HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT FEED FOR YOUR BIRDS
Always remember that the feed bag label will tell you all you need to know about the nutritional content and ingredients of the feed. As keepers and consumers, it is important to know exactly what your birds are eating and what goes into your home produced eggs and meat. Not all feeds are of equal quality, and some may contain hidden extras you would rather avoid!
Your choice of feed should reflect the nutritional needs of your birds and your own views on important issues such as the use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients and the inclusion of artificial additives, growth promoters and drugs. The rare and traditional breeds of poultry favoured by most smallholders take longer to mature than hybrid birds and can very quickly become overweight on commercial feeds. Suitable feeds for rare and traditional breeds of poultry and any birds kept free range on smallholdings, will be lower in protein and energy than commercial poultry diets to support unforced egg production and promote slower, more natural growth rates, with the emphasis placed firmly on longevity of the birds and quality and flavour of the eggs and meat they produce.
Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
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Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av The Country Smallholder.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
How to Buy a Smallholding in France- Long-time smallholder Lorraine Turnbull looks at the practicalities of moving to rural France
Aspiring smallholders are continually thwarted by the prices of smallholdings and property with land located within the UK. Even the humblest croft in Scotland comes with a substantial price tag and conditions which would make even an adventurous wannabee consider carefully. But all is not lost. For those willing to take the adventure of a lifetime, there is always Europe, and one of the most popular places is France.
Meet the Bournemouth goats and their supporters
These capricious animals are hard workers preserving the natural habitat
Still warm enough to sit outside with a Pizza
Henrietta Balcon uses fresh figs to create an unusual dish at Harvest time
Goodbye to the birds of spring and summer
If you look and listen you might be able to see them preparing to leave says The RSPB
Get ready for the colder weather in the warmth of late summer
Claire Waring advises on doing the best to make sure your colonies survive until next spring
Preparing the Veg Patch for Winter
Lee Senior says, a well-run plot can excitingly continue to produce good quality, tasty, fresh food for much of winter
Time to prepare to plant your orchard
Wade Muggleton, smallholder and author of The Orchard Book, shares his practical experience so you can create your own fruit collection
Vet advice from an experienced poultry vet
Reflecting on how much the humble hen has helped people world wide plus advice on stopping the scourge of red mite
Give your hens some support
Paul Donovan looks at the right and wrong ways of handling birds