The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[lindz8504]

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9983-southern-states-tradition-poultry-maintainer-50lb.aspx

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9950-southern-states-all-grain-meat-bird-maker-50lb.aspx

Is one of these what I need to get to feed a mixed age flock? The only starter grower that they can get in 50lb is Medicated, which I don't want.... What is my best option?

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
I would say the Poultry Maintainer The other is for putting weight on which you don't want for layers.

 

[delisha]

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9983-southern-states-tradition-poultry-maintainer-50lb.aspx

http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/p-9950-southern-states-all-grain-meat-bird-maker-50lb.aspx

Is one of these what I need to get to feed a mixed age flock? The only starter grower that they can get in 50lb is Medicated, which I don't want.... What is my best option?

I do not see ingredient so I can't really help. With the information given only ......I would choose meat bird maker since it would cover all ages and the top one is for adults.

 

[delisha]

I had a silkie suddenly die and I did an autopsy. It was my first autopsy done with a silkie and it was a bit unnerving. They have such different colors. Has anyone done a silkie autopsy? I have some questions..

 

[Kassaundra]

I had a silkie suddenly die and I did an autopsy. It was my first autopsy done with a silkie and it was a bit unnerving. They have such different colors. Has anyone done a silkie autopsy? I have some questions..

Not a silkie, but have done fm genetics birds (hyperpigmentation like the silkies) The organ colors are definitely affected. The lungs have black striations that are completely normal, most organs have the darkening to some extent. Never saw a difference in the liver color though, or heart.

 

[aoxa]

I do not see ingredient so I can't really help. With the information given only ......I would choose meat bird maker since it would cover all ages and the top one is for adults.

I agree with this. The first one is for game birds, and therefore is much higher in protein. I'd say 20% is just right for all ages.

Turkeys should have more protein than chickens, so if you have turkeys, you won't want that meat builder.

 

[lindz8504]

I do not see ingredient so I can't really help. With the information given only ......I would choose meat bird maker since it would cover all ages and the top one is for adults.

I agree with this. The first one is for game birds, and therefore is much higher in protein. I'd say 20% is just right for all ages.

Turkeys should have more protein than chickens, so if you have turkeys, you won't want that meat builder.

They couldn't tell me the protein % on the maintainer... so I just had them order me the meat bird maker. When I asked for a flock raiser blend they kept trying to give me a layer blend.

 

[aoxa]

They couldn't tell me the protein % on the maintainer... so I just had them order me the meat bird maker. When I asked for a flock raiser blend they kept trying to give me a layer blend.

You'll do just fine with the meat builder

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

They couldn't tell me the protein % on the maintainer... so I just had them order me the meat bird maker. When I asked for a flock raiser blend they kept trying to give me a layer blend.

You cannot believe the trouble I've had when trying to discuss feed with the feed store. I think now they all start to cry when they see me coming because they know I'm going to press them to perform with some degree of accuracy and I'm not likely to give up until they do.

For example ... I gave them a full year to order turkey starter for when the turkeys arrived this past spring ... they kept insisting it didn't exist. I kept printing out the marketing info from the companies that make it and taking it to them. They said the companies in question had never heard of those products. I told them a year in advance how many pounds of the stuff I'd want. That was 365 days to get it figured out. At the last minute, the store found/ordered for me what was probably the most expensive turkey starter ever on the face of the planet ... in 10 lb bags. One bag at a time.

During that process one odious little man at the feed store told me "You need to stay off the Internet." I walked him to the book shelf in his store, opened a book to the chart of what to feed turkeys at various ages, and told him it wasn't personal.

Trying to discuss the nuances of "all purpose poultry pellets" with them has been a different nightmare.

Ditto discussing niacin supplement for the ducks.

Ditto discussing animal-based protein concentrates.

Ditto discussing pellets vs. crumbles vs. mash.

Ditto asking about the protein sources for any of the feeds on their shelves.

I call ahead to order food for someone to pick up ... they come home with completely random things.


Over at the better feed store further out in farm country, with a proper mill attached, independently owned so they can special order anything, some extra miles away, it is the same story. Something as simple as asking for 3 bales of hay produces 3 bales of straw. I'd think anyone working in a feed store would know the difference. Nope.

What is up with this?

The silver lining is that I'm learning a lot more about poultry feed than I ever thought I'd have to.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'm sitting here smiling... not because of your frustration re: not so bright feed store employees, and managers... but because I totally identify with you. You'd think that at least someone in the store should be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about their products.