Lots of discussions I've read seem to suggest that commercial chicken feed is the "BEST" or "ONLY" way to feed chickens. To each his own, but I decided to scratch at this a bit (I must be part chicken).
So, if chicken feed is so great....why? What's in it that you can't get elsewhere?
I found a chicken feed concentrate by Form-A-Feed, the idea being that you buy the concentrate, and mix it with grains you either grow yourself, or buy locally for cheaper (or at least with a bit lower carbon cost).
Description from the web site:
Great! The secret ingredients in chicken feed! Where do these magical compounds come from?
Calcium, we all know comes from egg shells and/or oyster shell.
What about protein, lysine, methionine, and phosphorus? They can be found in....MEAT!
Vitamins? They can be found in VEGETABLES!
Salt, which is only needed in small amounts, can be found in....MARGARITTAS! Wait...no, other foods (or in mineral form).
No word on what the trace minerals are, but I find it hard to believe they wouldn't be attainable.
Again, not saying there's anything wrong with commercial chicken feed. It's clearly the most convenient way, and in many cases, likely the cheapest way, to feed your chickens a well-balanced diet. All I'm saying is it may not be the ONLY way.
So, if chicken feed is so great....why? What's in it that you can't get elsewhere?
I found a chicken feed concentrate by Form-A-Feed, the idea being that you buy the concentrate, and mix it with grains you either grow yourself, or buy locally for cheaper (or at least with a bit lower carbon cost).
Description from the web site:
Multi-Purpose Poultry Concentrate is a premium quality concentrate, in crumble form, designed for a variety of poultry rations. It provides protein, lysine, methionine, calcium, phosphorus, salt, vitamins and trace minerals. Mix with corn and other grains for pullet and layer rations, or make broiler rations by mixing with corn and additional soybean meal.
Great! The secret ingredients in chicken feed! Where do these magical compounds come from?
Calcium, we all know comes from egg shells and/or oyster shell.
What about protein, lysine, methionine, and phosphorus? They can be found in....MEAT!
Vitamins? They can be found in VEGETABLES!
Salt, which is only needed in small amounts, can be found in....MARGARITTAS! Wait...no, other foods (or in mineral form).
No word on what the trace minerals are, but I find it hard to believe they wouldn't be attainable.
Again, not saying there's anything wrong with commercial chicken feed. It's clearly the most convenient way, and in many cases, likely the cheapest way, to feed your chickens a well-balanced diet. All I'm saying is it may not be the ONLY way.