Anyone feeding New Country Organics?

[mich9510]

A lot of people on here recommend Scratch n Peck but I have found the brand New Country Organics and I really love it! It's the same consistency as scratch and peck (I ferment), soy free, and has lots of probiotics in it. Around $17 for 25 lbs. And 16$ to ship to me. I think I paid $40 with free shipping from scratch and peck website. It's a little cheaper and does come in 50lb bags. Does anyone else use this feed and what is your opinion.

 

[balloonflower]

Fermenting chicken feed is a lactic acid process, similar to making sauerkraut. It would be similar to kombucha is a way, though I think k relies more on an acetic acid rather than lactic acid process (I think but don't quote me).

Basic process--take feed, cover with water (non chlorinated), stir daily and in three days you have a lovely probiotic mush that enhances the digestability and absorption of nutrients. It is promoted especially for whole grain feeds like NCO or S&P because the wet mash helps make sure that the chooks get the entire feed, which is a combo of whole grains and more of a powder containing the vitamin additives. If not fed wet, the birds can pick thru and only eat the grains they like, losing much of the powder and some don't eat the legume additions which provide needed protein.

I do feed fermented feed to my bunch (many posts will list as FF). I use an organic crumble or pellet feed as I can't justify the cost of NCO or S&P, though I would dearly love a whole grain mix. I love it, and highly recommend. Do a little research on FF, and there is a great (but very long) thread on the subject for most of the pros and cons, plus you can ask further questions specifically about fermenting there.

 

[mich9510]

I decided to go with NCO and my flocks looooove it. I have been mixing it with an organic pellet (about 50% pellet, 50% NCO) to try to off-set the cost. I tried a feed called H and H, which is an organic whole grain feed but the smell is terrible! It's ok dry but I've tried fermenting it a few times but the sulfur smell is horrible. I'll just stick with NCO...lol. I also add ACV to my feed when I ferment.

 

[LJoWilly]

A lot of people on here recommend Scratch n Peck but I have found the brand New Country Organics and I really love it! It's the same consistency as scratch and peck (I ferment), soy free, and has lots of probiotics in it. Around $17 for 25 lbs. And 16$ to ship to me. I think I paid $40 with free shipping from scratch and peck website. It's a little cheaper and does come in 50lb bags. Does anyone else use this feed and what is your opinion.

I started with Scratch n Peck and my girls did great while on it. I just switched to NCO and they like it just as well. I can get a 50# bag a lot cheaper than what I was getting a 25# bag of Scratch n Peck.

 

[Linda Dee]

A lot of people on here recommend Scratch n Peck but I have found the brand New Country Organics and I really love it! It's the same consistency as scratch and peck (I ferment), soy free, and has lots of probiotics in it. Around $17 for 25 lbs. And 16$ to ship to me. I think I paid $40 with free shipping from scratch and peck website. It's a little cheaper and does come in 50lb bags. Does anyone else use this feed and what is your opinion.

I just converted over to NCO in December, the layer soy-free. I like it a lot. We have had sub-freezing temperatures like we have never seen before, so I couldn't give my guys wet food at all or it would freeze solid in 30 minutes. I found a feed and seed store near me that has New Country Organics shipped in for me. It saved me a lot in shipping. Anyway, I am setting up to start fermenting their feed. Is there any certain container that you have found that is better than another?

Thanks

 

[Linda Dee]

Thank you! I just ordered 50# of the corn and soy free. I am still considering making my own, as NCO also has the organic grains available, but we will feed the premix for now. Thanks for your response!

I spent 3 months mixing my own grains that I ordered from New Country Organics. I was sprouting the grains then adding Ferrell's Nutri-balancer and giving free vhoice kelp granules and oyster shells, but I have to say that was a lot of work. I decided to just try the soy- free layer feed and life has gotten a lot easier. I am starting to ferment the feed and it a lot less work. I am 69 years old and lifting all those 50 lb. bags of grain hot really old.
Thanks.

 

[Linda Dee]

this thread is from 2016

Oops, I hate it when that happens. One dsy I'll figure it out!....

 

[Chickie friend]

Oops, I hate it when that happens. One dsy I'll figure it out!....

Its like time traveling!

 

[Mom2Sav]

I am thinking of buying this feed. I have read that barley isn't that great for chickens and the New Country brand doesn't have any whereas the Scratch & Peck does. What do you mean by "I ferment?" Does that mean you are familiar with the ingredients because you ferment? I'm new to chickens and I ferment too (Kombucha, Kefir) so I was just wondering if I need to do something to the feed. Do you feed it dry? Anyway let me know how your chickens like it. Thanks.

 

[Mom2Sav]

Ok, I would love to do the ferment. So I tried researching recipes for homemade feed but it seems so much more expensive than buying NCO. I looked up a place called Azure Standard and making 50lbs would cost over $100. I can't seem to find a local place to purchase large quantities of grains. I live in MA/RI area. I would so love to make my own if I can find where to get ingredients. And I'm totally down for the fermenting I just need to learn more about fermenting chicken feed. I do soak all my grains in my non flavored Kombucha for 24 hours. Should I add some of that to the mix? And Balloonflower where do you get your organic crumble? And you're saying you can ferment pellets? Also does anyone know why some say Barley isn't so great for chickens? Has anyone heard this? I've read it online. Thanks