Turkey Talk for 2014

[Arielle]

Quote: THe grains occurred when I gave the girls free access to oyster shell in addition to a layer with 3.25% calcium. My marans are not every day layers so the calcium demand to build a shell is not the same as another that lays everyday. I removed the oyster shell and all went back to normal.

In nature I don't know if a rooster would eat the same as a pullet/hen. WOuld be an interesting to observe choices. Certainly the rooster eats much less feed overall compared to a laying hen. If a rooster is free ranged all daylong-- doesn'the get vit D from the sun too? That would be in additin to the feed content of D. I"m not sure that the feed that is commerically available for the alyers takes the boys into account. DO most backyard flocks have roosters?? I don't know the answer to that.

I am reconsidering the mix of feed I have as the roosters I have now I would like to last a few more years. Meaning I am considering changing their mix to a 22% protein turkey feed and mixing it with whole corn and oats. ANd a little oyster shell on the side.

 

[chicken pickin]

THe grains occurred when I gave the girls free access to oyster shell in addition to a layer with 3.25% calcium. My marans are not every day layers so the calcium demand to build a shell is not the same as another that lays everyday. I removed the oyster shell and all went back to normal.

In nature I don't know if a rooster would eat the same as a pullet/hen. WOuld be an interesting to observe choices. Certainly the rooster eats much less feed overall compared to a laying hen. If a rooster is free ranged all daylong-- doesn'the get vit D from the sun too? That would be in additin to the feed content of D. I"m not sure that the feed that is commerically available for the alyers takes the boys into account. DO most backyard flocks have roosters?? I don't know the answer to that.

I am reconsidering the mix of feed I have as the roosters I have now I would like to last a few more years. Meaning I am considering changing their mix to a 22% protein turkey feed and mixing it with whole corn and oats. ANd a little oyster shell on the side.

I am also planning on doing the same. I currently feed layer pellets to all chickens ducks and turkeys, male and female. But I have concerns of all the males getting too much calcium, I also don't want to cause unnecessary harm to them and have them taken out of the flock earlier than I planned on. I am going to be switching to a 22% either multi flock or flock raiser and then have separate wall mounted feeders in every house to offer free choice oyster shell and grit. It has been on my to do list since last year just never made the switch. I plan to switch over to the new feeding plan in the next couple weeks.

 

[Chad Cool]

THe grains occurred when I gave the girls free access to oyster shell in addition to a layer with 3.25% calcium.  My marans are not every day layers so the calcium demand to build a shell is not the same as another that lays everyday.  I removed the oyster shell and all went back to normal. 

In nature I don't know if a rooster would eat the same as a pullet/hen. WOuld be an interesting to observe choices. Certainly the rooster eats much less feed overall compared to a laying hen. If a rooster  is free ranged all daylong-- doesn'the get vit D from the sun too? That would be in additin to the feed content of D.  I"m not sure that the feed that is commerically available for the alyers takes the boys into account. DO most backyard flocks have roosters?? I don't know the answer to that. 

I am reconsidering the mix of feed I have as the roosters I have now I would like to last a few more years. Meaning I am considering  changing their mix to a 22% protein turkey  feed and mixing it with whole corn and oats. ANd a little oyster shell on the side. 

As for the Marans hens do you feed them Layer or not?

 

[chickenman1962]

Timba,
May I ask who the manufacturer is of that see through plastic incubator? I think that's pretty cool.

Best regards,
Kevin

 

[Arielle]

Quote: RIght now they get layer. I do small matings of 1-2 hens/pullets per rooster, so limited space on their walls at this time. Their wall feeder holds aboout 20-25 pounds of layer.

I have wondered at the difference in consumption of oystershell based on different methods of offering it to them. MEaning. IF I include it mixed into the pellets will they boys still eat it? OR do I need to put it in a separate dish?

 

[chicken pickin]

RIght now they get layer. I do small matings of 1-2 hens/pullets per rooster, so limited space on their walls at this time. Their wall feeder holds aboout 20-25 pounds of layer.

I have wondered at the difference in consumption of oystershell based on different methods of offering it to them. MEaning. IF I include it mixed into the pellets will they boys still eat it? OR do I need to put it in a separate dish?

Im not sure if the boys will pic around it or just kinda scarf down whats in front of them. For me I use a separate feeder to offer oyster shell, I have never seen a rooster or Tom eat from the oyster shell dish.

This is what I use for free choice oyster shell and grit

 

[gevshiba]

Timba,
May I ask who the manufacturer is of that see through plastic incubator? I think that's pretty cool.

Best regards,
Kevin

I'm not Timba, but it's Incubator Warehouse's own brand called IncuView.

 

[SilkieSensation]

I dump my oyster shell in the bowl with the feed & have seen the roos pick around it & scratch it out of their way to get to the grain mix underneath. My hens will do the same. I know I am adding enough calcium when there is nothing left in my bowls at the end of the day except a few pieces of calcium & some mash dust.

 

[Momhunter]

I'll be hatching out jersey giant chicks, royal palm turkeys, peachicks and XLD coturnix quail this year. Planning on all of them eating the 24% protein turkey starter that my feed store caries. Last year fed the 30% protein game bird starter to quail and peafowl but it's more expensive and don't know if the difference is worth the $7 per 50lbs, plus worried that that's too high protein for the jersey giant chicks. What do y'all think?

 

[SilkieSensation]

Jerseys are slow growers. I would feed the lower protien. All of mine get 22% plus grain mix until laying age then go to 16-18% layer mix with added grain.
This is chicks, ducks, poults, goslings, keets & quail.