BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Blue Seal vs. Southern States
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Blue Seal vs. Southern States

post #1 of 14
10/17/11 at 9:23am
Thread Starter 

I am thinking about switching because the Blue Seal is a little more then 15 dollars here, and I believe the Southern States layer is about 11 to 12, but I would need to recheck when I go to look at horse feed. But I don't want to skimp on the quality, although I have read people like it well enough. If I do decide I would like to get it soon so I can mix and start the switch from one feed to the other. So what are y'all's opinions on these two feeds? How was egg production and how was fertility with each?

Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply
Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
post #2 of 14
10/24/11 at 7:37pm

I have never used Blue Seal, but I do use Southern States & don't have any problem with it.

Be thankful all year long
Check out www.facebook.com/Lillys.Little.Farm     www.LillysLittleFarm.weebly.com
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9
The Sergeant at Arms One
Reply
Be thankful all year long
Check out www.facebook.com/Lillys.Little.Farm     www.LillysLittleFarm.weebly.com
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called Sons of God. Matthew 5:9
The Sergeant at Arms One
Reply
post #3 of 14
10/25/11 at 4:02am

Southern States is makes good feed. However, if you can find a Mill close by (there is usually one within an hour of anywhere in the South) you can get your feed much cheaper and it will be local.

NPIP 56-378, AI tested Clean, Farm Inspected by Clemson Poultry
Breeding Orientals,Games and Ducks;
With a large selection of Asil
And the largest flock of Cubalayas east of the Mississippi
Reply
NPIP 56-378, AI tested Clean, Farm Inspected by Clemson Poultry
Breeding Orientals,Games and Ducks;
With a large selection of Asil
And the largest flock of Cubalayas east of the Mississippi
Reply
post #4 of 14
10/25/11 at 4:10am

I've used Southern States and it is fine.  Agree with saladin in finding a local mill, a local feed company where the farmers buy their feed.  Such places can offer an even superior feed, fresh because they grind weekly and at an even lower price.  Be assured, the small to medium sized farmers aren't buying their feed at a rural lifestyle, retail store in fancy bags.

The highest quality, locally milled feed often comes in a course grind that may resemble a whole grain flour.  If you add a bit of water to it and stir in a bucket, the result is virtually identical to a moist, crumble.  The birds will love it and you'll save another 3-5 dollars.

 

 

Practicing Sustainable Agriculture At The 45th Parallel

Reply

 

 

Practicing Sustainable Agriculture At The 45th Parallel

Reply
post #5 of 14
10/26/11 at 6:36pm
Thread Starter 

Fred's Hens :

I've used Southern States and it is fine.  Agree with saladin in finding a local mill, a local feed company where the farmers buy their feed.  Such places can offer an even superior feed, fresh because they grind weekly and at an even lower price.  Be assured, the small to medium sized farmers aren't buying their feed at a rural lifestyle, retail store in fancy bags.

The highest quality, locally milled feed often comes in a course grind that may resemble a whole grain flour.  If you add a bit of water to it and stir in a bucket, the result is virtually identical to a moist, crumble.  The birds will love it and you'll save another 3-5 dollars.


I've attempted to find a mill. The only one about here is the Amish who sell the Blue Seal, from which I buy. I would love to buy from a mill that made their own feeds. I think I will give Southern States a try though.

Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply
Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply
post #6 of 14
10/29/11 at 11:54am

I don't have access to Southern States, and I use Blue Seal Eggmaker Crumbles.

Despite that, I just want to say please follow up with this thread after you've tried other brands.  Many folks type a feed brand into the search query, and it's always helpful when people post a follow-up so people can compare.  Good luck and let us know what you think!  thumbsup

Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
Off the grid since 1998. Wife to a wonderful DH of 10 years, Mommy to a fantastic 7 year old little boy and 22 chickens. Partridge Rocks, Dominiques, Rose Comb Brown Leghorns, Easter Eggers, 1 Welsummer, 1 Barnevelder, 2 Red Stars, 1Black Copper Marans, and a few mixed breeds.
Another blog I follow- Natural chicken keeping blog: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/?m=0
Reply
post #7 of 14
10/29/11 at 12:08pm

I just bought a bag of blue seal feed and I don't care for it.  I would rather buy a bag of crumbles and a bag of chick feed, my hens like when I top off their crumbles at night with a cup of chick feed. I normally use Dumor from tractor supply and I like that the best.  I don't have a mill around my area so I buy what I can where.  I also have never seen Southern States around here.

