The Plymouth Rock Breeders thread

[uphilljill]

He's killing me... lol ... but looking good otherwise.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Stuff him like a turkey. 24% high protein (animal based) main feed, all he can eat from first light to 4 pm. Big old scoop of grains like a good 4 grain scratch, just as the afternoon is winding down.

These birds do not respond well on sissy food that is offered at most TSC type stores today. They do and will respond well to an Olympic training athlete's diet.

 

[aoxa]

Stuff him like a turkey. 24% high protein (animal based) main feed, all he can eat from first light to 4 pm. Big old scoop of grains like a good 4 grain scratch, just as the afternoon is winding down.

These birds do not respond well on sissy food that is offered at most TSC type stores today. They do and will respond well to an Olympic training athlete's diet.

I can't offer feed with meat, so I've been known to give them an entire chicken carcass.. They've had a lot of freezer burned meat as well - and we are getting so many eggs right now they've had quite a bit of that added.

Did you know to be animal welfare certified you can not feed them animal products? I was in shock. That is inhumane.. Trying to turn a omnivore into a herbivore.

So I can't qualify for humanely raised chickens. I'm pretty sure they are living the life though.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Stupidity is contagious.

 

[aoxa]

Stupidity is contagious.

You know in the UK it is illegal to feed any kitchen waste to your chickens or hogs? We're talking about getting arrested and fined.

Just goes to show how much the government likes to control....

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: I don't think you can do that here if you are selling them to the public for meat. I could be wrong..... I think I heard my hubby say that you couldn't feed pigs table scraps....

That is crazy about not feeding them meat. Chickens do so much better on MEAT feed. My feed is 22% and pork based. I have not seen better feed here.

 

[Fred's Hens]

While diet conversations are a bit off track for the thread, it is important to realize that the building blocks for growth, development and fertility require amino acids that come from meat, ie animal protein. Plant proteins can be substituted, but aren't the same, as far as a chicken is concerned. Many of the feed manufacturers add artificial substitutes in their "all natural" vegetarian formulas. An oxymoron for certain.

So back to breeding. Our breeders SHOULD be pampered with a high quality diet this time of year. There are a dozen ways to supplement with boosting ingredients. We probably should not get diverted into a far flung discussion of calf manna and all the other conversations. There are a boat load of threads already out there repeating the same suggestions over and over.

Please, Just go read up, if your haven't already.

Enough to say, just feeding your breeder pens a standard vegetarian 16% Layer isn't going to cut it in mating season. It's really hard on the cock birds particularly.

 

[aoxa]

I don't think you can do that here if you are selling them to the public for meat. I could be wrong..... I think I heard my hubby say that you couldn't feed pigs table scraps....

That is crazy about not feeding them meat. Chickens do so much better on MEAT feed. My feed is 22% and pork based. I have not seen better feed here.

We're talking even fresh leftovers - that is illegal to feed back to them in the UK.

So I'm assuming composting with chickens around is not advisable there as well.

I don't think laws are strictly regulate on what they eat here for chickens. I know they have to be butchered by a licensed butcher for you able to sell it. Which is against our plan anyway. I butcher everything onsight myself.. I am a control freak.

How can you stop a chicken from catching a rodent or frog? There goes the vegetarian idea right away. Silly to try to force something nature never intended on chickens. They are not vegetarians, plain and simple.

I can't source any feed with animal protein so I make sure I add my own.

They get clobbered milk, eggs, chicken, pork, turkey and very rarely beef. They are healthy and sound.

 

[Fentress]

Gatsby 29 weeks.

I need my girls to start laying. I have orders to fill

Where is the proverbial bowl shape on this guy? If you go by the outline of the feathers he is "V" shaped instead of "U" shaped. Does his lower breast fill in with age or am I not seeing this properly. Trying to learn this type, thank you for your patience.

Mark

 

[aoxa]

Where is the proverbial bowl shape on this guy? If you go by the outline of the feathers he is "V" shaped instead of "U" shaped. Does his lower breast fill in with age or am I not seeing this properly. Trying to learn this type, thank you for your patience.

Mark

We're looking for something gravy bowl shaped, not just any bowl.

I think he has really good shape. He will fill out much more. He is only 29 weeks. Takes these guys sometimes close to a year to reach their best.


I think it may be the angle of the last shot, but he does have a better front end. Here is one form 3 weeks ago of him.