abwsco Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I promised an update, so here goes The girls have been on the wheat (4 parts), rolled barley (2 parts) and cut maize (1 part) feed mix since last Thursday the 6th August. We did have a drop in eggs on Friday and yesterday but we are now up to the full level again. Mind you that's only a max of 6 eggs a day due to my non laying ex batts, CL and broody. The combs and wattles of all the girls are really bright red and Patty our scruffy ex batt who has never fully refeathered has suddenly started sprouting new ones She also has started crouching again. I can't remember when she last laid an egg although we are still happy if she doesn't lay. The chicks are also on this mix although for the time being they are also having 50% chick crumb. They will be on the 100% soon though. We have no grass at all (thanks girls )so the only extra I'm doing is making sure they get dark greens and have also bought them a roll of turf. Hope that helps anyone who is interested in doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 I'd be interested to keep finding out how it goes. I am all for home prepared feed for animals. My dog hasn't eaten dog food since he was a pup, and my cat has a mix of cat food and home prepared food (although won't go for all home prepared ) I think that there are definite benefits, as you know exactly what they are eating, and I am a bit dubious about large scale pet/animal food producers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 That sounds interesting. Intriguingly, mine have decided they like eating pellets again and are barely wasting anything or chucking them on the floor all the time too. Strange...it must have been because we were running low on corn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Mine have been on that diet for around two months now. It's brilliant and suits us down to the ground because the youngsters can have it too. Everyone is in excellent condition and they really seem to be enjoying the food now after being a little hesitant at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 So what type of wheat do you use, and where do you buy it all? Can you tell, I am starting to get interested now I would still want to give the girls Bokashi, also do they need any additional supplements to give them the nutrients they need for egg shells etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Does it work out cheaper than pellets....and I'm wondering about calcium supplementation too. What do they have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 I'm just using poultry wheat and I can get it all from a horsey feeds place. It's working out cheaper than pellets for me but there does seem to be a huge variation in prices around the country. Cost me £20 ish for 75kg whereas pellets are £27 ish for 60kg. I know in another part of the country it only cost someone £14ish for the 75kg. Sprouting grains are recommended for winter and I'm also making sure they've plenty of grit. I'm also mixing some cod liver oil into it for one days feed in a week. The only supplement they're getting now is ACV daily. Griffin, did you read about it on the P.P. forum as well? Not sure about cross forum linking being allowed ( I know we from on it on the board I mod on) so the thread is called Commercial Food if you want to read more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 Yep, learnt about it on the other forum. I add allsorts to my feed bucket, they always have bokashi bran but I alternate between cod liver oil, linseed, limestone flour and any other seeds I've got lying about. I use whole wheat and I buy it all at a local agricultural merchants. I pay between £7.50 and £8 for a 25kg sack, so the three sacks initially set me back almost £24. Obviously the wheat runs out first and I still had plenty of cut maize left over because it's 4 to 1. I found they were eating far more layers pellets than they do the new grain diet. It seems more filling for them so they eat less. 20kg of layers pellets barely lasted longer than a week or so. We got six weeks out of one bag of wheat so it's definitely more cost effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 I know I'm amazed at how little I'm using in comparison to the pellets. Did you have an egg drop at all? Also, have you tried sprouting grains yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 We did have an egg drop but it seems to have coincided with one or two retirements from laying anyway. It was a huge leap of faith, leaving behind a feed I knew the chicks & growers did well on but now I can see the results and they speak for themselves. I have chicks & growers that have never eaten pellets in their life and they are happy and healthy. The chicks start having a little bit of wheat from about three weeks and they gradually move into the same as everyone else. Not tried sprouting grains yet, I need to be more organised! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 I'd have been using it from when the exbatts were used to not having mash if I'd have known about it, although it has taken some searching for me to find somewhere I can buy everything from. The lady at the feed place said she doubted I'd go back to buying layers. It's my first time with chicks but they really weren't interested in their chick crumb today at all. It's also going to be so much easier not having to worry about them eating layers too early. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Where do you get the protein and calcium from??? Do you still add garlic to combat the smells??? I am finding this a very interesting thread, but not sure I could store it all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Mine free range all day long, eating worms, insects, butterflies etc so that's their natural source of protein all sorted! Like I said, they get limestone flour added a few times a week for extra calcium and I use Bokashi for firm, non smelly poops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 wheat seems to have a high calcium level. but oats more look at this http://www.vegsoc.org/info/cereals.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickaboo Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thats interesting to hear. Mine were on my own mix for over a year, I started it to try to stop/lessen Phoebe's laying (as she has a soft egg problem), it didn't make any difference, however I kept on it as they liked it and it seemed nicer than pelletts. I used a mix of maize, oats, corn, linseeds, barley and a bit of bokoshi bran - as well as grass, the odd glug of cod liver oil and many fruit and veg treats. They loved it and were in tip top health. The only reason I stopped was because Phoebe had egg peritonitis, she very nearly died and the vet suggested a low calorie to make her lose some weight and hopefully stop laying - so weighing out pelletts was easier. We've only been doing this for a month or so, and I don't think I'll stick to it because she's getting thin and hungry and still laying !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 apart fromthe more "natural" aspect of it. I feed dogs on raw meat etc. that is pretty much what i am trying to do. Is phoebe in a run all the time? I actually tried 2 weeks ago, very successfully to put weight ON Miney, as I realised sunddenly how light she was. I might have made her problems worse by too much protein as not only does she chuck out softees but sometimes 3 in a day, and not as a one off, resulting in bleeding and lesions. So flammin difficult this! I though fatter hens laid less???????????? Been told to reduce her daylight to reduce laying too. I was also told on another forum NO bread or fruit because of the sugar content and therefore calories but as much veg as she wanted. bit like us really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Hi again, just re read that liink, for our particular problems, buck wheat would seem the best. lowest in proein highest in calcium. So according to some less protein to discourage eggs, yet plenty of calcium if they do. As i have some in the cupboard it might be the andwer to what CAN she have for a treat? I reckon some of everthing and they will/should pick out what they want /need anyway! good luck with Phoebe, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted August 22, 2009 Share Posted August 22, 2009 I was wondering what the difference is between your mix and the mixed corn I buy as an extra and found that the mixed corn only has wheat and maize in it, no barley. Does that mean I could just add some barley to the mix and it would be a substitute for pellets? Or would it need anything else? I already give them extra oyster shell (for calcium). Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Sorry Milly, only just seen your reply. I would think that you could just add some more wheat and rolled barley to your mixed corn so that it's not going to waste. I've just found some mixed corn in my store and am going to do that anyway as I don't want to waste it. My egg count is still up and down at the moment but I'm sure that's to do with some of them getting ready for their first moult. I would normally have got through 20kg of pellets by now and I'm nowhere near through 20kg of this. I still haven't got round to trying sprouted grains. I must make it my plan for this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 I had some dried black beans that had been at the back of a cupboard for about a year and today I've started to try sprouting them There are two jars sat by a window in the kitchen that I hope to cultivate something in! I'll report back in a few days...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 I had some dried black beans that had been at the back of a cupboard for about a year and today I've started to try sprouting them There are two jars sat by a window in the kitchen that I hope to cultivate something in! I'll report back in a few days...... How are you doing them? I'm going to try with some of the wheat but all I've read says cover with wet newspaper and we don't buy a paper anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Watch and learn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Yup it sounds really simple....but did anyone else want to slap that huge smug grin......are am I just an overtired misgog :(waiting for the bread maker to finish so I can go to bed!) Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 You're not the only one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 very helpful link, as long as eating and growing them don't make you look like her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
