Question: When feeding a market broiler to 8 weeks of age how much turkey starter and broiler feed do you figure per bird?
Answer: Frank,
It is difficult to determine the amount of feed per bird when it comes to raising show broilers due to the aspect that you cull birds from the population during the process, the exhibitors will remove feed from the pans to freshen the feed, etc. There is a lot of feed wastage. The best way to calculate is as follows:
For every 50 birds (grown to 8 weeks) I estimate that 5 bags of Turkey Starter will be consumed and 7 bags of Broiler Complete will be consumed. This estimation is based on culling the birds from 50 to 25 at 4 weeks of age and following the feeding program that I have posted on the Honor Show Chow Website under “Feeding Strategies”.
Hope this information helps!
Take care,
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow
Question: I am showing poultry (Buff Orpington, Hamburgs, and Blue red laced Wyandottes) this year in 4H along with rabbit, swine and my horses. I have purchased my chicks and they are now pushing about 6 wks of age (5 of these) on one set and 4 wks on the other (4 of these)! My question is, when I am handling my birds for showmanship, they seem to have an awful sharp breast bone. I am feeding Quik Gro so I am wondering, do I need to be feeding them a specific feed for show poultry or what?
Answer: Baylee,
I would recommend that you transition the birds over to Purina Sunfresh Recipe Start & Grow product. This product is balanced with the essential nutrients needed for the birds to grow, develop and have optimal plumage for show. As a treat, you may consider giving your birds access to Purina Flock Block. This product serves only as a treat and gives the birds something to scratch and peck at while receiving the nutrients from cracked grains and balanced nutrients.
It may take about a week to transition your birds from Quik Gro. I would recommend that you mix Quik Gro and Purina Start & Grow Product at 50/50 for about 4 days, then mix 75% Purina Start and Grow and 25% Quik Gro for 3 days. You can then put the birds on 100% Purina Start and Grow from then on. Do not offer the Flock Block until you have fully transitioned the birds over to the Purina Start and Grow.
If you have female birds in your flock and you plan on keeping them beyond 20 weeks of age - I recommend that you begin to transition the birds over to Purina Sunfresh Recipe Layena (starting at about 17 weeks of age). This product prepares the birds for egg production that will begin at about 20 weeks of age. Purina Sunfresh Recipe Layena contains optimal balance of nutrition to support egg production. If you do not transition the birds over to Layena and the birds begin to lay (which they will at 20 weeks of age - generally), the birds will not have enough Calcium and Phosphorous in their diet to support the need to make egg shells while keeping good bone strength.
I hope all of this information has helped you as you plan your feeding strategies for your Chickens! Have fun with them and enjoy! Remember to check in on the website for the latest updates and product information to keep your poultry project fun and successful!
Question: My daughter is about to start raising turkeys and I would like to know if you can give me any advice on pen construction to allow optimum growth as well as feeding advice. You have judged our son a few years back with his chickens, however we have never ventured into the turkey world, until now. Thanks in advance.
Answer: Dusty,
Raising turkeys is exciting and you will find that they come with personalities! They are a lot of fun to raise and will provide you a great experience with your kiddos. Although, a lot of fun - you probably already know that there is a lot of work involved in the project as well!
Getting off to the right start is key and as you specify - Housing and equipment is the foundation to success in the world of raising market poultry projects. Build your house to accomodate the maximum number of birds that you think you will order but never let a turkey house be less than a 10 X 12 building (or 120 square feet). I always push for BIGGER when it comes to housing. General rule of thumb is that the birds need to start out with no less than 2 square feet per bird that you start but through culling be no less than 10 square feet per bird at 8 weeks of age.
Feeders and waterers will take up square footage as well and this needs to be calculated. If you give 20 square feet for feed and water (5 feeders & 5 waterers) in the 10 X 12 house - This leaves you will 100 square feet of room for your turkeys.
With 100 square feet for turkeys, you can now order up to 50 turkeys (allowing 2 square feet per bird). BUT by 8 weeks of age, you need to have culled down to no more than 10 birds (allowing for the 10 square feet per bird).
You should be able to use no more than 4 heat lamps to warm the building (depending on the season that you start your birds). If you are raising for East Montgomery County, your birds will arrive in late Spring / early Summer for a September show. Brooding these birds should not be a problem, however you will need to consider methods to keep the birds cool as they get older and are exposed to our Southeast Texas Summer Heat & Humidity!
I have attached the turkey feeding program that I recommend. It also contains other items to consider as you set up your house and prepare for your birds. Read through the information and let me know if you have any questions.
Feel free to contact me directly to discuss any specifics on setting up the house and being ready for your birds!
