Peafowl Nutrition 101

[casportpony]

This one only has 0.8% calcium
http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/purinareg;-flock-raiserreg;-sunfreshreg;-recipe-crumble-50-lb
But it is your FAVORITE brand LMAO!

I used to feed that to my chicks and ducklings, but that one doesn't sell very quickly at my TSC, so their stock is usually pretty old and once they sold me a moldy bag and where jerks when I tried to return it. I hate TSC, lol.

-Kathy

 

[bdfive]

Yoda, where on earth did you get the information I feed my peafowl Purina Flock Raiser. I feed Purina Gamebird Feed. Totally different. Feeding Flight Conditioner now but will be changing to Gamebird Layena with calcium 2.5 to 3.5. for breeding season. There may be better feeds but it's the best I can get in the San Antonio area. We live about 30 miles north in the Hill Country. Another 10 miles and we'd be in Blanco, Texas. I also fee Farmer's Helper UltraKibble http://www.wildbirdssuets.com/foragecakes/kibble.htm Sorry, I can't get the link to highlight so you can just click on it. I pay $28 for a 15 lb bag. It has numerous healthy ingrediants.

 

[bdfive]

Yoda, where on earth did you get the information I feed my peafowl Purina Flock Raiser. I feed Purina Gamebird Feed. Totally different. Feeding Flight Conditioner now but will be changing to Gamebird Layena with calcium 2.5 to 3.5. for breeding season. There may be better feeds but it's the best I can get in the San Antonio area. We live about 30 miles north in the Hill Country. Another 10 miles and we'd be in Blanco, Texas. I also fee Farmer's Helper UltraKibble http://www.wildbirdssuets.com/foragecakes/kibble.htm Sorry, I can't get the link to highlight so you can just click on it. I pay $28 for a 15 lb bag. It has numerous healthy ingrediants.

I'll be darn, the link did highlight once posted.

 

[bdfive]

I used to feed that to my chicks and ducklings, but that one doesn't sell very quickly at my TSC, so their stock is usually pretty old and once they sold me a moldy bag and where jerks when I tried to return it. I hate TSC, lol.

-Kathy

Kathy, the Flock Raiser sells good here and at Tractor Supply. I always check date's too and have been so bold as to go to the bottom of a pile of feed sacks to get the freshest. Were you able to return the moldy bag of feed? I'd have jumped up and down and screamed if they refused. I do have trouble my local TS so drive to the one in another town where I get the UltraKibble. TS carries the small bags but not the 15 lbs. Local store wants to charge me $12 shipping. Other store doesn't. I get 5 bags at a time but lasts quite a while. The peafowl love it. My peafowl are healthy and gorgeous.

 

[casportpony]

My peas won't eat Purina, so it doesn't matter. Don't think I've seen UltraKibble there, will look next trip.

-Kathy

 

[Yoda]

Yoda, where on earth did you get the information I feed my peafowl Purina Flock Raiser. I feed Purina Gamebird Feed. Totally different. Feeding Flight Conditioner now but will be changing to Gamebird Layena with calcium 2.5 to 3.5. for breeding season. There may be better feeds but it's the best I can get in the San Antonio area. We live about 30 miles north in the Hill Country. Another 10 miles and we'd be in Blanco, Texas. I also fee Farmer's Helper UltraKibble http://www.wildbirdssuets.com/foragecakes/kibble.htm Sorry, I can't get the link to highlight so you can just click on it. I pay $28 for a 15 lb bag. It has numerous healthy ingrediants.

Ok the information about the calcium was from the UPA website and the purina bag of feed off tractor supply website. I want to feed mine a lower calcium cause the males do not need it and I have a supply of oyster shell grit in the pens all the time for calcium.

 

[bdfive]

Ok the information about the calcium was from the UPA website and the purina bag of feed off tractor supply website. I want to feed mine a lower calcium cause the males do not need it and I have a supply of oyster shell grit in the pens all the time for calcium.

Good point about lower calcium for males. I might rethink that after I use the 2 bags I have and go back to the Flight Conditioner that has half the calcium. Might mix flight conditioner with the layena until out of layena. I tried Mazuri feed twice and my peafowl will not eat that. It's expensive and what the Zoo's all use for peafowl.

If you want to know more about Farmer's Helper Ultrakibble look at some of the postings by Revolution here on backyardchickens.

 

[bigbird]

So.... in setting up a good maintenance program for a flock of enclosed peas, I have the necessary treats down pat from all that I have read. I'm a little confused on the regular feed diet. I'm under the impression that they need extra protein and a different amount of calcium, but not sure how much of each. I do have a TSC, and a feed store close to where I live. Is there any one bag of something that I can/should get that would be economical and provide everything that they would need? Thanks

 

[frenchblackcopper]

Calcium is needed by the hens during laying season. So is higher protein levels.Calcium is normally stored inside their bone marrow but if they are not supplemented it in one way as their bodies consume what they do have stored the hens will quit laying and can eventually die. Most layer rations have the additional calcium needed but the protein levels for chickens is not as high as whats needed for peafowl. The two species are diffrent in many ways but the most notable is a peafowl has the ability of sustained flight where a chicken does not.Bird species that are more active excercise wise needs higher protein.
I feed my peas diffrent throughout the year mainly because we have a local feed mixing facility close by and they do keep the ingredients I use on hand at all times. There is noone else around me that custom mixes a ration for peafowl and I have been thru trial and error,severe recordkeeping,having 2 breeding pens as the test group and the list goes on.
Immediatedly after laying-breeding season is over my peas goes on a 16% ration. Hens basically just need maintenance and the males are losing thier trains.Trace vitamins and minerals are also added. Thru the cold winter months we increase fat levels in feed to give them extra energy. And starting this week I'm getting my first batch of 22% protein with alfalfa pellets(my peas breeding pens has no grass anymore). I'm getting crushed oyster shell which I will top dress over their feed so the hens have extra for egg production.
What you need is a combination of a layers ration and gamebird ration. You need higher protein and calcium now.If you have a 22% gamebird ration available,mix 2 of these bags of feed with one bag of 16% layers ration,giving you a 20% protein ration that does have extra calcium for egg production,compared to bone growth only. Or buy the gambird ration and topdress with limestone or crushed oyster shell.

 

[casportpony]

What are the calcium and phosphorus requirements for peafowl?

-Kathy