I have been following this thread and have a few small things to add... I have watched the aforementioned food documentary, I do agree that anybody who sets out to make a documentary has an agenda or a point to prove, like supersize me does, and like the incomvenient truth did... The truth still persist, thought, that the food industry is becoming horrific and more mismanaged every year. The job of the consumer and documentary watcher is not to believe blindly, but to further investigate something if it alarms or peaks your interest. That goes for watching the news too, or following polotics. Most people don't extend the effort to do these things because they are lazy and its easier to sit on a couch and accept what you get rather than take a stance that may require action.
About Monsanto, I personally believe they should never have been allowed to patent a food crop...thats our government at work and the fda's stupidity that we can blame. Now monsanto has control over 80+% of soy and I don't know how much of corn. I hate the idea of monopolies touting these huge market shares, run by people who are not really concerned with much else than their profits and stock success. Its capitalism on the ugly side. I personally would like to know what foods have GMO anything involved because I don't agree with patented seeds. However I like the idea that science has made way for farmers to use their land and turn out a crop more efficiently but the patent thing... can't get over it, and the residual problems/side affects should be thoroughly investigated by somebody other than a bias-funded lab, but that won't happen.
Feed wise...I personally am working my hardest to feed my birds every peice of leftover kitchen & garden scrap, feed them my own heirloom corn and broom corn seeds that I grind with my old grain grinder, and buy as little feed as possible. With my small suburban home though, I'll never be able to get away from supplamental feed, but I can try my hardest to do that anyway.
I suggest if you can grow food to feed your birds...do it. If you are concerned about offering them the best...the only way to ensure it is if you grow it yourself from seed that you aquire from a reputable source. The old adage proves true, if you want something done right, do it yourself.
Regardless of what side you take on the GMO debate, I like that everyone is becoming more informed/concerned about what is in their food, where it comes from, who is growing it and what has been done to it. Way to take responsability for what you and your animals eat!
