building ASF rack, I got some ?'s

[dsmalex97]

I am picking ASF's up next week and I want to build a nice breeding rack for them. I was going to feed them 6f but now I might not cuz I heard they can eat bird food, and to me that sounds cheaper. I know when people build these racks they have the wire mesh ontop and just put the food ontop of that, but do any of you feed bird seed =, and if you do how do you offer it to them?

[twh]

I am picking ASF's up next week and I want to build a nice breeding rack for them. I was going to feed them 6f but now I might not cuz I heard they can eat bird food, and to me that sounds cheaper. I know when people build these racks they have the wire mesh ontop and just put the food ontop of that, but do any of you feed bird seed =, and if you do how do you offer it to them?

one of the advantages of feeding lab block from above is there's almost no waste,feeding bird mixes in bowls is very wasteful,you could probaly double the cost of bird feed.

then there's the issue of bird seed mixes being a complete balanced diet.in the long run health and money wise lab block might just be the best option.

check out mike c.'s thread on hog feed,very interesting.have fun!

[dsmalex97]

i saw that actually, but where do you get it ?

[llovelace]

farm feed store TSC might be able to order it, I had my feed store order it cause they don't normally carry it it was $11.35 for a 50# bag

[Mike Cavanaugh]

where in the world did you hear they will do well living on bird feed? that sounds like a BAD idea to me... stick with rodent block or the hog feed.

[littleindiangirl]

Bird food is for birds. Feed them an approriate diet please.

[evil mechanic]

one of the advantages of feeding lab block from above is there's almost no waste,feeding bird mixes in bowls is very wasteful,you could probaly double the cost of bird feed.

then there's the issue of bird seed mixes being a complete balanced diet.in the long run health and money wise lab block might just be the best option.

check out mike c.'s thread on hog feed,very interesting.have fun!

I don't know about the no waste thing. All of my breeding groups waste about half of what they eat just out of boredom I'm guessing. Even with wheels, wood blocks and socks to keep them busy. Ill put enough lab block to last a week on top of their grates and by morning its a pile of powder on the cage floor. The best thing for him to do is use lab block, or the hog feed mike recomends and to put it directly on the cage floor.

Definatly don't feed them just bird seed. They might live, but they won't thrive.

[twh]

when i first got my ASFR's they would chew up the lab block overnight,in fact i was going to get rid of them because of this,but slowly they stopped and never do that now.it's been almost 2 years that i've had my colony and they have calmed down considerably.

i do use several tubs that don't have the food hopper tops and add food daily,works well just more time consuming.have fun!