What do you feed a show bird?

[chickenbuddy]

What should you feed a show bird? The same stuff you feed layers? Or something else?

 

[thecochincoop]

I feed mine unmedicated chick starter and scraps

 

[Matt A NC]

If under weight a game bird feed(25-30% protein) mixed with a good mix of grains(oats, wheat, barley).

If you have one molting that you plan to show in the future add some Black Oil Sunflower seeds and mostly oats. The oats will get you those nice wide, strong feathers. The Sunflower seeds improve the sheen of the new feathers.

If more protein is needed you can add meat to their diet. You can also add bone/fish meal to the feed mixes for a higher amount of protein.

Remember that if you add whole grains, you will definately need lots of grit available for them.

Matt

 

[NYREDS]

Everyone has a "secret formula" for conditiioning their birds & most of them work fine.
Feed a good quality general purpose feed-layer, grower, breeder or whatever. Supliment it with greens, cat food, meat scraps, meal worms, grains or anything else you have & the birds like.
Good quality food, fresh water & clean surroundings will result in healthy birds in good show condition.
Experiment & find a system that works for you.

 

[Smoky73]

I had a really good powdered mix I got from another breeder that I was feeding mixed in with the feed. However, I recently decided to try something different taught to me by another friend. I feed Game Bird Layena during breeding and show season which is 30% protein. I have been top dressing this- mixing in rolled barley or regular barley (bought regular by mistake), oatmeal, flax seed, sunflower hearts, safflower chips, and wheat with some wheat germ oil and red cell.

And Grit.

They LOVE this, I have never seen them clean their bowls this well.

 

[chickenbuddy]

Thanks yall! I've raised chickens for several years but never showed any of them. I hope to in the future perhaps.