rollerpigeon1963
170 posts
Jul 12, 2007
5:55 PM
|
Hey Guys,
I have been asked more than once in the past couple of weeks about what I feed. I found something that I have been using for the past 3 to 4 months. It is a 18% feed made by Nutrena. It is called Nutrena Nature Wise Layer Pellets. Scott Campbell told me about these pellets and I tried them. I been feeding them to my flying birds. And so far it has been a success. As of this week I'm using a management system of feed and flying time.
I couldn't believe how fast the young birds are flying and for how long. I have been keeping a log of the weather condition and how they have been performing. As well as how long they been flying. And I will see after flying for another 2 months or more.
It has been in the 90's here and they are still flying and performing for a good amount of time. And the humidity would have zapped there strength. But they keep improving.
Has anyone else used these pellets?
Thanks Brian Middaugh
|
RUDY..ZUPPPPP
83 posts
Jul 12, 2007
6:05 PM
|
Hey Brian...
yes i herd about it for two weeks in chat room...lol
from a guy fat man slim ???
Anyways i thought the pellets were only for breeders,..??
i will buy a bag this week for sure .
also u said the poo-poo will be firmer correct?
and nice feathers etc,,,,sounds good
RUDY
|
rollerpigeon1963
171 posts
Jul 12, 2007
6:14 PM
|
Hey Rudy,
I forgot to mention that when they eat these pellets you dont get the nasty smell and loose poop. I looked at the Ingredient label and they have less than 0.25% salt. And with the less salt the less they drink because of the salt and making there poop loose.
Like I said I will keep you all posted. I will be keeping a log on there condition and the weather.
Thanks Brian
|
trevsta65
150 posts
Jul 12, 2007
6:26 PM
|
brian what amount are you feeding per 20 birds .cheers trev
|
rollerpigeon1963
172 posts
Jul 12, 2007
6:33 PM
|
Trev,
Up until today I was giving them all they want. I mean feed was in the feeders when I turned them out to fly. But I think they trap in so quickly for the water. It has been really hot here and the humidity has been in the high 90%. And they been flying anywhere from 1 to 2 1/2 hours.
Thanks Brian Middaugh
|
Velo99
1222 posts
Jul 13, 2007
4:54 AM
|
Brian,
Sounds like you might have hit on something here. As we have discussed several differents methods and feeding regimens in the chat room. I was thinking about the all they want method. Once the initial rush to feed is over I have noticed that most of the birds wont over eat if feed is left in front of them at all times. I observed this from mainly my YB`s.
Once again it is a question of the flexibiltiy of the birds to conform to a new feeding program. Do you check their crops to see how much feed is in it? Is there a certain time of day they have less feed in it than others? Just wondering how it is working in the older birds.
yits
----------
V99
Flippin`The Bird!
http://www.bluedotloft.50megs.com
|
nicksiders
1875 posts
Jul 13, 2007
9:07 AM
|
I am still leary about the "all they want" feeding. I am still afraid that they will be sitting out on the loft which is a behavior I do not want. BOPs and the aesthetiecs is my motivation. I need to have them traping into the kitbox as soon as they are landing......just me.
But,I am thinking about going to pellets as the food source if I can find the product that does not turn the droppings into a messy slime. In this humidity of Arkansas the cleaning may be dounting especially in the breeder loft.....just me.
Nick
----------
BigRiverRollerLofts
|
Electric-man
395 posts
Jul 13, 2007
11:12 AM
|
How would we get them to trap, when it cools off, water is only gonna be an incentive while it is hot? BOPs will zone in on us if they stay out all of the time!
I do fly in the evenings, dusk is the other incentive I use to trap them! Reckon that would be enough to rely on!
This would be so much easier to feed, just have a few insecurities!
Lets keep discussing this one, please!
Val
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2007 11:12 AM
|
rollerpigeon1963
173 posts
Jul 13, 2007
1:02 PM
|
Kenny and others,
I didn't start my young birds and hold over birds out this way. I regulated the pellets like I would if it were of grain. I would give them little and they would be hungry and trap in to eat. Same basis as we do with the grain.
As you remember I started flying my birds the english style. Where you use no traps but a open door and call them in with a very few pellets of feed. I did that at first. Then I just closed the main doors and open the trap doors and traps. Once they got used to going in and out of the trap doors I would lower the traps. This got them use to trapping themselves in. But I still made sure I was there every minute they were flying and out of the kitbox.
