Silkie thread!

[subhanalah]

Agreed. Our organic feed protein was way low since the SOY was left out - about 8-10% less is why we supplemented with extra protein and it was per the breeder's strong suggestion.

wait, they make feed for chickens that's not even balanced nutrition? 8-10% is a HUGE deficit! No wonder I'm reading about all these people having problems on their non-soy, non-corn, non-GMO organic stuff! It may as well be the poison you're trying to avoid! Malnutrition for extended periods is tantamount to starvation!

P.s. apparently, the developers at Google think that "GMO" actually means "soy" according to my phone's built in dictionary and correcting-everything - that's - not - broken
thingamajig.

 

[CheshieChick]

wait, they make feed for chickens that's not even balanced nutrition? 8-10% is a HUGE deficit! No wonder I'm reading about all these people having problems on their non-soy, non-corn, non-GMO organic stuff! It may as well be the poison you're trying to avoid! Malnutrition for extended periods is tantamount to starvation!

P.s. apparently, the developers at Google think that "GMO" actually means "soy" according to my phone's built in dictionary and correcting-everything - that's - not - broken
thingamajig.

Oh wow. I'm going to have to compare bags. I recently started buying organic feed. I never realized there was such a difference.

 

[CheshieChick]

I checked on the bag I have of chick starter, its Natures Grown brand. Its stating protein not less than 19%. The Dumor bag I have reads 20%. All other analysis is comparable as well. Ill definitely check the layer formula when my birds are ready though. Thanks for this!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Most layer pellets will range from 16- 22 % protein. If your chickens are lacking your egg production will be the first casualty. My point was too much protein and or calcium is detrimental to chickens.
A laying hens calcium intake should be no greater than 3% and a roos 1% . Chickens that are fed on a protein rich diet won't necessarily be healthy.

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/232/gout

 

[Fancychooklady]

Agreed. Our organic feed protein was way low since the SOY was left out - about 8-10% less is why we supplemented with extra protein and it was per the breeder's strong suggestion.

I actually meant that layer pellets can be too high in protein and calcium for chicks. Starter is designed specifically for youngsters. Excess calcium in growing bones can have an adverse affect.

 

[subhanalah]

I actually meant that layer pellets can be too high in protein and calcium for chicks. Starter is designed specifically for youngsters. Excess calcium in growing bones can have an adverse affect.

and lead to kidney damage/failure.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Is it weird that I like to bring my pretty silkie dixie out and lay her on my chest while I watch tv at night and pet her like a kitten? I am starting to feel like I am weird for doing it because my hubby makes fun of me whenever I do it. I asked him why, and he said he thinks its the fact that its a chicken that makes it weird. Am I the only one who does this? Is it really weird?

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I actually meant that layer pellets can be too high in protein and calcium for chicks. Starter is designed specifically for youngsters. Excess calcium in growing bones can have an adverse affect.

Sorry to bud in but does that mean its not ok to feed my youngster chick starter? I just got a 5-6mth silkie hen and I have just been feeding her the same chick starter crumbles that my babies are on just so that they are on the same thing and I was going to just switch them all at the same time when the babies were older. I didnt think it was a big deal but if it is, i'll put her on layer feed instead.

 

[subhanalah]

Sorry to bud in but does that mean its not ok to feed my youngster chick starter? I just got a 5-6mth silkie hen and I have just been feeding her the same chick starter crumbles that my babies are on just so that they are on the same thing and I was going to just switch them all at the same time when the babies were older. I didnt think it was a big deal but if it is, i'll put her on layer feed instead. 

I wouldn't put her on layer feed until she starts to squat for you or lays an egg, that s just me though.

 

[Sylvester017]

I actually meant that layer pellets can be too high in protein and calcium for chicks. Starter is designed specifically for youngsters. Excess calcium in growing bones can have an adverse affect.

Thank you for the clarification.

Our feed store has organic no-soy no-GMO chick starter which means less protein soy filler and no corn. More and more info is coming out that SOY and maybe GMO interferes with the reproductive process in humans and animals. Many farmers have stopped feeding the SOY to their livestock, pigs, poultry.

I make up for the lower protein with the boiled eggs, organic kitten food, cooked meat, mealworms, etc (of course not all at once). And since GMO corn doesn't pop well they have to make it out of non-GMO corn so we powder-pulverize the popcorn to add to the chicken's feed plus fresh corn we grow. It's a hassle to feed the chickens and ourselves with as little GMO crap as possible. I think European countries have banned GMO but the GMOs have a hold on the U.S. and some 3rd world nations. Legislation came up to label GMO foods in our State but got quashed by the big GMO companies.

Even our local supermarket vegetables are getting slight irradiation to supposedly kill bacteria which is also killing the nutrients in the food as well. Another reason why we either visit open air farmer's veggie markets or grow our own garden without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Big business doesn't give a d**n about the citizenry - it's all about the $$ and they don't want to hear the citizens' outcries because they see us as not knowing any better!

Sorry about the rant but just had to get that out LOL.