White Leghorn, the forgotten breed

[The Yakima Kid]

Sometimes sudden changes in weather or moulting will cause chickens to go off feed for a bit. I'm unfamiliar with Scratch & Peck, if that is a brand. I've witnessed chickens rejecting feed over the years if it is a powdery crumble. I prefer pellets. Bar Ale is making a soy-free-GMO free ration that is better than others I've seen since sunflower meal and fish meal are the replacements for soy. Add some Avian Super Pack and some Probios dispersible powder to the water if they are off feed. That will help them out during reduced feed consumption.

I'm interested in Scratch & Peck because people have found that the chickens like it. One of the three organic brands you mentioned was extremely unattractive to the flock. I attempted to do the standard change over of cutting a small amount in an gradually increasing it, and they rooted around, ate the Purina crumbles. ,and left the organic feed in the feeder or billed it out, maybe eating the parts they liked..

Scratch & Peck uses fish meal; a lot of feeds at one time used fish or crab meal - now it is almost impossible to find any that do.

I might try the Bar Ale if it uses fish meal.

I'm not particularly concerned about GMOS, call me a heretic, but plants have had mutations for centuries. I do avoid alfalfa sprouts because the non-coding amino acids can cause inflammation in some people.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Sometimes sudden changes in weather or moulting will cause chickens to go off feed for a bit. I'm unfamiliar with Scratch & Peck, if that is a brand. I've witnessed chickens rejecting feed over the years if it is a powdery crumble. I prefer pellets. Bar Ale is making a soy-free-GMO free ration that is better than others I've seen since sunflower meal and fish meal are the replacements for soy. Add some Avian Super Pack and some Probios dispersible powder to the water if they are off feed. That will help them out during reduced feed consumption.

 

[Michael Apple]

I'm interested in Scratch & Peck because people have found that the chickens like it. One of the three organic brands you mentioned was extremely unattractive to the flock. I attempted to do the standard change over of cutting a small amount in an gradually increasing it, and they rooted around, ate the Purina crumbles. ,and left the organic feed in the feeder or billed it out, maybe eating the parts they liked..

I've found that a common problem with any crumbles. Powdery rations are like throwing money in the trash. That's why I prefer getting birds on pellets. If I were to feed nothing but conventional feeds to the birds, they would eventually eat it because they would be hungry. And introducing a feed of a completely different formulation and palatability would be refused at first too. Proof is in the formulation, and unfortunately the price.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

I've found that a common problem with any crumbles. Powdery rations are like throwing money in the trash. That's why I prefer getting birds on pellets. If I were to feed nothing but conventional feeds to the birds, they would eventually eat it because they would be hungry. And introducing a feed of a completely different formulation and palatability would be refused at first too. Proof is in the formulation, and unfortunately the price.

Let me explain my experience again.

I have had no problem feeding Purina Layena as either pellets or crumbles. They have always found Layena palatable. The issue wasn't the fact the feed was crumbled; the issue was the fact that they didn't like the feed.

They didn't like the Purina organic, period.

They had no problem with King show feed (white corn instead of yellow) and they ate the Farmer's Best 20%, which I used in the highest heat of the summer when the temperatures caused them to eat less.

They also strenuously rejected one of the three organic feeds you mentioned.

I don't abruptly change feeds; I intergrade any new feed, gradually increasing the new feed in the mixture each week - the first week about 10%, then 20%, etc. They simply billed out the feed they didn't like.

I tend to feed crumbles because it takes them longer to eat, and gives them something to do. There are few creatures on the planet as happy as a biddy tucking into her feed.

My experience with one of the three brands you mentioned was also the experience of at least one other flock keeper. I don't know if the fats in that particular organic feed go rancid quickly, or what. But they didn't like what was on offer.

 

[Michael Apple]

Use what you want. I won't use Purina or Farmer's Best.

 

[buttonquailchic]

This was extremely uplifting, becuas I'm getting 5, 3-4 week old white leghorn pullets on Thursday, and I'm INSANELY excited! These will be my first breed of birds that aren't quail! XD
I think I've had quail a bit too long- they're not bond-y, not cuddly in the least, and yet my best friend has a chicken who sits in her lap and watches TV with her.
I've always loved birds, but I guess quail are a bit too.... Flighty and skittish for me....Mao I'm getting these chicks from a friend in Tucson. shoulda done it sooner, I've always wanted chickens.

 

[Cknldy]

Hey all! I've got 6 white leghorns, 11 weeks old. 5 have big red combs and only 1 has a very low light pink comb so my guess for now (since I've never had these before) is only one pullet. I'll have to keep quite a few chicks come Spring so that I'll have more than one layer Only one of the big comb 'boys' gave a bit of attitude while banding so I'm hoping the rest will be friendly.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

SO this is where all the WLH lovers are hiding!!!

I have just decided to start breeding WLH's and I will certainly be needing some help soon enough.

Here are my 2 current hens and rooster. I also have 14 WLH eggs in the bator now and they shall be hatching soon!!

 

[Cknldy]

I can definitely tell the sexes now and I only have 1 pullet out of 6 white leghorns now 11 weeks old. I guess that is how it goes though- out of 5 buff orpingtons there is only 1 cockerel! I told myself from the beginning of chicken adventures that I don't like white chickens...yeah that didn't hold very long! All WL are gorgeous and sleek

 

[Michael Apple]

Ah, if I was closer to you I'd ask to buy a cockerel. I miss Leghorns and haven't had them for many years. I plan on seeking some whites or browns out for this spring. Everyone have a happy and safe New Year coming. Cheers to Leghorns!