I do fly in the evening around 7pm they would usually fly for 1 to 2 hours. Here lately they been close to the 2 hour mark. Which I get worried and start flying them sooner. If fear they won't come down before dark.
Now today is there very first day of rest. I have been flying them in the rain, wind and heat. And they been doing very well. I mean the work rate has always been increasing. And they have been flying for 1 1/2 hours in 90 degree heat and they would work.
About the feed in the crop well it isn't much at any time. Like when they come down they don't go right to the feed. They do go for a drink of water and they usually pick at the feed all day long but you never see a hugh crop on any of them. And the funny thing I haven't seen any of them trying to pair up with one another. I do notice when they fly that long and come in. A few look very ragged on the perch. I mean there feathers are turned up and look like heck. But the next morning they are slick and beautiful. I think these are the ones that are working a lot in the kit. Like I said the work rate is still there all the time there flying. But when you feel them in your hands they dont feel fat. I mean they dont feel hollow but nice and tight fit little birds.
Nick these pellets I am talking about is what you should try. Scott Campbell told me about them and how they dont give the birds a running smelly poop. I mean you can't really tell a difference than the grain fed birds and the Nutrena Nature Wise Layer Pellets. And the humidity here in the past few weeks has been real bad like it is there. The humidity level has been as high as in the high 90's.
Val I believe you have to trap train them like you would with the grain. Now after I got them trap trained I been increasing the feed a little at a time. until they have pellets left over the following morning. ANd before long there would be a few pellets left over until the evening feeding. Which I would fill back up that evening once they trapped in. Now I know this fall is going to be a different story. But once I get the bodies on the birds I believe it will be easier to work with them once their body is developed. I can cut the feed down according to the weather. I just have to play it by ear. That is why I'm keeping a daily log on the weather and what I'm doing and what the birds are doing. I plan to place it on myspace for people who want to read it on a daily basis. But the biggest fear I have now is them flying too long when cooler weather comes. I mean they could get caught up high when dark rolls in. And loose site of the loft and have an over fly.
If there is anything else I can help anyone with let me know. Like I said I will keep a log and tell you what I have found out for myself. That way if its a bomb you wont have to go through the same thing.
Thanks Brian Middaugh
|
Ballrollers
801 posts
Jul 13, 2007
2:16 PM
|
Good deal, Brian. Keep us posted. Where are you gettinng them from, by the way? Local feed mill?
Cliff
|
motherlodelofts
1889 posts
Jul 13, 2007
5:47 PM
|
The key to this pellet over the others is the "lack" of sodium , the droppings are the same as grain fed, they also don't use a real hard binder which is what makes hard pellets hard.
Cliff "Nutrina" is a major mill out here , if Brian has access to it I am sure you would also, ask your feed store if they can get it for you.
Scott
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2007 5:48 PM
|
nicksiders
1878 posts
Jul 13, 2007
8:30 PM
|
INTERESTING!
Scott - do you still feed grain to the kit birds or are you feeding straight pellets?
Nick
----------
BigRiverRollerLofts
|
Hector Coya
183 posts
Jul 13, 2007
9:00 PM
|
I cant imagine this working for too long ,soon the birds will get fat and lazy and not trap in as easy.
If they eat all they want they will start to mate and lay eggs everywhere.
Mi opinion,i might be wrong but i doubt it.Hector C
|
Santandercol
1243 posts
Jul 14, 2007
6:29 AM
|
I don't know about them 4th and 5th ingredients.Might end up with BSE in your flock.What is that animal fat and animal protein???Damn cow brains!!
----------
Kelly
|
belle
281 posts
Jul 14, 2007
7:30 AM
|
MAD COW MAD COW, I feed my homers about 50% pellets and 50% seeds. The pellets can make birds fat have you ever had chickens?
----------
Justin
|
Electric-man
398 posts
Jul 14, 2007
10:08 AM
|
Just ordered 200lbs myself! I'm gonna try it, just because the first ones in are getting the pick out the good stuff! Looking for something to give a more even distribution rate! I have a couple of birds that are getting pushed back and are getting way to thin!
Since my birds are 6 mo. and less, I figure they will benifit! I can always go back!
I can't get safflower, peas, and some of these other seeds without traveling! Pain in the arse!
Val
|