Opinions on using a finisher or lowering protein for the final weeks

[PurpleChicken]

Does anyone here use a finisher rather than feeding their meat birds broiler feed
right up to processing? Mine rangers are maxed out now and I'm wondering if I should
drop the broiler and switch to finisher for a week or two.

Can I use layer feed as a finisher? I don't think the extra calcium would hurt.

I stock lots of 17% layer and 1/4 ton of 26% broiler. I'd like to avoid having to
purchase more types of feed. My quail, turkeys, and ducks are on the broiler too.
I keep 1 bag of starter for my chicks.

 

[patandchickens]

This is a question, not an informed suggestion, but could you maybe just chuck in some scratch (added to the high protein broiler feed you're using) to lower the protein / up the carbohydrate and fat?

Pat

 

[PurpleChicken]

Quote:
Pat, brilliant minds think alike.

I started doing that but am now running out of scratch. Maybe I should just buy
50 pounds of cracked corn and 50 pounds of oats.


I'd like to hear from Kstaven, Greyfields, or one of the many others here with
expertice on this subject.

 

[pdpatch]

Some friends of ours who have raised chickens for a long time use a finisher. They said they used a finisher made from 3 parts wild game feed 2 parts cracked corn, and 1 part rolled oats. We used it this year but it's the first time we have and I am not sure if it helped.

A person I know who works in a commercial chicken operation says they use a finisher also but would not share their magic mix. Around here cracked corn and rolled oats was cheaper then broiler feed so it did cut down some on the feed bill.

Tom

 

[kstaven]

I'm no expert by any means PC.

After week 6, half my feed mix is corn oats and barley. Especially when I do cornish x mutants. Not so many late die offs this way is what I have found.

Just had another round of 150 mutants shipped to me on the 26th.

Greyfields may have his own way of doing things different from mine. It always seems that when you ask 4 chicken people how to best do something you get 5 different answers.

 

[Cason]

Mutants

Yeah, that's about RIGHT!

 

[PurpleChicken]

Thanks PDPatch and Kstaven.

I like the idea of a blend. I'll pick up some corn, oats and barley if available. It would
take care of the finisher, replace scratch I keep around as a treat, and maybe even
add some flavor to the birds.

The birds will enjoy it.

"Mutants" for the cornish is a good term. My 20 cornish are exploding at only a few weeks.
The Colored Range Broilers(Freedom Rangers) are real chickens, chickens with tree stump
as legs, but chickens none the less.

 

[greyfields]

Every time you change feed, they are going to stutter for 48-72 and not grow as they should. I recomend never changing feed.

 

[Poler]

I raise some turkey's every so often, and in the past, i've changed their feed in the last three weeks to rolled oats, to give them that different texture, it also changes the color of their fat, instead of that yellow glob, its more light brown.

Haven't done it with chickens though, let me know how it goes.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Quote:
As I sat and thought about the finisher feed. I have to agree with Grey, because anytime you change their feed their bodies will have to take time to adjust to the change.