Pastured Poultry Seed Produces Better Birds

Pastured Poultry Seed Produces Better Birds LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous Pastured poultry producers can now get seed mixes designed specifically for raising both broilers and egg layers Deer Creek Seed varies the mix of legumes grasses and grains to match poultry needs “We had been custom mixing for quite a few years but began offering branded mixes about 3 years ago ” says Andy Walsh Deer Creek Seed The Poultry Pasture Layer Mix is designed to supplement a conventional layer diet with protein rich greens The largely perennial mix includes brassicas rapeseed turnip and clovers “You always have to supplement egg-layer diets with calcium for shells ” he says “If you have other feed available just watch what they eat Chickens are like dogs They let you know if they need a supplement ” The 100 percent annual Poultry Pasture Broiler Mix is 75 percent rye and barley with 20 percent pea and a small amount of turnip and rapeseed As with the layer mix it is suggested as a supplement to a broiler ration However Walsh suggests it can be reversed with the broiler feed supplementing pasture “The broiler mix can put weight on chickens very well ” says Walsh “Many people have produced good plump chickens on the mix alone without any corn or other feed However if you want faster growth you will need to supplement with corn ” Walsh notes that a true grass-fed broiler will be leaner while corn-fed birds have a higher fat content Both can affect the flavor of the meat The broiler mix will begin to emerge in 7 to 10 days and reach maturity within 40 days The layer mix takes a few days more to emerge The company recommends restricting access to the newly seeded pasture until seedlings are 2 to 3 in tall to get thicker stands “If you turn the chickens in when the plants are too young the plants will be uprooted ” says Walsh “Once they are adequately rooted you need to use good pasture management ” Walsh encourages customers to contact him or one of the other agronomists with pasture management experience for advice “You need to look at stocking density and practice rotational grazing for optimum productivity of the pasture and the birds ” suggests Walsh “Pasture management is an art as you want the plants to survive to regrow ” The Poultry Pasture Broiler Mix is priced at $12 50 for a 5-lb bag sufficient to plant up to 5 000 sq ft The Poultry Pasture Layer Mix is priced at $21 75 for 5 lbs enough to cover up to 4 000 sq ft Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Deer Creek Seed Co 6115 Pepsi Way Windsor Wis 53598 ph 877 247-3736; service@deercreekseed com; www deercreekseed com

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