Question: On one of the online videos there was a question posted regarding tenderness and quality of the meat on broilers. You mentioned letting the birds age on the bone before cutting them up. What did you mean by that and how long do you let them age? Please explain.
Answer: Nelson,
Thanks for your question regarding the tenderness of the meat when processing your broilers.
The term age on the bone is a phrase that I use when explaining the importance of not immediately deboning or cutting the carcass up upon the completion of defeathering and eviscerating (removal of the intestines and internal organs).
Once you have processed your birds and have a whole bird carcass (former term is fryer), place the carcass in an ice chest and completely cover the the carcas(es) with ice and allow the internal temperature to drop to 38 degrees and remain at that temperature for at least 4 hours (stirring the birds at least twice). This allows for the muscles on the carcass to relax from the processing activity and this determines the tenderness of the bird when you decide to cook and eat the meat.
If you immediately begin to debone and cut-up the carcass without allowing the meat to age on the bone, the muscles will still be tense, striated and will be tough when you attempt to eat the meat. Aging the carcass is very important when trying to obtain the best tasting and most tender meat.
Hopefully this provides you the information you are looking for as you plan the processing of your broilers.
Thanks!
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: Please give full details to age a broiler for tenderness. Purina feeding strategies recommend finish feeding starting 33 days old. I feed unlimited amounts of Honor Show Chow 24/7. These are table meat birds and not for show. Please give me a complete feeding guide and finish feeding for broiler chickens.
Answer: Ron,
If you are raising broiler for meat consumption only, you will be fine with feeding the Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete from start to finish. If you wanted to reduce feed cost some, you may consider Purinas Sun Fresh Recipe Flock Rasier Product. This product is a broiler type feed without the elevated level of nutrients that are demanded by the Show Broiler.
When processing your birds, I recommend that once you have a wog (whole bird that has been dressed and is in a whole bird carcass), ice pack those birds in a cooler of ice bath for approximately an hour before you begin to cut/debone/fillet the carcass into parts and pieces. This will insure the tenderness remains in the parts because the muscle will have had time to relax and stop contracting from the events of killing and processing.
Hopefully this provides you what you need. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact me.
Take care!
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow - Ambassador
Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I have a flock of top quality game bantam show chickens and I was wondering if Show Chow could be an option for them either as a main feed or a mix with another. Is there anything you can recommend or suggest if the Show Chow can/can’t be used? I see on the product labels it is good for broilers, but how would it work for non meat show birds?
Answer: Rebecca,
The Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete is okay to feed as the ration! The protein level is a little higher than a basic poultry ration, however the Xanthophyll (Pigmentation) in this feed will help your birds to exhibit deep coloring in the combs, waddles, beaks, leg shanks, etc.
An option you may consider is blending the Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete with Purinas Sun Fresh Recipe Flock Raiser at a 50/50 ratio to dilute the protein but utilize the other benefits of the Show Chow Product.
If your birds are producing eggs then the above feeding recommendation is NOT an option. If they are in egg production, then you will need to consider Purinas Sun Fresh Recipe Layena. It will contain the proper balance of nutrients to support the birds need for Phosphorus and Calcium which is a huge demand on the birds when they produce eggs.
Hopefully this provides you the information that you need. If you have any product questions, feel free to contact me or your local Purina Dealer!
Thanks and take care!
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow - Ambassador
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Market Poultry
We would like to try Oasis this year. I already have a copy of your feeding recommendations unless something changed since last year.
We just need to know how to order. We live in Prairieville, LA so I will need to get it shipped.
When do you think I need to order? The Chicks will be in on January 7th, 2010.
We will be raising 50 Chicks this year even though we are feeding from pipe cut in half do you think one 22 lb bag would be enough?
Also, as I mentioned before we will get the Chicks on January 7th and the show date is February 16th. That would put our Chicks at only 41 days old. Would you recommend sticking with the feeding program or switch over to the Broiler Complete a little earlier?
We appreciate all the help.
Answer: Scott,
You can order the Oasis directly from me. Contact me by phone and we will discuss pricing and Shipping. I recommend that you order Oasis about 2 weeks prior to getting birds. It will ship UPS Ground and you want to allow enough time for product to get there.
Depending on how much pipe (surface area) you have as feeder space will determine the amount of Oasis you will feed. Most folks that feed from pipe will use more than one bag, however every situation is a little different. The product has an 18 month shelf life, therefore if you do not use all of the product this show season, you can put the remaining amount in ziploc bags and throw it in the bottom of your fridge until next year. Just an option.
You raise an excellent question regarding the age of birds at show time and the adjustments to your feeding schedule. Follow this recommendation:
Week 1: 100% SCTS
Week 2: 100% SCTS
Week 3: 50% SCTS/50% SCBC
Week 4: 25% SCTS/75% SCBC
Week 5: 100% SCBC
Week 6: 100% SCBC
Show Chow Turkey Starter = SCTS
Show Chow Broiler Complete = SCBC
Hopefully this answers your questions and I hope to hear from you regarding Oasis!
