The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Thank you for chiming in speckledhen. When the pullets start laying, they all go on layer feed. I've never had a problem, and so far, I've never had any of them just keel over dead. I've even got roosters over 4 years old, doing just fine.

Of course, if a rooster lives without hens, he would not get layer feed, but the gamecock conditioner we use as scratch, just like my crippled Zane did for his almost 5 years of life. But no issues with layer for the roosters so far. As big as Suede was, he never had any leg issues his entire life, either. I hope Bash doesn't, but he has more height for his weight than Suede did. They say excess calcium has some effect on the legs, but I haven't seen that so far, only some arthritic hocks in hens and two roosters, Isaac and Atlas, his grandson.

 

[1muttsfan]

It's probably not unusual for people with small flocks to feed all their birds the same feed, often layer feed. Excess calcium appears to affect young growing birds the most. By the time the pullets lay the young birds, while still maturing, are close to full size. Once the youngsters move into the main coop I feed everyone grower/finisher for a few weeks, and once the pullets start laying they are transitioned to layer over several weeks.
I am not concerned about the effect of calcium on near grown cockerels, first because they are close to full size, and second because quite honestly male birds in most flocks are disposable. We never worry about having too many egg layers, but oh those boys! There are always lots of replacements.

 

[1muttsfan]

I should add that in the winter when few birds are laying and everyone is molting I switch back to grower/finisher, maybe mixed with some layer, until the days lengthen and the eggs start coming again.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I had thought the layer had something to do with my roosters dying younger, but it's all just another one of my theories, I have lot of them. Many aren't proven. I certainly can be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. I still prefer a higher protein feed these days because I like giving scratch grains.

 

[speckledhen]

I am not concerned about the effect of calcium on near grown cockerels, first because they are close to full size, and second because quite honestly male birds in most flocks are disposable. We never worry about having too many egg layers, but oh those boys! There are always lots of replacements.

Oh, yeah, you got that right!

 

[speckledhen]

I had thought the layer had something to do with my roosters dying younger, but it's all just another one of my theories, I have lot of them. Many aren't proven. I certainly can be wrong, wouldn't be the first time. I still prefer a higher protein feed these days because I like giving scratch grains.

That's an excellent reason to feed a higher protein feed like I do as well. Though my "scratch" has 16% protein, you know they eat their favorite parts more than others so to offset that, I feed the 22% protein layer feed, except maybe in summer when they are getting lots of forage.

 

[getaclue]

I feed them medicated chick feed for their first 4 weeks, since they don't have non-medicated in our area. After the first 4 weeks I change to Manna Pro Gamebird/Showbird feed, at 24% protein. I have a large fowl, heritage breed, so they are big, and slow to grow. In the first year, the roosters are to reach a weight of about 9.5 lbs., and the hens about 6.5 lbs. I find the higher protein helps them grow better, and develop out better. Somewhere around 6 - 7 months old, the pullets begin laying. That's when I change them to a grower/raiser type feed usually around 18% protein, or I give them layer feed, but occasionally boost the protein a bit with mealworms I raise for them, or with animal protein, or with eggs. Again, I find a little higher protein while they're still developing that first year, is very beneficial, however, if the protein is too high after the pullets begin to lay, they don't lay as well.

I started with sex links, and I could start them on chick feed, then after 10 weeks put them on grower, and layer feed when they began to lay. Of course, they did not have to attain the growth, and development that my BA's do.

During molt, I faithfully increase their protein. I make sure that at least twice a week, they get an animal source of protein, not just vegetable from the feed. Cat food, leftover meat, eggs, etc. work well.

 

[speckledhen]

An old dog just learned a new trick today. I put in a zipper for the first time in my life. Thanks to YouTube ladies who take time to put up those videos! Here is the large pillow cover, with working invisible zipper, to go with the Sunny Stars quilt. And, just think, if I had thrown those little triangle pieces away, I'd not have this..or rather the person who buys the quilt wouldn't have this, because I'm including it with the quilt as a bonus.

 

[getaclue]

Hey, that's really nifty.

 

[speckledhen]

Hey, that's really nifty.

Thanks. I should say that I've seen men show how to put in zippers, too, so not just the ladies do that. This is one good one I drew from quite a bit.