old farmer

[Anny]

You can ask 10 different people and they will give you 10 different answers

 

[Beekissed]

Maybe that statement should read "may" instead of "will", as I didn't dilute my layer feed with all these other grains for my chicks....just the layer feed until recently(guess I should have clarified that statement...I feed all the different ages I have NOW with this mix). These chicks are now 2 mo. old and healthy, nearly as big as my full grown hens and doing great. Also fed the same rations to some 2 mo. olds I got earlier this spring and they are now laying, and beautiful big birds.

There are many folks on this forum who do the same without health issues, so I'm wondering if this is more of a matter of individual bird metabolism and what "may" happen instead of what "will" happen, if chicks are fed layer rations.

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
You are right about that. Will

 

[digitS']

digitS' :

". . . if an immature chicken is fed a layer diet, the calcium level is so high that the young bird will experience improper bone formation, kidney failure, and possibly death." That's from J. P. Blake and J. B. Hess, Extension Poultry Scientists and Professors, and K. S. Macklin, Extension Poultry Scientist, Assistant Professor, all in Poultry Science at Auburn University.

That may not be "conclusive proof" but these are the poultry scientists.

Steve

Personally, I'm very inclined to give some credit to what these guys have to say.

John P. Blake, Ph.D., Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986
M.S., Animal Science, University of Maine
B.S., Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University

Joseph B. Hess, Ph.D., Layer Mineral Nutrition and Eggshell Quality, University of Georgia, 1989
M.S., University of Georgia
B.S., Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University

Kenneth S. Macklin, Ph.D., Poultry Science, Auburn University, 2003
M.S. Biology, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Biology, Northern Illinois University

No, they aren't rocket scientists.

S​

 

[Beekissed]

digitS' :

digitS' :

". . . if an immature chicken is fed a layer diet, the calcium level is so high that the young bird will experience improper bone formation, kidney failure, and possibly death." That's from J. P. Blake and J. B. Hess, Extension Poultry Scientists and Professors, and K. S. Macklin, Extension Poultry Scientist, Assistant Professor, all in Poultry Science at Auburn University.

That may not be "conclusive proof" but these are the poultry scientists.

Steve

Personally, I'm very inclined to give some credit to what these guys have to say.

John P. Blake, Ph.D., Animal Science, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986
M.S., Animal Science, University of Maine
B.S., Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University

Joseph B. Hess, Ph.D., Layer Mineral Nutrition and Eggshell Quality, University of Georgia, 1989
M.S., University of Georgia
B.S., Poultry Science, Pennsylvania State University

Kenneth S. Macklin, Ph.D., Poultry Science, Auburn University, 2003
M.S. Biology, Northern Illinois University
B.S. Biology, Northern Illinois University

No, they aren't rocket scientists.

S​

Mine must be "mature" chicks, then, as they have managed to remain healthy, alive, and thriving despite the overwhelming, combined knowledge of college professors!