Take care,
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow - Ambassador
Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I have a well lighted pen for our chickens but I recently installed a 36 inch florescent light. After installing the light, it seems that I recall somewhere not to use a florescent light. Am I dreaming this or should I not use any florescent lighting.
Answer: Willie,
You may be dreaming a bit!
I do address flourescent lights in my discussions for broilers/turkeys. The following information should help you out:
Flourescent lighting is okay as long as you use the equivalent to a 40 watt light bulb. A 13 watt flourescent bulb is close to or equal to a 40 watt bulb. The goal for lighting is to eliminate the dark areas or shadows in the house. Lighting should be evenly distributed throughout the house.
Hopefully this provides you what you need!
Take care!
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Honor Show Chow
Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: Your website lists amprolium in the turkey starter ingredient statement. Does the Turkey Grower/Finisher have Amprolium?
Answer: Darren,
The Honor Show Chow Poultry Products have both a medicated and unmedicated option. The medication is Amprolium and this product is for the prevention of Coccidiosis. It is a very safe antibiotic and can be fed to the birds all the way up to processing. There is no withdrawal on this product.
Please let me know if you have any concerns as you make product decisions for your poultry project.
Thanks!
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow Ambassador
Market Poulty
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I am on a governing board for a Jr fair and a question came up regarding poultry that I need help with. The existing guideline states that a bird that is under 2 1/2 pounds cannot be shown and a bird that is over 10 pounds can be shown but is not eligible for the grand and reserve drive. Is it logical to allow an overweight bird to show and sell but not an under weight bird (these are sent back home). We want to do justice to the jr showman but do not have a lot of guidance in our area. Thanks for your help and have a great day.
Answer: Bonita,
You raise a great question about weight limits and what should be allowed to show and compete for champion drive! However before I can provide you a direct answer, I have to ask a few questions:
1) Are you making this inquiry on behalf of a marke broiler show (meat birds)?
2) When the youth exhibitors receive their birds, are they all sourced from the same hatchery?
3) Are all the birds for this show hatched on the same date?
All of these factors will affect my answer. For example, if you answer yes to all the above questions, then I would not allow 2.5 pound birds to enter a show when the potential is up to 10 lbs. I prefer not to have a top end weight for a market broiler show (as long as you answered yes to the above three questions). The birds should be allowed to grow as big as they can as fast as they can. I would not penalize the youth that are good managers / feeders by not allowing the 10+ lb birds to compete for Champion Drive.
If you answer no to any of the questions above, then obviously the dynamics of the show change as does my advise for you and the show regulations.
Feel free to contact me directly (number listed below) to discuss the specific details about your show. I will be glad to visit and provide you with options that will enhance the quality of your show.
Thanks,
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow Ambassador
Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I will be raising broilers for our county fair. My question is what can I do or which products can I utilize in order to keep the broilers looking a clean white?
Answer: Rey,
I have attached a feeding and management program for broilers. If you follow this program and manage the ventilation, temperature and litter conditions, you will not have to clean your birds to keep them white. The birds will clean themselves (well enough for the show) as long as you keep their environment clean and well ventilated.
Thanks,
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow Ambassador
Market Poulty
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I have white Cochins Bantams and I have fed the show chow for 3 months. What in the feed is affecting the white feather color? My birds are yellow. They are housed indoors year around.
Answer: Charles,
The Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete feed has a high yellow pigmentation from xanthophyll. The fat level of the feed could also be affecting the coloring of your birds.
You may consider using the Sunfresh Recipe Flock Raiser product (as long as they are growing birds and not producing eggs). When they begin to produce eggs, you will need to transition them to Layena.
You can request these product from you local Purina Feed Dealer.
Thanks,
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow Ambassador
Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: Thinking about how to build muscle on birds, what would happen if you ground up a little High Octane Champion Drive and sprinkled it on the broilers feed beginning a few weeks before show to build muscle? Any detrimental components or medications off limits for broilers? Thinking about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon sprinkled on their feed each morning. Let us know what you think.
Answer: Robin,
You raise a great question! I am looking into this option as well. We will test run some birds on the High Octane Champion Show Drive product this fall and winter. I will be sure to comment on our results when we have them. I am thinking that the high fat product is not the one you want to use unless you only sprinkle a very small amount on the feed for the last 2 to 3 weeks.
I am more inclined to use the high protein product to get the muscle.
As mentioned before, I will post our results once we have them.
Feel free to contact me directly if you want to discuss.
Thanks,
Keith Staggs
Honor Show Chow Ambassador
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
