*** OKIES in the BYC ***

[GotGame]

Quote:
I have probably 1/2 a bag left, I am gonna go and buy probably some nutrena food again to mix with the Big V.

 

[GotGame]

from you folks living in central oklahoma, what kind of feed are you feeding? How is your egg production?

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I'm in southeast Oklahoma, I feed big V feeds, but I don't feed straight layer pellets. I use 16% layer pellets, black rooster game feed, a little scratch & a little bird seed mix (from TSC). In the summer/fall I won't feed as much layer, replacing it with all-way (20% crumble).

'bout once a week I'll add in dry dog food.

Thats just how I feed. Egg production is ok. My birds are older and don't lay like young birds. They take breaks after laying about 12 eggs. Most of my hens are oriental game & they lay less frequently than production breeds. The unstable weather hasn't helped & the rain really hasn't.

 

[GotGame]

it may not be the feed but I am going to go back to a feed that I know they laid well on, and if that isnt it, go from there. Nutrena, or Dumore or Purina are the 3 brands I have had good luck with. Our bantam shamo hen laid 24 eggs in 26 days for us, and a few more befor ethat that I didnt keep track of. She has decided to take a break now though, lol...so far we have had 100% fertility from the shamos, and about 95% hatch rate, they just jump out of the shell...

 

[NanaKat]

25 mixed standard brown egg layers: BA, RIR, Delaware, NHR, EE, Red sexlink and I was getting 14 - 18 eggs a day in the fall. Thru winter 10 - 15. Never had a problem before three weeks ago. Always had eggs to share with family....6 - 10 dozen a week.
Use Feed from SS Farm Center in Shawnee as well as scratch.

Know it's not snakes...went out with flashlights and hunted for them...no slither marks or evidence in the hen house, barn or around the barn and run. No egg shells left anywhere either...so the hens weren't devouring them.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Dumore makes their poop smelly (worse than normal) - my experience with it.
Purina turns the poop green, plus I'd have to drive about an hour to get it from TSC.
Never fed nutrena, atwoods in paris sells it. However, it's like an hour away.

My b. Shamo hens are older, they lay 2 eggs skip a few days and lay again. One is broody at the moment.

 

[Grace'sDad]

We use 16% layer crumbles from CountryLane. We have 10 layers plus all of the show bantams and it works great for us. We usually try to catch it on sale. I do like the plastic bags because they don't tend to collect moisture as bad as the plain paper bags. The layer flock run free during the day but the show birds all are in yard tractors.

 

[AshleyGray]

All the feed talk has got me wondering...Mine free feed, they are nearly 4 mo. Should I still be letting them free feed? Or should i start throwing it out for them? They dont get to free range but have plenty of their own chicken yard to run around in with grass. 4 are bantam and 3 are standard.

I was also thinking about growing some some honey suckle ( lol has to be something that can grow faster than the chickens can eat) on the back/top of my coop.....I have a ton and it would offer them shade and something to possibly munch on......Before i do I was wonder if it's safe for them? I assume it is, but its always good to know.

Any other suggestion of chicken friendly plants to grow around the coop? I want to keep them stimulated.

 

[Sooner]

I have the red honeysuckle & my chickens never mess with it.

As for feeding you will get answers from every end of the spectrum. You will have to decide what you think is right for you & your birds. Gotgame feeds his twice a day. I have free choice all day everyday. They do run out occionally but not for long. Everyone just does it different.

 

[Cuban Longtails]

I free feed youngsters until 6 - 8 months old. (unless they're oriental games, they get free fed longer)

My free rangers will get a little scratch & whole corn, but not enough to fill them up. Otherwise they won't eat the bugs & such, they'll hang around for handouts. Winter is the time I'll feed them a real ration.

I have honey suckle and I have not seen the chickens or ducks bothering it. Poke weed is supposed to be harmful & they eat the stuff in the fall with no ill effects, so I figure they are intelligent enough not to freely eat whats bad for them.