Once again, Welcome to the Turkey Show Ring and GOOD LUCK!!!
Take care,
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow
Question: I am breeding and showing bantam chickens. I currently am feeding Purina Gamebird Breeder Layena. My question is what do you think is the best feed for my show bantams?
Answer: Ronald,
You have a couple of options to feed your exhibition poultry.
Young pullets (1 day of age up to 16 weeks) can be fed the following:
> Sunfresh Recipe Start and Grow
> Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete
Mature Birds (17 weeks and beyond) can be fed the following:
> If producing hatching eggs to replicate the flock or eggs for your breakfast table - Sun Fresh Recipe Layena or the Game Bird Layena product that you are on.
> If producing males only - Sunfresh recipe Start and Grow is okay to feed
BUT Do not feed to females beyond 16 weeks of age.
Question: What feed would you feed to show chickens (bantam and standard Cochins)?
Answer: Leslie,
You have a couple of options to feed your exhibition poultry.
Young pullets (1 day of age up to 16 weeks) can be fed the following:
> Sunfresh Recipe Start and Grow
> Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete
Mature Birds (17 weeks and beyond) can be fed the following:
> If producing hatching eggs to replicate the flock or eggs for your breakfast table- Sun Fresh Recipe Layena
> If producing males only- Sunfresh recipe Start and Grow is okay to feed
BUT Do not feed to females beyond 16 weeks of age.
I hope this helps!
Keith Staggs
Ambassador- Market Poultry
Purina Mills
Question: What would happen if you feed broilers straight turkey starter as a finisher?
Answer: Debbie,
Feeding Turkey Starter from start to finish is not a recommendation that I would normally make. A few reasons:
1) Protein content is too high for a broiler in excess of 6 lbs. The Amino Acid Profile is too complex for developed muscle
2) The fat (energy) level in Turkey Starter is not high enough to support optimal growth and development of a broiler beyond 6 lbs. The energy to protein ratio is very important and as a bird grows his energy maintenance requirement increases. That is the reason that I stair step the Honor Show Chow Broiler Complete into my feeding program. It gradually increases the fat while gradually pulling down the protein and keeping the diet balanced throughout the growth cycle of the bird.
Let me know if you have additional questions.
Thanks!
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow
Question: My son had 2 bags of turkey show chow left after the poultry show. We need to know if the feed would be ok to keep for next years show.
Answer: David,
Unfortunately, the Turkey Starter will not keep for that long. We normally do not recommend the feeding of feed that is greater than 120 days of age (about 4 months) and even less than that if feeding during the Summer.
Over time and varying temperatures, the feed will lose its nutritional value due to breakdown of ingredients and also could develop bacterial growth due to the products being perishable.
The only way you may try to salvage and store until next year is to package it and refrigerate/freeze it. I would think that trying to store 100 lbs of feed in a freezer is not practicle.
Thanks for your inquiry,
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed
Question: I have seen mention of the Oasis product in reference to raising show broilers. I currently use the Honor Show Chow Broiler products. What is Oasis? Is there a benefit to using it? If so, where do I obtain it? Thanks!
Answer: Tim,
In short - Oasis is a vehicle to help you get more out of your nutrition program. It has three modes of action:
1) Green - The color green attracts the birds to the feed and makes them want to eat. This is why it is sprinkled on top of the feed and NOT mixed in the feed.
2) 25% Moisture - The moisture content helps the birds maintain their moisture. Chickens and Turkeys are 78% water - It is very important that they retain their moisture.
3) Acid Content - Oasis contains Citric, Sorbic, Propionic Acids - These acids reduce the pH of the GI Tract and allow for better nutrient utilization from your feeding program.
You can order the product from me. If you are interested in getting a bag, contact me directly at this e-mail or by calling the number below.
Thanks and take care!
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow
Question: My son is getting ready for his second year of showing market broilers at the Perry County Fair and the Ohio State Fair. We used the Honor Show Chow broiler complete and had pretty good growth rates with the birds the first 12 did slightly better than the last 25. They came from 2 different hatcheries. I am looking for any average growth rate charts for market broilers. I realize there are many facors involved I am just looking for a chart so that we can adjust our order timing. Thanks for your help and for great feeds.
Answer: Matt,
There is not a published growth rate chart for show broilers that I am aware of. However a 6 week old broiler will weigh 8 to 9 lbs if they are fed and managed based on my program recommendations.
As you stated, there are many factors that will influence the bird weights and with more detailed information about your housing, set-up and schedules, I can better help you strategize your plan for optimizing the performance without over growing the birds based on the show regulations.
Thanks and feel free to contact me directly.
Keith Staggs
Ambassador - Market Poultry
Honor Show Chow
