What common practice helps backyard enthusiasts optimize feed economics for heritage Plymouth Rocks?
Answer
Transitioning the bird to a budget-friendly grower feed or foraging after 6 to 8 weeks.
Given the high feed input required by slower-growing heritage breeds, cost management often involves adjusting the diet during their extended growth period. A practical strategy is to utilize expensive, high-protein broiler rations only during the initial rapid-growth phase, which lasts approximately the first six to eight weeks. After this period, the keeper can transition the bird to a more cost-effective grower feed or significantly increase reliance on supplemental foraging and free-ranging opportunities to reduce the overall consumption of commercial feed.
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