alternative to commercial chicken feed?

[MsPony]

Quote:
Ohhh, can I ask what Mills you use? We can PM if you want, but Temp. Feeds wont do custom and I wasnt sure if their chicken feed was good or not.

Id say just check around, my local feed store carries organic thats made by them and its really good stuff

 

[Lotsapaints]

San Miguel's is the one I like best and they will all custom mill just that you need to do 2,000 lbs. King makes the best chick starter and I like the chicken conditioner (show bird) stuff they make too. Tommy makes the best game bird and turkey feed and he will try and get just about anything I want to try (Templeton)

 

[6chickens in St. Charles]

Apologies from me for not reading the other posts yet, but I have to admit every time I buy the Purina Layena, my chickens look great within 3 days. They're usually good lookin, and have a good clean vet checkup, but a couple days of Purina Layena and they look GREAT.

Tomorrow I want to read everybody's post on alternatives, because I respect the hard work people put into their research on feed, and I'm interested. But I gots to get to sleep now. Thank you for bringing up this feed topic.

 

[MsPony]

Thanks

ill write it down for the future! (Also that you have paints and chickens haha)

 

[sydney13]

after looking at some other threads ive found a recipe that Organics North posted
6 part Black Oil Sunflower (17%P)
6 part Oats (12%P)
6 parts Red Wheat (17%P)

3 part Field Peas (24%P)
3 part cracked Corn (9%P)
3 part whole Flax (34%P)
3 part Alfalfa (17%P)

.5 part Kelp
.125 Oyster shell
.125 DE
.125 Azomite
i could probably get all those ingredients and unlike most other recipes this one doesn't contain a ton of ingredient ive never even heard of. my chickens are 3 1/2 months so not yet laying. should i wait until they lay eggs to start feeding something like this mix or should i feed it to them now and leave out the calcium? i feed my goose and duck the same feed as my hens so does anyone know if this feed would be ok for waterfowl?

 

[chickachick]

I feed my chickens cooked oatmeal with corn and berries and fruit and pigeon food. Do you think that is unhealthy for them? They eat oatmeal every day.

I only have the two birds, and one "hen" has turned out to be a rooster. I love him dearly, but am wondering how I will keep him since I live in the city. He just flew over the fence today.

THanks for any replies about their food.
Edie

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
It works for me.. I have no doctorate in poultry science or nutrition.. Just tried to do a whole bunch of research and home work. I feed it chicks with a little added protein I feed it to the layers too. I just culled some Marans at 15 weeks, they had good size some fat and very healthy livers. I have been using for a little less than a year so far.

*Thats a real small amount of oyster shell.. I still free choice the oyster shells for the laying hens.. (They do need more calcium than in the recipe.) But I like to have one feed for all age birds..

Happy to share my experiences on what has worked for me and what has not.

ON

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I am concerned about protein.. How much pigeon food do they eat? What is the protein? Corn, oatmeal, fruit and berries are all good foods but low low low in protein. Chickens need the amino acid Methionine which is found in meats. BOSS has some too.

ON