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Feeds
Jul 28, 2012 14:50:54 GMT -5
Post by d12chandler on Jul 28, 2012 14:50:54 GMT -5
I have talked to alot of folks about feeding birds. Gayle is lucky to have a feed mill close and gets her feed at a nice price. Christina said she gets feed like that sometimes. I don't have a feed mill close that will mix feed for people. In OKC there is a Purina and a Nutrena feed mill. I was talking to Terry Britt about a month ago and he told me he feed chick starter all the time. He never feed anyother kind of feed. If you ever saw his birds at a show they was big and looked nice. He said he had a mix of sunflower seed, cal manna and something else he gave birds for a little something extra. I have decited I'm going to do this baby chick feed and see how it work. It's 18 % protein so that should be good.
don
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Feeds
Jul 28, 2012 17:15:41 GMT -5
Post by bluetick on Jul 28, 2012 17:15:41 GMT -5
I live near a feed mill, but with only about 20 birds (geese and chickens) it wouldn't work to buy a custom mix as you must buy a lot at once. So I use Plan B. All my birds get a game and turkey feed with 21.5% protein that I cut with oats. The first three ingredients are ground corn, soybean meal and wheat bran. Further down the list is fish meal. They also get a little fruit or veggies 3 times a day, and ground oyster shell on the side. An evening treat is a pigeon or gamecock mix.
Chicks get a medicated starter feed for two to four weeks. Most of my chicks are hatched by hens, so when the hens are ready to rejoin the flock the chicks eat the same as the rest. All the birds seem very healthy!
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Feeds
Jul 28, 2012 19:57:09 GMT -5
Post by bamachicken on Jul 28, 2012 19:57:09 GMT -5
Don I feed all mine chick starter till they turn 8 months. I feed the hens chick starter when they have chicks . I may go to chick starter all the itme. The reason I use the mini pellet layer is less waste. Chick starter is more expensive here than layer
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Feeds
Jul 29, 2012 23:11:27 GMT -5
Post by teresa on Jul 29, 2012 23:11:27 GMT -5
I was just getting ready to ask a very similar question. I would really like to know how everyone feeds. I do not have a feed mill available to me. I basically have Purina products and Nutrena products available. I was feeding chick start up until 6 months....but was told it was not necessarily good for my birds. But on that note, that was regarding my seramas. For seramas most feed chick start until about 8 weeks then switch to either layer or flock raiser. Too much protein is not good for the Seramas.
But for the orps. I would really like to hear the different opinions and and reasons from people. I do mix rolled oats and scratch together and I do give a bit of that. I will put a little in with their feed, maybe 10%. I was wondering if the orps should have the higher protein and if I should keep them on the chick start.
I eagerly look forward to hearing the different views.
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Feeds
Jul 31, 2012 11:48:20 GMT -5
Post by d12chandler on Jul 31, 2012 11:48:20 GMT -5
I have fed Purina for years. I think it's one of the better feed companys. Since I moved back to Oklahoma I have to drive 22 miles oneway for the Purina. We have a feed place that started selling Nutrena and I have changed over. It's like $3 a bag less. I have always fed the chicks starter and at like 4 or 5 months I went to the Gamebird breeder, which is a 18% protein. They always done good. Guess I don't know if the money difference is worth it. I don't think a chicken needs anymore protein than 18%. If they needed it the feed companys would be making it for chickens. Just my thoughts.
don
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Feeds
Jul 31, 2012 18:10:12 GMT -5
Post by pipsandpeeps on Jul 31, 2012 18:10:12 GMT -5
Don,
I am in the same boat, Purina or Nutrena. I think you will find your birds will not do as well on the Nutrena feed though.
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Feeds
Jul 31, 2012 18:32:38 GMT -5
Post by teresa on Jul 31, 2012 18:32:38 GMT -5
Pips: you do not like the Nutrena. Interesting. I have heard some bad stuff regarding Purina. But mind you...those are my only 2 choices too. I tried pellets (flock feed) and NO ONE likes them, so I picked up crumble tonight and hope to mix it in with the last of the pellet feed and hope that they eat at least some and quit wasting it so bad. The Nutrena here is sold at the new Big R store. It is not that much cheaper here - as Don said he can get it for - only a few cents and for just a few cents....I support the local feedstore that has been there since the 1940s.
