Re: Switching from growers to layers

In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jill 
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
> "Krys Francis" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > >sorry - I meant the plants not feed
> >
> > Oh the plants.... Why they wouldn't be suitable here? We live on the
> > side of the Aeron Valley rich vegetation & broad leaf woodland. Clay
> > soil, rich in nutrients. Grain crops were grown on this farm till about
> > 50 years ago when dairy cattle took over. It's in our large flat
> > farmyard that things get rather boggy, in the other parts of the
> > property the water runs off down the hill, in the ditches for the most
> > part & into the stream at the bottom which in turn runs into the Aeron.
> > There are a few large estates in this valley who grow these plant/grass
> > mixes for their pheasants etc.
>
> too late just now to go into the rest
> which I will get back to
> but to answer this which is separate
> probably
> 1- too wet
> 2 - too cold
> 3- too acid

Just kidding, game cover grows just fine in this area.
It's cold & sandy or cold & poor top soil on rock that it can't cope 
with too well, but I know of some people on the Isle of Harris growing 
game cover (with some difficulty).
> > It's a shame that we took to being pedantic about the exact age when
> > layers should be given.
> not really
> the birds asked about were very specific  - a recently produced commercial
> hybrid - not an old pure breed

Funny my book 'Poultry Genetics, Breeding & Biotechnology' is primarily 
about commercial breeds & was newly published a few months ago.

> They will come into lay almost what ever you do so delayed maturity etc has
> a much lesser place here -

I didn't say that they wouldn't come into lay, that would be daft, my 
purebreds come into lay in winter so why wouldn't a commercial? I said 
that they would come into lay at a later age than they would if the days 
were lengthening now.

> so the changing over before maturity which seems
> to be the general recommendation of all modern researched feeds would be Now
> for this instance

Changing over before the first egg maybe, that isn't what you said at 
first, but not the end of the world even if they don't as long as 
calcium & minerals are available. I don't think that 15 weeks is the 
optimum age for the change especially at this time of year, I doubt if 
it will harm. Without proper information to prove me wrong we'll have to 
agree to differ.

> An explanation about poultry nutrition would
> > have been helpful,
> it does not exist - it depends on the birds; their breeding; their location
> ; their husbandry ; their future uses; thier past; whats available
>
> I tried to give the advice I felt fitted the situation that was present
> As I say most questions are answered by IT DEPENDS
>
>
> it wouldn't have needed to be in minute detail. I
> > can't see that it would have been that difficult to write an informative
> > post off the top of your head.
> IT DEPENDS - on the situation is the main reason
> A post that would answer all you are suggesting would not be a five or ten
> minute mail
> not to cover all the bases
> And as we do not know who is lurking who may misinterpret information its
> better to answer the situation in hand if possible
>
> and it not being a quarter to 11 at night
> or answering the phone etc while answering posts
>
> --
> regards
> Jill Bowis
> new for Christmas http://www.animalgiftshop.co.uk - hand quilted cushions
> Pure bred utility chickens and ducks; Housing; Books
> Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
> Holidays in Scotland and Wales
> http://www.kintaline.co.uk
> > --
> >
> > Regards
> >
> >
> > Krys
> > www.lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk

--

Regards


Krys
www.lluestfarmpoultry.co.uk