Interview with Poultry nutritionist Jeff Mattocks

Good morning Jeff, hope you are well and ready to talk some poultry nutrition.  You are always game to share some knowledge, so today I’m going to put that game side of your brain to work.  For those reading I want to provide a little background…

I found out about Jeff Mattocks wandering around the internet trying to find some real solid information on optimal poultry nutrition. I was pleasantly surprised when I found Jeff generously sharing all the information in great detail that I had been unsuccessful at finding elsewhere. I started searching further to see what Jeff had done in terms of working with gamefowl breeders.  Fortunately, I was not disappointed.  Most of what I needed to know was already out there.  Despite this free information all around me, I still wanted breed specific knowledge and reached out to Jeff personally for a nutrition plan for my Shamos.

Jeff, I’d like to bring you into the conversation here.  One of the first things I asked you was based on common advice given by oriental fowl breeders.  Particularly those growing malayoid breeds like the asil, shamo, ganoi, thai game, indio gigante, malay, etc will say it is important to have increased calcium during the growing stages of these breeds.

Jeff, is it important to add additional calcium to the growing ration of oriental game fowl?  Can it offer benefits or is it more likely to damage the bird over time?

A slight increase in calcium can be beneficial. Common or commercial feed formulas for chicks and development stages of growth typically contain .90% to 1.10% calcium. I feel that for any game fowl or heritage type chicken that will be used for breeding or exhibition the calcium levels should be 1.20% -1.50%. This is a small adjustment to the calcium levels. However, I feel it will give better bone density and allow for proper bone development.

Calcium levels during development stages of growth that are 2% or higher in the diet may lead to kidney and renal stress. They may also lead to or contribute to poultry gout. Poultry gout is most often seen as strange walking behaviors like “High Stepping” and other. Please remember the right amount is best, more is not better.

Staying on the topic of myths with game fowl, a lot of old timers will suggest feeding cat food as a substitute protein source.  Can cat food cause harm to growing or adult birds?  What is the suggested protein source for gamefowl and how does it differ from egg laying or dual purpose breed?

 I would not recommend feeding dog or cat food to chickens. Those diets are specifically designed for dogs and cats. The amino acid types and levels for dogs and cats are not the same for poultry. For instance, Taurine is often added to dog and cat food. Taurine has not yet been identified as essential for poultry. Calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals are not the same for dogs or cats as it is for poultry.

Really not a great idea to feed these things.

Supplemental proteins I prefer for gamefowl are high quality fish meal and crab meal – wild caught. The reason I prefer these proteins are many. Mostly the amino acid profile for these closely resemble those of insects and small reptiles. These would be similar to what the gamefowl would be looking for in the wild or jungles. These protein sources also have very good Omega 3 to 6 ratios. Proper fatty acids will help the liver be healthier. Which in turn will help your fowl be healthier.

Let me clarify, I still recommend other proteins like roasted soybeans, soybean meal, peas, and others, but the gamefowl diet is not complete without some meat type proteins. The birds will never reach their genetic potential for growth, life, and reproduction without meat protein.

Protein is an important building block in any breeding program, but there are a lot of conflicting ideas about this surrounding oriental game.  Some people suggest keeping the protein very low, 16% for chicks so they don’t grow too fast.  I don’t believe this is what you suggest.  Can you give a general outline of protein requirements by age for these extra-large breeds?

I really don’t understand this way of thinking.

Every creature has genetic potential. Feeding low or substandard levels of nutrition only holds them back from reaching their true potential. I would recommend starting exotic fowl on a really good 23% protein with the proper levels of amino acids. The first 3 weeks of the birds life are when internal organs are forming and starting, the immune system is developing, and the genetic outline for growth and development will be established. Why would you want to hold them back?

