Other forms of protein for winter

[centrarchid]

Chris,

Why ignore fat rich feedstuffs?

 

[technodoll]

My secret weapon for extra protein in the winter:

1/2 layer feed (16% protein)
1/2 turkey growth feed (23% protein)
mixed with a bit of cracked corn and BOSS

and that is what's in their feeders during the winter.

they have access to crushed oyster shell and grit and go through quite a bit of both actually.

I have to be careful with the bird suet cakes, they will plow through one PER DAY (there are only 22 birds in that pen!)

now, they get a warm breakfast every morning of cooked mixed grains, pureed fruit and veggies, whatever leftovers we have from the night before and as often as possible, raw meat. they go CRAZY over meat, in any shape or form - like little raving mad velociraptors!

I guess they're telling me that's the protein they prefer

ps: I get tons of super fat eggs every day from girls of all ages

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I don't, "ignore fat rich feedstuffs" my main feed (Breeder Pellet) contains Animal Fats and some grains rich in fats.
I feel that feeding treats and or extra grains/seeds that are fat rich in the winter will tend to make the bird fill full and in turn not eat as much of there true feed.
To me the best time to feed treats and or grains/ seeds that are rich in fats is in late summer to fall, that way the bird has a little extra fat by the time winter hits.

My feed mix in the winter contains a Breeder pellet (18% protein), Pigeon grain mix (14% protein), Whole Oats, Calf Manna, and a little Boss. The Boss is about 1/2 to 1/4 as much as I would use in the spring through fall.

(Pigeon grain mix --- Popcorn, Whole Milo, Canadian Peas, Whole Wheat, Maple Peas, Austrian Peas, Oat Groats)

Chris

 

[centrarchid]

Chris,

My birds do not put a lot of fat in winter, at least not like a migratory bird or many mammals. They can easily burn off their fat reserves in two or three days before dipping into muscle as energy storage.

To get around issue of too much energy intake comming from a given dietary component, I allow birds to feed selectively. Birds experienced with a range of food type options that they can discern, appear to have ability adjust of items ingested to meet their nutrtional needs. Selectivity appears to vary in respect to temperature and whatever the staple (complete diet in use) has in terms of nutrients.

Next year I will test this to see how good chickens are at compensating for differences in protein. Gonna make some diets in lab.

 

[Rivers]

Quote:
Beef hearts are delicious, I eat them myself. You must be cooking them wrong.

I am in the UK however and all cows & sheep are grass fed as standard.

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
Beef hearts are delicious, I eat them myself. You must be cooking them wrong.

I am in the UK however and all cows & sheep are grass fed as standard.

Brown,

Most available beef products in US are from animals finished in feedlots where grain repressents bulk of diet. Makes for fatty acid profile that I suspect is inferior to that provided by animals finished on grass / non-grain diet. Deer hearts might prove more available and comparable to grass fed beef products.

 

[Jaboyd2u]

I do verma composting and during the summer when its warm the worms will double the size of there colony in a very short time I will feed the extras to my birds. They love them.

 

[oldchickenlady]

Check out the thread on growing sprouts for your chickens. I read through that yesterday but don't remember the details enough to quote anything, but it did convinceme to try it. I have BOSS soaking over night now, and intend to get some oats tomorrow. There were some stats on protein content, etc.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My chickens got my turkey carcass from Thanksgiving. And they are about to get their 2nd ham bone. They pick the bones clean.