well, feed them well, and do what you can to prevent parasites and stress. drastic changes in feed will stress the birds so anything you do change to do it slowly so to reduce stress and reduce the opportunity to induce a molt in the cold weather. Worm them regularly and inspect for mites and lice which are easily introduced by wild birds this time of year.