Ribh's D'Coopage

[rjohns39]

those are numbers from pros... minimum feed for max production. But all on fresh pasture. We are a different lot. We want the girls to live happy healthy lives on pasture and provide the best quality eggs possible while maintaining the pasture.

 

[LozzyR]

I find it an interesting topic. You may remember you were kind enough to send me copies of some feed analysis/formulations.
It is quite a complex subject if approached with the known science in mind. This would be my preferred way. But, some of these men have generations of what worked and what didn't to work with.
My next step is to try and get Mohamed to write down, preferably in Catalan or English, what his feed comprises. I need quantities and types. Then I can make some assessment of their chemical values.
I've come across two or three different fowl specific feeds here now. What and how one feeds ones birds is a pretty well guarded secret because all the custom feeds are taken from cock fighting breeders as far as I can gather.
The guy with the Fayoumies feeds once a day. They are 30 gram portions. This he considers to be a very generous portion. He thinks 20 gram portions worked best. One of the reasons he feeds them at all is to keep them on the property. Also, like many chicken keepers, going to roost time is a good opportunity to get a good look at all the birds.
I would like to feed something else than the commercial feed I do now.
I do face a feed problem that I think most free range chicken keepers face; the more you feed the less they forage. I'm currently feeding three times a day mostly because it helps with flock security from predators. The chickens aren't hungry enough to risk more than dawn and dusk forage ventures.

So does this mean we shouldn't be feeding grain to our chooks? Or that it just wasn't originally part of their diet? My breeder friend soaks barley and wheat grains so that they start to sprout and then feeds it to all her birds (ducks and geese as well) and she says doing it this way costs her a quarter of what it would if she just gave them the grain, plus they get more nutrients from the green sprouts. I wanted to try it so I bought a kilo of grain and have been soaking and rinsing it over a week. The girls seem very interested in it, although I've grown far too much in one hit for the three of them! So is this not actually good for them, or just not what was originally considered feed? I've still also got commercial layer feed, which my layers will need (presumably).

 

[Kris5902]

THEY'RE HATCHING!!!!!

I got an email from Anna's teacher that there is an external pip!! It's a green egg too!!!

I can't wait to get pictures tomorrow!!

 

[LozzyR]

THEY'RE HATCHING!!!!!

I got an email from Anna's teacher that there is an external pip!! It's a green egg too!!!

I can't wait to get pictures tomorrow!!

That's so exciting!

 

[Shadrach]

So does this mean we shouldn't be feeding grain to our chooks? Or that it just wasn't originally part of their diet? My breeder friend soaks barley and wheat grains so that they start to sprout and then feeds it to all her birds (ducks and geese as well) and she says doing it this way costs her a quarter of what it would if she just gave them the grain, plus they get more nutrients from the green sprouts. I wanted to try it so I bought a kilo of grain and have been soaking and rinsing it over a week. The girls seem very interested in it, although I've grown far too much in one hit for the three of them! So is this not actually good for them, or just not what was originally considered feed? I've still also got commercial layer feed, which my layers will need (presumably).

I feed a commercial feed because I know it has all the basic nutrients required for life.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to do any different without having done a lot of research.
I wouldn't do what you mention your breeder does for example.
But, the research done has been carried out with production/battery hens in mind. The emphasis was/is to maximize egg production, not the long term health of the chicken.
If ones flock free ranges and the forage is of decent quality one has a bit more scope for experimentation.
If the flock is confined then imo dumping the commercial feed and trying out something one may have read on the Internet is downright dangerous for the chickens.
The reason grains are used in feed is about cost/availability and convenience. I used to be able to get a fish based commercial feed here and in theory at least it should be better for the chickens.
Chickens are amazingly adaptable with regard to what they can survive on. In poorer countries one of the main advantages of keeping chickens was with the right breeds one didn't have to feed them; they free ranged and fed themselves. Go to just about any Asian and North African rural area and you are likely to see chickens running around the villages foraging.
What I'm interested in is what is the best type of diet for overall health and longevity.
Diet makes a major contribution to health.
My view atm is commercial feed is the simplest and best option for me here with my keeping arrangements and level of knowledge. I think this applies to the vast majority of chicken keepers. But, not only do the chickens here free range and forage, I also supplement their diet with meat and fish.
What I believe to be the case is commercial feeds in general are too low in protein, contain the wrong types of fat and are not optimal for the chickens digestive system.

 

[LozzyR]

I feed a commercial feed because I know it has all the basic nutrients required for life.
I wouldn't recommend anyone to do any different without having done a lot of research.
I wouldn't do what you mention your breeder does for example.
But, the research done has been carried out with production/battery hens in mind. The emphasis was/is to maximize egg production, not the long term health of the chicken.
If ones flock free ranges and the forage is of decent quality one has a bit more scope for experimentation.
If the flock is confined then imo dumping the commercial feed and trying out something one may have read on the Internet is downright dangerous for the chickens.
The reason grains are used in feed is about cost/availability and convenience. I used to be able to get a fish based commercial feed here and in theory at least it should be better for the chickens.
Chickens are amazingly adaptable with regard to what they can survive on. In poorer countries one of the main advantages of keeping chickens was with the right breeds one didn't have to feed them; they free ranged and fed themselves. Go to just about any Asian and North African rural area and you are likely to see chickens running around the villages foraging.
What I'm interested in is what is the best type of diet for overall health and longevity.
Diet makes a major contribution to health.
My view atm is commercial feed is the simplest and best option for me here with my keeping arrangements and level of knowledge. I think this applies to the vast majority of chicken keepers. But, not only do the chickens here free range and forage, I also supplement their diet with meat and fish.
What I believe to be the case is commercial feeds in general are too low in protein, contain the wrong types of fat and are not optimal for the chickens digestive system.

I’m not planning to dump the commercial feed, I am looking to supplement it. My friend has a property and her birds all free-range. Sometimes she has absolutely no grass, so I’m guessing that’s why she grows the grain. I’m not sure if she also uses commercial feed. She recommended I try growing wheat and/or barley.

My girls also free-range in a back yard, which may or may not be enough for them in nutrients. They get some scraps too (not every day) and I’m just looking to what would contribute to their longevity.

 

[Shadrach]

I’m not planning to dump the commercial feed, I am looking to supplement it. My friend has a property and her birds all free-range. Sometimes she has absolutely no grass, so I’m guessing that’s why she grows the grain. I’m not sure if she also uses commercial feed. She recommended I try growing wheat and/or barley.

My girls also free-range in a back yard, which may or may not be enough for them in nutrients. They get some scraps too (not every day) and I’m just looking to what would contribute to their longevity.

I've just been watching Knock encourage her chicks to rip a dead mouse to shreds so I guess mice could go on the menu.
For what it's worth, I wouldn't feed meal worms, cracked corn, barley, wheat and only a very limited amount of oats as an addition to commercial feed.
I used to feed household scraps but they get some of that from the compost heap.
What I'm most interested in is the various herbs they eat a bit of here and even more so what it is that the hens search for during moult.
Every time a hen here has a heavy moult she goes off the commercial feed. There is something or many things that they think they need that they find foraging.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[LozzyR]

I've just been watching Knock encourage her chicks to rip a dead mouse to shreds so I guess mice could go on the menu.

Mmmm, protein! Lucy will eat baby frogs when she finds them and Charlie is quite partial to Huntsman spiders. And they all love cockroaches, so we’ve stopped poisoning them and instead, catch them and give them to the chooks.

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening everyone hope everyone has a relaxing evening