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 17:00:45 GMT -5
Post by les910 on Aug 19, 2012 17:00:45 GMT -5
Good afternoon! I am a new member to the forum.I spend a lot of time reading what great advice comes from this group! Back in July I read the thread on feeding Orpingtons. It seems to be an accepted practice to feed Chick starter to adults.Mine always try to steal the Flockraiser mane by Purina anytime they can get it. So would it be an ok practice to feed chick starter or Flockraiser in place of the usual? THey also adore sunflower seeds,both hulled,and regular. Is this ok too? I do plan on showing them. Thanks,Leslie
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 18:00:12 GMT -5
Post by bamachicken on Aug 19, 2012 18:00:12 GMT -5
Leslie i don't have Flock raiser available where I buy feed so Chickstarter is what mine stay on with a little gamebird scratch that has five different grains in it. After they start laying I give them mini layer pellet 16% protein along with the gamebird scratch. I have given mine sunflower seeds as treats occasinally as it is supposed help with feather condition. I give mine scraps from the table too if I have any. They loved leftover bean soup the other day. Watermelon in the summer. I never throw out loaf bread to them. Their like a pack of dogs when I go out on the back porch, running to see what I might have in hand.
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 18:13:08 GMT -5
Post by d12chandler on Aug 19, 2012 18:13:08 GMT -5
I have feed gamebird breeder for years after the chick started. It was $18.50 about 6 weeks ago and I decited to do the chick starter, $15.25 and where I'm getting it, if I pay cash you get 5% off. Not much, but it all helps in the long run. I was watching RFD the other day and this guy said corn would hit $10 a bu and Soybeans would hit $20. That is 2 of the main thungs in chicken feed. We might need to cut down to the only ones we need to keep. I always keep to many over the winter.
don
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 18:43:42 GMT -5
Post by bamachicken on Aug 19, 2012 18:43:42 GMT -5
Don I only have about 25 right now and I am slimming a bit more before I hatch a few. Feed is rediculous right now.
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 18:54:48 GMT -5
Post by d12chandler on Aug 19, 2012 18:54:48 GMT -5
I have around 60 std buffs that I hatched fairly early, yes this week it's going to be cooler and the culling will began. I have 25 or so that is like 6 weeks old or less. I thought I might lose alot in the heat so I hatch more. Wrong idea. I guess I have 100 bantams I hatched this year. 50 lbs a day.
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -5
Post by bamachicken on Aug 19, 2012 19:18:32 GMT -5
Now Don, that is past Ridiculous. Its Redonkulous. Wowser. I have been through that about twice a week before but never in a days time. I am trying to get it down to a few good trios to hatch from and then only hatch a few and hope for the best. I haven't got there yet.
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Feeds
Aug 19, 2012 21:57:41 GMT -5
Post by Fred Kokke on Aug 19, 2012 21:57:41 GMT -5
I feed purina because the feed store is close. I figured the cost of each and p being 50 lbs, and nu being 40 lbs it was only a few pennies cheeper. If I drive to get nu, I spend the difference in gas.
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aveca
Full Member
Posts: 137
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Feeds
Aug 25, 2012 19:38:16 GMT -5
Post by aveca on Aug 25, 2012 19:38:16 GMT -5
I live near a feed mill..there is a special mix there recomended by a poultry judge..and once a week we eat salmon, they reap the rewards of that..like Julies mine get table goods sometimes too..I sometimes cheat a little and put a little sunflower oil in the feed but only a little once in a while otherwise they get greasy..I do have a problem with a couple of the English, their wing feathers seem a little crispy dry, not sure why that is..none of the others are that way they have good weight, feathers just seem a little dry to me on those....the other orps are very soft..I'm kind of stumped on that ..the mill feed is 18%. I know it has a little greens in it as well as oats corn ect..I think they had it made with less soy if i remember right..
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