Old-time method: Is layer food really needed?

[ewesfullchicks]

Yes - layer food really is needed.

An egg is a perfect source of protein. ALL of the essential amino acids necessary to support life are present, and it's all encased within a hard shell made up of mostly calcium/phosphorus.

In order for the hen to do this day after day, she has to be in superb health herself, and be provided with a really great diet.

It takes a lot out of a hen to produce those eggs. If you don't give her enough protein, she will rob it from her muscles, including those of her heart and lungs until she is weak.

Protein also provides her with the phosphorus she needs to make her egg shells hard.

If you don't give her a supplemental calcium, she'll get it from her bones, until they get so weak, they start to break.

Rachel Long - BS in Nutrition
Rosharon, TX

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
How does protein provide Phosphorus for egg shell formation?

Jim

 

[Tweeza]

Quote:
Could you please elaborate on that?

Thanks

 

[Swamp Roo]

Ridgerunner:

Thank you for an excellent post. It certainly shows both sides of the story.

Swamp

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I'll second that -- very interesting post!

 

[whatthecluck]

Quote:
Could you please elaborate on that?

Thanks

just that I WOULD include meat scraps in their diet if I didnt plan to compost our veggies w/ their waste. Wondered how careful one actually needs to be about this? If meats are cooked, digested, and eliminated then composted....what pathogens are we talking about? I am new and read here about pathogens a few weeks back so hadn't given meat like I had planned to yet until I learned more.

 

[Tweeza]

Quote:
Could you please elaborate on that?

Thanks

just that I WOULD include meat scraps in their diet if I didnt plan to compost our veggies w/ their waste. Wondered how careful one actually needs to be about this? If meats are cooked, digested, and eliminated then composted....what pathogens are we talking about? I am new and read here about pathogens a few weeks back so hadn't given meat like I had planned to yet until I learned more.

Didn't know I needed to be concerned about that. I'm going to start a new thread so this one doesn't get hijacked. This is a great thread.

Thanks

 

[ella]

One thing to think about, what if free ranging turns out to be impossible in your area? In some areas free ranging your chickens is like setting out a buffet for predators. It can really become impossible to manage.

I think having the right breeds for you situation would take some researching. If you do plan on free ranging, lighter, flightier breeds tend to do better, but they're also more likely to hide eggs, take off and generally be less friendly- better for survival, annoying to work with. Larger dual purpose breeds are friendlier and calmer but need more food and are more likely to be killed by predators.

How important is their survival? Can you take the loss of your whole flock from a loose dog or ? In days past most farmers didn't much care if hens turned up dead or went missing, their lives were often hard and short, just like the farmers lives.

Yes it is possible in some regions to have a flock subsist by free ranging with very little help from people. There are even feral chickens living in different areas. But for the most part they are going to need considerable help from you just to survive much less thrive and be happy. Food is just one aspect of it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

How important is their survival? Can you take the loss of your whole flock from a loose dog or ? In days past most farmers didn't much care if hens turned up dead or went missing, their lives were often hard and short, just like the farmers lives.


I agree with much of what you posted. That's why I am not using the same management practices my father used. I certainly am not advocating everyone leave their coop door open all the time or that everyone freee range their flocks. However on some points, I do not necessarily agree.

How important was the survival of their flock? We depended on eating eggs every day for breakfast. Deviled eggs were a treat we occasionally had. Certain times of the year, late summer and early fall until we butchered the hogs, chicken was about the only meat we had. The survival of the flock was very important. The survival of the flock in healthy condition so we could get eggs was very important.

If you had seen my father when a hen turned up dead, you would not think he did not care. It was not because the hen was a pet but because the hen represented food for his family. I did not mention it in this post but have in others that we would often go years without the loss of a chicken to predators. Occasionally a fox would find our flock and it was dealt with quickly. You do notice a hen missing, even with 25 to 30 free-ranging.

For the record, my father's hard short life ended at age 86. His father's hard short life ended at age 85. My mother is still living her hard short life. She has a grandson whose family is now living with her. They were living in Michigan until the recent economy got them. She helps out a grand-daughter with 4 young kids who lives near her. She recently had another grandson living with her while he sorted out is life. I guess you could call her hard.

 

[country freedom]

I will not be free ranging my flock, they will be homed in a henhouse that has three nice sized yards: two roomy side/back yards and one roomy front yard/our garden.

Every four months my flock will be allowed go to a different yard, while the previous yard gets a rest from them. All three yards will be covered for the reason being I don't need to be worrying about losing any birds that way.