The Ameraucana Thread: Where everything and anything about the breed can be discussed (APA, Non-Stan

[delisha]

My eggs arrived

! 3 more weeks and I will have my own wheaten ameraucanas.

congrats!! Good luck on your hatch..

 

[silkiemomma42]

I feed only starter/grower to my entire flock. With free feed grit, a high protein kibble supplement, egg shells and oyster shells. I also throw in scrap greens from the previous nights dinner, and I have a patch of garden with kale, chard and spinach and throw in several leaves of each. I have read a few times the excess calcium can cause kidney damage in Roosters, but my silkies are affected by excess calcium as well, so we allow them to free feed for it. I like this method because it gives everyone the ability to regulate their own diets. I also ferment the starter/grower with some scratch and feed it twice a day. They seem to be big fans.

 

[salt and pepper]

I feed only starter/grower to my entire flock. With free feed grit, a high protein kibble supplement, egg shells and oyster shells. I also throw in scrap greens from the previous nights dinner, and I have a patch of garden with kale, chard and spinach and throw in several leaves of each. I have read a few times the excess calcium can cause kidney damage in Roosters, but my silkies are affected by excess calcium as well, so we allow them to free feed for it. I like this method because it gives everyone the ability to regulate their own diets. I also ferment the starter/grower with some scratch and feed it twice a day. They seem to be big fans.

I've also read that it's not good for the roosters, but, I have also read that it HELPS the rooster's fertility, and health! So I think it is a personal preference. I will be doing this soon because I have FOUR different ages in my flock, and I want to be able to feed them from the same bag.

 

[Outrun Acres]

I do have another question regarding mixing my new batch of ameraucana chicks with my layers. I am hoping to be able to integrate them before the babies are 5 months old, I will have separate feeders and waterers for both flocks, but once they are integrated the babies will have access to the layers feed (even though they will have their grower feeder in their side of he run). At this point I think I need to change the layers feed. I am giving them crushed egg shells and they have a dish with oyster shells at all times, will this be enough calcium for them if I switch my layers to grower feed?
My hens have access to their feeder all the time and are used to eat anytime they want to, I would hate to change and take their feeder away. I also wonder if the chicks will eat the oyster shells from the layers dish. Oh boy, this is getting a bit complicated maybe I should just wait until the chicks are 5 months old to open the partition, then everybody can eat layer feed.
Any opinions about this feeding issue?
Thanks a lot in advance!

When I put my chicks out I give them a choice. I put little feeders and waters inside the coup. So they can choose to stay in there and eat the grower food or go out into the run and eat the layer with the big birds. The birds will be fine. I wouldn't take the layer feed away from the adult birds. They really need the extra calcium in it if they are laying. If the chicks feel like they need to eat the oyster shell they will, otherwise they will leave it alone. A little excess calcium will not hurt them.

I have noticed that the longer you keep chicks in the brooder the better. They will grow faster and be less stressed. As long as you wait until they are fully feathered they will be fine, and adjusting to any changes in feed and temperature will go more smoothly.

 

[Outrun Acres]

My eggs arrived

! 3 more weeks and I will have my own wheaten ameraucanas.

Very exciting! Happy hatching!

 

[salt and pepper]

Outrun Acres, how are your chicks doing?

 

[Outrun Acres]

I feed only starter/grower to my entire flock. With free feed grit, a high protein kibble supplement, egg shells and oyster shells. I also throw in scrap greens from the previous nights dinner, and I have a patch of garden with kale, chard and spinach and throw in several leaves of each. I have read a few times the excess calcium can cause kidney damage in Roosters, but my silkies are affected by excess calcium as well, so we allow them to free feed for it. I like this method because it gives everyone the ability to regulate their own diets. I also ferment the starter/grower with some scratch and feed it twice a day. They seem to be big fans.

I really like your feeding method. We may have to switch to this. I don't know about chickens and their calcium requirements, but it horses have an incorrect calciumhosphorous ration in their feed it inhibits the absorption of both. If chickens are digesting excess calcium it may just process what it needs and excrete the rest. But does this excess calcium affect the absorption of other nutrients?

Do your chickens eat a lot of oyster shell, or do they seem to just peck at it occasionally? Really interested in changing over to a grower feed and letting the chickens regulate their own diets. I also like how you supplement protein in their diets. The commercial feeds don't seem to have enough protein in them. In one of my hatches we had a lot of chicks with spraddle leg about 3 weeks after hatch. I came to find out that this was a nutritionally based problem. Now I grind up some cat food and mix it with starter feed for my newly hatched chicks. I haven't had a single chick with spraddle leg since I started doing this. I also give them a vit/min supplement in their water. Chickens are omnivores and they need animal protein in their diet. In my opinion soy is not an adequate source of protein and that is what is listed as the protein source in a lot of commercial chicken feeds. The cat food seems to do the trick and the chicks love it. I guess I will wrap this up!

 

[ChickieWickies]

We've been told this handsome fellow is an Ameraucana, but he doesn't have tufts or a beard. Is that a problem for my son showing him for 4-H? Mystery is almost 8 months old.

 

[salt and pepper]

That's a very pretty easter egger.

 

[silkiemomma42]

I love the idea of cat food! I had never thought if that! Omnivores need meat. Plain and simple. I have gotten into keeping my own mealworms thanks to a fellow BYCer and friend. It is the perfect protein supplement. Once a week they get egg yolks, once a week they get plain Greek yogurt. I will try to upload a picture of the protein supplement. I love it, and mix it in a 1:5 ratio because I love my silkies ans the extra protein is good for fancy feathers. I 1:8 ratio of starter/grower to a supplement that is ~28% protein would work great. Calcium can cause process issue in the kidneys in roos and some bantam breeds. No chicken really has the same calcium requirements at the same time. It depends on what stage they are at in their lives, so I notice when some birds need the calcium they consume more ouster shells that day or week than the others. There isn't a consistent consumption of a lot or a little. It fluctuates depending on who is laying, brooding, molting etc.

I am very passionate about nutrition in my pets. I am a veterinary technician and lactation consultant. Dietary nutrition is something I spend too much time thinking about. :-/ I tell everyone I know who isn't using FF to try it. The nutritional benefits are great! The fermentation process helps the minerals in the feed be more readily available. Chickens will consume less feed, and it will be more beneficial for them in the long run. Feel free to pm me with any more questions I would hate to get off topic!