Sunflower Chickens

[pyrazen]

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Yeah. My poor DH is not looking forward to my first meat production experience.

If you buy game bird feed you wont be looking forward to your feed bill either . those meat birds will drain your wallet in no time. I will never buy another meat bird as long as I live.

I bet. I think these 4 eat more than the other 11 combined!

Thanks for the feed advice! I will get them some game bird feed and see if they get happier.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

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They need a higher protein diet then layers like a gamebird feed 22% they are meat birds most of their enegry goes to getting big fast, Most people don't worry about feathers since they butcher between 8-10 weeks of age. good luck.

X2

of course You'd say that .

Good luck you'll need it

 

[Katy]

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X2

of course You'd say that .

Good luck you'll need it

huh?

 

[schellie69]

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I don’t think we have that here at our Orscheln's in Ottawa. I wonder if it’s any good. I would try aslo asking about this in the Feeding and water threads and see who has been able to give it a try. Maybe it’s still working its way around the country.

Our Salina store didn't either until I looked today so I would check if you never know. Just checked it said Ottawa had 3 in stock. Guess they are carrying this brand now.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

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of course You'd say that .

Good luck you'll need it

huh?

Chick grower and starter are both high in protein so why not use it instead of game bird feed and it is much cheaper. look those birds are going to be butchered in a few weeks is it cost effective to buy the game bird feed NO .... if you want more protein for your feed Renee suggests adding Tuna.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
huh?

Chick grower and starter are both high in protein so why not use it instead of game bird feed and it is much cheaper. look those birds are going to be butchered in a few weeks is it cost effective to buy the game bird feed NO .... if you want more protein for your feed Renee suggests adding Tuna.

Well here the game bird is cheaper then the starter grower and has a higher protein It is just what I saw that everyone with meat birds used. I did not think that with meat birds you could use medicated chick starter from start to butcher.

 

[OzawkieBantams]

Quote:
Chick grower and starter are both high in protein so why not use it instead of game bird feed and it is much cheaper. look those birds are going to be butchered in a few weeks is it cost effective to buy the game bird feed NO .... if you want more protein for your feed Renee suggests adding Tuna.

Well here the game bird is cheaper then the starter grower and has a higher protein It is just what I saw that everyone with meat birds used. I did not think that with meat birds you could use medicated chick starter from start to butcher.

Not all chick starter is medicated

 

[Katy]

Quote:
huh?

Chick grower and starter are both high in protein so why not use it instead of game bird feed and it is much cheaper. look those birds are going to be butchered in a few weeks is it cost effective to buy the game bird feed NO .... if you want more protein for your feed Renee suggests adding Tuna.

Game bird starter generally has much more protein than chick starter....they're not even close the ones I've looked at. I don't think by the time you go buy enough tuna to make a difference your cost savings is going to be very much, if any.

 

[ck_dunham]

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I don’t think we have that here at our Orscheln's in Ottawa. I wonder if it’s any good. I would try aslo asking about this in the Feeding and water threads and see who has been able to give it a try. Maybe it’s still working its way around the country.

Our Salina store didn't either until I looked today so I would check if you never know. Just checked it said Ottawa had 3 in stock. Guess they are carrying this brand now.

I have been using the Feeds that Renee makes up and I have to say that I think it really has cut back on the amount the birds eat and they all look happy and healthy. I use a store feed to cover the first 8 weeks till the birds get added into the flock. I can’t wait to see Renee’s 2.0 version of the feed we use. I'll swing by Orscheln's on the way home some time and read up a bit on the bag and what it offers.

 

[ChooksChick]

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Am I doing something wrong that they still don't have full feather coverage?
(I am feeding starter ration, as much as they want, and have been raising the light to encourage feathering.)
Is there something else I should do?

They need a higher protein diet then layers like a gamebird feed 22% they are meat birds most of their enegry goes to getting big fast, Most people don't worry about feathers since they butcher between 8-10 weeks of age. good luck.

The meat birds do take forever to feather out, and often they will grow out to a certain point and then they sometimes have heart attacks prior to getting very old because they grow so fast. Don't let them have their feed overnight and just know they won't feather out nearly as fast as other breeds.

Don't get attached, because they won't live long whether you want to process them or not.