What do you feed your birds?

[nankin3]

 Just curious what most people were feeding thier Nankins and to see if I may need to change the diet up a little on mine. I am currently feeding 20% protien layer crumble with a little oyster shell mixed in occasionally. Along with a multitude of treats daily to spoil them rotten.lol. I have read that some people feed a game bird ration just wondering how prevalent that is.
 Thanks Danny

[WoodyMcGehee]

What type of "treats" do you give them?  I feed mine the layer crumbles + Wheat, milo, grass clippings and a little free range here adn there.

[Rog]

    I feed Purina Game Bird Layena. To me the most important thing is that what ever commercial feed you use is to make sure it has animal protein in it. For treats mine get some Black Oil Sunflower seeds about every day. And just what they can clean up in a few minutes. And every so often a little wheat bread.   Rog

[raylastanford]

I feed mine layer crumbles with some game bird crumbles, probiotics, and DE mixed in.  They have free choice oyster shell and grit.  They get some scratch and bird seed with black oil sunflower seeds (my dh insists on the bird seed cause "they like it") every day just what they can clean up in a few minutes.  They free range, and weekly I give them some cottage cheese with flax seed/meal mixed in (for their feathers), and other treats might be meal worms, or plain yogurt with the flax mixed in.  I sometimes toss bread off the back patio as a treat.  Basically, I guess they kind of get spoiled rotten.  When they're lined up at my patio door looking in, I tend to find something for them cause they're so darn cute.  When they're molting, I try to give them extra proteins (usually some scrambled egg).  Oh, I also run some vitamin water once a week or so.  Laureen

[nankin3]

I have been giving mine some mixed bird seed as a treat along with some wheat bread when I go to the cages. I also give mine some boiled eggs on occasion for a little added protien. But I think I will pick up some black sunflower seeds for them this week. Laureen I hope my birds never see your post vitamin water and cottage cheese I am afraid they would run away from home lol. Thanks for sharing everyone I cant wait to see them with the cottage cheese!

[nankin3]

I picked up some Black Sunflower seeds today and I don't think I've ever heard the birds go on like they did over them. That was a great addition to the treats for them. Tommorow is grocery day so I am going to try the cottage cheese on them. lol

[raylastanford]

I'd better warn you about the cottage cheese and yogurt --it ain't a pretty sight!!  They eat it right off a spoon, and it flies everywhere.  (I keep plastic spoons).  What's bad is when you have a barbecue, and the girls fly up on the guests' arms because they have an eating utensil in their hand.  Embarrasing yet entertaining.  You'd think I never feed them.....
Laureen

[Falling Tree Farm]

I feed my Nankins Blue Seal 18% protein breeder pellets as a general ration once they are about 6 months old.  From birth till then I feed a 22% Game Bird Crumbles-both non-medicated.  I keep pigeon grit and clean water available at all times at all ages.
I feed various treats to keep them tame and happy-wheat, sunflower seeds, surplus garden veggies, bread as well as free ranging them around their coop.  In general the more variety the better.  Howard Kogan,  Falling Tree Farm

[nankin3]

 Laureen,
 The birds at first did'nt seem to sure of the cottage cheese but once they figured it out did they ever have a good time with it .lol. I dont think they actually ate that much of it but it was quite entertaining to watch them with it.
 Danny

[raylastanford]

Wait till you try meal worms from the petstore.  Best way to tame babies.  I have several hens train to fly up on my arm for wormies.  I hold the container in one hand, and put out my arm and say "up".  They fly right up to my arm.  Good party trick.  I order mine in bulk in the winter.  Toss some of those and some crickets in the coop on the really frigid snow days.  Keeps them occupied for hours.  Especially the crickets. (simple things.......)

[raylastanford]

I just re-read my post.  I guess the simple things could be taken two ways.  My simple mind being entertained watching chickens chase bugs, or chickens being entertained by chasing the bugs.....hmmmmmm

[nankin3]

lol You're killing me.