Silkie thread!

[gcorso33]

They are about 7-8 week olds, just starting to make guesses on sex.

 

[Sanna]

So, I've been feeding my birds the Poulin Grain gamebird starter/grower feed, 22% protein in crumble form. This was recommended by a Silkie & Cochin breeder.
My question is, is it a bad idea to keep my birds on this feed forever because it's a starter/grower?? I can't really see much of a difference on the ingredient labels on the feed bag with starter/grower vs. layer for example. Biggest difference seems to be the protein percentage??

Will it hurt my adult birds to stay on this feed and the soon to be adult juveniles?

 

[PaintedFeathers]

So, I've been feeding my birds the Poulin Grain gamebird starter/grower feed, 22% protein in crumble form. This was recommended by a Silkie & Cochin breeder.
My question is, is it a bad idea to keep my birds on this feed forever because it's a starter/grower?? I can't really see much of a difference on the ingredient labels on the feed bag with starter/grower vs. layer for example. Biggest difference seems to be the protein percentage??

Will it hurt my adult birds to stay on this feed and the soon to be adult juveniles?

Stay on this feed. The difference is the amount of CALCIUM, as well as the higher protein. Higher protein is good for them, and just give them oyster shell on the side. I am also feeding that food right now, I like it and so do my birds. I'm doing the same thing for my LF and non-silkie bantams since I keep them all together.

ps: layer pellets have too much calcium and this can damage the kidneys of birds like silkies who don't lay as often as layer breeds, and roosters who don't need the calcium because they don't lay eggs.

 

[jenni22776rn]

So, I've been feeding my birds the Poulin Grain gamebird starter/grower feed, 22% protein in crumble form. This was recommended by a Silkie & Cochin breeder.
My question is, is it a bad idea to keep my birds on this feed forever because it's a starter/grower?? I can't really see much of a difference on the ingredient labels on the feed bag with starter/grower vs. layer for example. Biggest difference seems to be the protein percentage??

Will it hurt my adult birds to stay on this feed and the soon to be adult juveniles?

If I recall, it does not have enough calcium in the starter grower feed...I remember my silkie breeder telling me something like that, I might be wrong..

 

[PaintedFeathers]

New white girl, Crystal

 

[PaintedFeathers]

If I recall, it does not have enough calcium in the starter grower feed...I remember my silkie breeder telling me something like that, I might be wrong..

That is why you put oyster shell free choice on the side, so they can take as much as they need without being forced to eat too much. They know what they need.

 

[Sanna]

Stay on this feed. The difference is the amount of CALCIUM, as well as the higher protein. Higher protein is good for them, and just give them oyster shell on the side. I am also feeding that food right now, I like it and so do my birds. I'm doing the same thing for my LF and non-silkie bantams since I keep them all together.

ps: layer pellets have too much calcium and this can damage the kidneys of birds like silkies who don't lay as often as layer breeds, and roosters who don't need the calcium because they don't lay eggs.

If I recall, it does not have enough calcium in the starter grower feed...I remember my silkie breeder telling me something like that, I might be wrong..

I always have a bowl of oyster shell in the coop for the girls.

 

[Urchin]

Did you name Thuderhead aft the horse movie? I think he was the son of Flicka? Cool!

Thunderhead's my son's silkie. He says he just liked the name. The kids gave most of the chickens names and unusual names at that. The silkies and cochins are Tux, Tails, White Flame, Thunderhead, Jazz, Penguin, Cottonball, Mystery, Professor Fluffles, Doctor Puffles, Lou, Pinto and Mozzarella (Ella). The named LF are Henrietta, Lola, Mango, Ginger, Apple Juice, Orange Juice, Bender, Buttface (she's a bit of a jerk), Emily, Cheddar, Velveeta, Asiago, Parmesan, Limburger, Roger (female), Zebra, Tiger, Leia, and No Name.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

I always have a bowl of oyster shell in the coop for the girls.

Then you're good

 

[jenni22776rn]

That is why you put oyster shell free choice on the side, so they can take as much as they need without being forced to eat too much. They know what they need.

That's good to know..I was always told to switch them as they get older..if it is better for them I will start feeding them it again...what is the difference between starter than regular laying crumbles?