2 Buff Orp's, 5 Americana's, 3 Red Sexlinks/ Golden Comets and 1 Feather Footed Brahma and awaiting our hatch day Monday and delivery day Wednesday of our newest additions.

Reply

2 Buff Orp's, 5 Americana's, 3 Red Sexlinks/ Golden Comets and 1 Feather Footed Brahma and awaiting our hatch day Monday and delivery day Wednesday of our newest additions.

Reply
post #8 of 14
10/29/11 at 1:30pm

I use Blue Seal, have for 30 some odd years. I use the egg maker crumbles. I have tried other brands-Agway, Purina and whatever else I can find around ere, but always go back to BS. We don't have mills up here, so I am stuck with the higher priced commercial feeds.

I live in Central Maine on a small 1 acre "farm". I have a variety of hens, both standards and bantams. I just got a small incubator and want to start hatching some eggs!
Reply
I live in Central Maine on a small 1 acre "farm". I have a variety of hens, both standards and bantams. I just got a small incubator and want to start hatching some eggs!
Reply
post #9 of 14
2/27/12 at 6:28am
Thread Starter 

As someone asked I come back and tell my findings...I'm switching back to Blue Seal. I tried Southern States for a little while, a couple months. But they seem to eat a lot more of the Southern States, as if they aren't getting enough nutrition from it. I tried dumor a while back, and although it smelled good to me, they tore through that bag even quicker then Southern States. The extra couple dollars is worth it for me. Their egg laying also declined, although it has been warmer, longer days, and more browse when feeding Southern States. So back to Blue Seal I go. Also I would like to add the Southern States seemed a lot more dusty then the Blue Seal. A lot of the pelleted feed was still quite large and had a glossy coat, so not sure what was up with that.


Edited by WalkerH - 2/27/12 at 6:35am
Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply
Two obsessive pit bulls, a mutant dachshund, a spastic American Eskimo, nine GLW pullets, two brown leghorn pullets, a GLW roo, two pekin drakes, and a cat, soon to be two cats.
Reply
post #10 of 14
2/27/12 at 12:24pm

I tried a bag of Blue Seal once and that was a dusty mess.. went right back to the SS feed. My girls did great on that, but now have switched to a local mill. Got one ton of my custom mix for about $340, saving me.. well.. a 'ton' of moola :) Our local SS gets their grain in weekly, so I know it's not old.. their mill is about 2 hours away, but the guy I found to mill my own feed is even closer, luckily. I know lots of folks who swear by Blue Seal, lots who love SS, and lots who love their own mix.. I think it just comes down to whatever works for you and your birds :)

 

Shady Lane Farm (NPIP/AI): On 50 beautiful acres in central Virginia we raise: Black Copper Marans, Olive Eggers, Wheaten Ameraucanas, Silver Penciled Rocks, GermanNHxUtilityNH, Calico Cochin bantams, BCLB Dutch bantams, and Dark Cornish bantams. Also home to 2 OTTBs, a QH, a rescue mini and her goat, and 7 cats.
Search for us on Facebook under 'Shady Lane Farm' and look for the black australorp.
w...

Reply

Shady Lane Farm (NPIP/AI): On 50 beautiful acres in central Virginia we raise: Black Copper Marans, Olive Eggers, Wheaten Ameraucanas, Silver Penciled Rocks, GermanNHxUtilityNH, Calico Cochin bantams, BCLB Dutch bantams, and Dark Cornish bantams. Also home to 2 OTTBs, a QH, a rescue mini and her goat, and 7 cats.
Search for us on Facebook under 'Shady Lane Farm' and look for the black australorp.
w...

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Feeding & Watering Your Flock

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
Why Join BackYard Chickens?
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Blue Seal vs. Southern States