Thoughts about protein levels, corn, heat

[eatmorechicken]

Quote:
Must go get me some fresh watermelon! The birds can have the rinds

I don't have enough watermelons to share with my few birds. Lucky chickens! Mine can have all the cucumbers they want, but watermelon....

haha my birds are spoiled, but not that much. These melons started getting soft... you can see some dark spots on the rind of one melon. Chickens don't seem to mind.

 

[Tracydr]

My chickens get melon rinds almost everyday during the summer. I think AZ must be one of the top states for melon production. They are so cheap and good at the local produce market. We have been eating melon varieties I've never even heard of this summer. They're my chicks favorite hot afternoon treat.
When they were small, I also gave them sprouts. Fenugreek, mung beans, radish. Their favorite was the fenugreek sprouts.

 

[Beekissed]

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How much is too much protein for a general flock feed?

High pro feeds fed free choice are for folks needing to grow birds quick and in a hurry....most of those folks are doing it for profit and they make more money the more birds they can grow out and sell.

For us common folks who are just growing some meat for the freezer...what's the hurry? Feed those chickens what you would feed a normal chicken, don't give them unlimited feed~they obviously will just founder theirselves on it, and give them some healthy supplements like the watermelons you see in the pics~priceless!

I fed mine and treated mine just like my free ranged laying flock and still put 100+ lbs of meat in the freezer from just 20 birds...and it was healthy meat. The birds were foraging, healthy and happy right up until the day they died.

If one is raising their meaties like the commercial broiler houses do it, how is that any different than just buying from the store? The big boys can raise them much cheaper... just save your money, time and effort and just buy them under cellophane. But, if you would rather have quality meat from healthy birds raised in a humane manner? Treat them like chickens instead of hogs.

 

[Erica]

Need a 'like' button.

 

[vsmenagerie]

Quote:
How much is too much protein for a general flock feed?

High pro feeds fed free choice are for folks needing to grow birds quick and in a hurry....most of those folks are doing it for profit and they make more money the more birds they can grow out and sell.

For us common folks who are just growing some meat for the freezer...what's the hurry? Feed those chickens what you would feed a normal chicken, don't give them unlimited feed~they obviously will just founder theirselves on it, and give them some healthy supplements like the watermelons you see in the pics~priceless!

I fed mine and treated mine just like my free ranged laying flock and still put 100+ lbs of meat in the freezer from just 20 birds...and it was healthy meat. The birds were foraging, healthy and happy right up until the day they died.

If one is raising their meaties like the commercial broiler houses do it, how is that any different than just buying from the store? The big boys can raise them much cheaper... just save your money, time and effort and just buy them under cellophane. But, if you would rather have quality meat from healthy birds raised in a humane manner? Treat them like chickens instead of hogs.

That is why I want to raise some. What you said. Same reason why we prefer to raise our own anything. I raised hogs one year. They were spoiled happy pigs and the one we butchered was the best tasting pork ever. He was fed good, was out on pasture, got to clean up the mess from the fruit trees. I didnt care if it was "cheaper".

 

[Saltysteele]

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i agree with this. those things are like chickens with Prader-Willi syndrome. if you don't give them food, they're going to start looking for it

 

[Tracydr]

Quote:
i agree with this. those things are like chickens with Prader-Willi syndrome. if you don't give them food, they're going to start looking for it

Funny post!

 

[Tracydr]

This may be at least a partial answer to my question. Contrary to popular belief, protein generates more heat than carbohydrates or fat. Therefore, in an extreme heat situation, like 110 degrees, it would make sense that severely lowering the protein levels would decrease the amount of panting. I've started mixing the flock raiser with scratch and they are definitely better than receiving straight flock raiser. They are also getting a higher level of kitchen scraps, which again, lowers protein and probably increases carbs, fats and electrolytes.

 

[Tracydr]

This may be at least a partial answer to my question. Apparently, contrary to the popular belief that corn and scratch generate heat, protein is a bigger source of heat in the diet. Therefore, in an extreme heat situation, like 110 degrees, it would make sense that severely lowering the protein levels would decrease the amount of panting. I've started mixing the flock raiser with scratch and they are definitely better than receiving straight flock raiser. They are also getting a higher level of kitchen scraps, which again, lowers protein and probably increases carbs, fats and electrolytes. Remember, when reading this, that the most efficient source of "energy" is fat, the second most efficient source is carbohydrates:

" The energy content of the diet, along with other nutrients, should be increased. Increasing fat calories should be considered. Dietary vitamin and mineral concentrations should be re-evaluated. The use of vitamin C, as an anti-stress agent, is often considered during periods of heat stress. Choosing the correct coccidiostat is very important as well as the use of antioxidants and mold inhibitors in stored feed. Protein contributes more to metabolic heat production than do carbohydrate and fat. Therefore, feeding imbalanced diets with regards to amino acids will result in increased metabolic heat production. Amino acid balance in the diet is especially important. Efforts should be made to formulate diets with slightly lower protein levels and to utilize synthetic amino acids, especially methionine and lysine."

So, it looks like, when raising broilers in a hotter environment, it may be a good idea to lower the protein total concentration and improve the quality of protein source, perhaps supplementing with methionine and lysine, since these are often limiting amino acids. This week, along with limiting total protein, I have added a bit of meat protein to my mixed flock's treats. They certainly love that idea!
I'm going to do some figuring and pull out my old "Feeds and Feeding" book from graduate school. I may see if I can formulate a ration and have a couple of rations, one for broilers, one for my young, mixed flock, milled by the milling company in Casa Grande, taking some of this information into account.

 

[crazyhen]

This makes me feel good. All summer my chicks have had a free range area planted in alfalfa and weeds. Also lots of veg scrapes from the garden. I sort of worried about protein but these are going to be laying hens . No real rush on them. I have noticed very little panting , only the two English orps. All are from 10 to 13 weeks or so. Now the alfalfa is gone so it is just veg. Tomato half eaten by the ground hog, UGH!!! greens, they love tendergreen mustard. Also eggplant and zuchinni slightly cooked for them. Field peas with shells and corn that was overripe or under etc. Cukes too. Later I have field pea vines for them. In the winter I plant greens too and keep them covered with a garden row cover. They will last through weather in the mtns down to about 0. Then I will have to buy them some. If I can get alfalfa pellets how much could they tolerate per week?? Someone please tell me. I love my flock. Gloria Jean
PS I also feed purina starter grower but they prefer the greens.