23% starter feed – Lysine 1.4%, Methionine .60% or above

21% grower feed – Lysine 1.25%, Methionine .55% or above

19% developer feed – Lysine 1.1%, Methionine .50% or above

I am obviously an advocate for Fertrell nutrients, but what can you tell someone trying to compare a bunch of different products?  There is the Rapido supplement, the breeder supplement, and some feeds specifically formulated for gamefowl with Fertrell nutrients…what do you suggest as the optimal feed program for oriental game?

Optimal feed program is like what you are doing. Feeding grains plus the (Kraut Creek American Pro Performance) 36% protein pellet with all of those specialty nutrients already added, there’s not really a need for any additional supplementation.

The Rapido Rooster was designed for gamefowl. It has the extra vitamins, amino acids, and probiotics to fortify a common commercial feed that may be found at the local farm supply store. Rapido will not fix or support lower quality or cheaper feeds. It will boost the nutrient levels of a better quality feed up to breeder nutritional levels.

Fertrell Show and Breeder supplement came first. This was specifically designed with breeding and exhibition fowl in mind. The same principles as the Rapido Rooster. Show and Breeder supplement came to life out of working with poultry breeders who struggled with proper feather formation, low fertility rates, poor hatchability, and poor chick vigor at hatch. Using the nutrient values of common commercial feeds that were being used as a baseline of nutrients, I then added what I felt was essential nutrients to obtain breeder quality nutritional levels. We added fish meal for meat protein, lysine, methionine, vitamins and probiotics. Using 1 teaspoon per day per adult chicken will in most cases raise the nutritional levels of commercial feed to be very close to what Show and Breeding poultry need.

I want to touch on a few more specific details.  Would you suggest the same feeding rations for a bird in the breeding pen as a bird conditioning for show season? 

No, birds that are breeding need a different level of nutrition to ensure good fertility and hatchability.

While the diets for conditioning for show you would not need the increased levels of calcium to support eggshell formation.

The 2 diets are very similar in that they are both 18% protein with very good amino acid levels. The calcium requirement would be different. If the show or exhibition coincides with egg laying and breeding, It will not hurt to use the breeder feed.

How might those rations be adjusted, if at all, when transitioning from breeding pen to conditioning for exhibition?

The easiest adjustment is to lower the calcium. I highly recommend folks use the 18% breeder feed with grower levels of calcium for maintenance. Then this feed may have added oyster shells or other types of calcium added to support egg shell formation during laying.

Are there any other guidelines you would suggest for managing a molt for hardfeather breeds that have higher baseline protein requirements?

I would really like to see folks manage their molts better. When you see the first feathers drop put the entire flock on a molt feed – 12% protein, high fiber, low energy type feed. Feed this for 14 – 21 days to help push out the old feathers, reduce body weight back close to pullet or stag weights. Then, bring them out of the molt with a good high quality feed at around 18 – 20% protein, really good amino acid levels. This will ensure the best feather follicles and support feather growth and formation.

My last question is specific to my own situation but I’m sure there are others out there like me.  When keeping a hardfeather bird in a cold Northern climate, do you recommend any dietary changes to support these types of birds through the cold season? 

Yes, when temperatures drop below 40˚F, I would recommend feeding the normal feed 18% Breeder holding at the same amount. But, adding a small amount of cracked corn or scratch grains to help with warmth. When I say small amount, I am say ½ - 1 oz. per mature birds per day above normal feed amounts.

Feeding more of the prepared ration will or may cause obesity issues. You may also be over feeding nutrients that could cause curled feathers, angel wing, or just dry brittle feathers. No need to feed more of the expensive feed formula. Just a little extra energy grains for warmth.

Don’t get carried away with extra feed. Even if they look at you like they are begging for more.

Thank you so much to Jeff for taking the time to answer all my questions. Jeff also has a Facebook group called Poultry Breeder Nutrition that is an excellent source of information and he makes himself available to answer questions on the page nearly every single day! If you have additional questions about gamefowl nutrition please leave them in the comments so Jeff can answer and we can all learn more.