My 15 layer chicks will be four weeks old tomorrow. They aren't out free-ranging yet -- maybe in two weeks. For the past week they've been big enough to enjoy a once or twice a day treat of Japanese beetles. I'm not making a dent in the beetle population here, and now am gathering a LOT of beetles, like several hundred, in ten or fifteen minutes. Some of them are getting enough beetles that their crops are bulging after the highly entertaining bedlam.
Can they get too many beetles?
Anyone know the protein content and general nutrient profile of a Japanese beetle? Does anyone publish a guaranteed analysis of noxious bugs?
I'm also giving them some scratch as treats, and kind of figured that the extra bug protein would balance out the low protein of the scratch grain.
Also, in four weeks they have not finished a 20# bag of Dumor starter/grower -- despite one occasion of help from the least intelligent of my dogs, followed by the Long Night O' The Explosive Intestines. (So, I don't know how much chick food the silly beast got, but, enough to send a medium-sized German shepherd out to the kennel for the night.) Are they eating enough of their starter? It looks to me like we'll break into the second bag sometime in the middle of next week.
They seem to be growing well. I have one New Hamp with two crooked toes that showed up when she was about a week old -- gave her some vitamins and she has not gotten worse. Everyone else is normal and all are active and seem happy.
Can they get too many beetles?
Anyone know the protein content and general nutrient profile of a Japanese beetle? Does anyone publish a guaranteed analysis of noxious bugs?
I'm also giving them some scratch as treats, and kind of figured that the extra bug protein would balance out the low protein of the scratch grain.
Also, in four weeks they have not finished a 20# bag of Dumor starter/grower -- despite one occasion of help from the least intelligent of my dogs, followed by the Long Night O' The Explosive Intestines. (So, I don't know how much chick food the silly beast got, but, enough to send a medium-sized German shepherd out to the kennel for the night.) Are they eating enough of their starter? It looks to me like we'll break into the second bag sometime in the middle of next week.
They seem to be growing well. I have one New Hamp with two crooked toes that showed up when she was about a week old -- gave her some vitamins and she has not gotten worse. Everyone else is normal and all are active and seem happy.