Alternative to fish meal?

[petitbleu88]

I'm in the process of mixing my own chicken feed, and the recipe I'm using calls for fish meal. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find it anywhere. I've searched at local farmers' coops, and I even looked on the Fertrell site to see if there were any dealers near me, which there aren't. Is there a good replacement for fish meal that I can use in my feed? My proportions are as follows:

Cracked corn: 50%
Split peas: 20%
Whole oats: 20%
Poultry Nutri-Balancer
Kelp meal: 1%
Salt
Free choice oyster shell

The chickens are in a tractor with a run, and we move them regularly so they do have access to grass and insects.

 

[galanie]

I'm assuming the fish meal is for protien. In that case, soybean meal would work.

 

[WI FarmChick]

I'm assuming the fish meal is for protien. In that case, soybean meal would work.

Yes...But wouldn't it be an animal protein rather than a vegetable protein?

I would think it would bring different "stuff" to the feed...Right?

 

[petitbleu88]

Since I'm already using split peas in my feed, I'm wondering if using another bean would be appropriate. I would also prefer to do without soybeans in any form if possible. My dilemma is mostly that I can't seem to find food-grade fish meal. If anyone knows of a good source (I live in a very rural area, so I prefer to do most of my shopping online if possible), that would also be very helpful.

 

[Chris09]

You can get Fish Meal at any good feed Mill but if you cant find it where you live you can get it at Ohio Earth Foods.
http://www.ohioearthfood.com/supplements.htm


Chris

 

[petitbleu88]

Thanks for the link! That's really helpful because I couldn't seem to find it at any of the feed stores near us, and getting anywhere out here is a big deal--45 minutes to the closest grocery store. I have a small flock (7 hens and a rooster), so I only need a small amount of the kelp, making shipping costs less relevant.

 

[petitbleu88]

Oh, sorry, I meant fish meal! Thanks again.

 

[WI FarmChick]

Thanks for the link! That's really helpful because I couldn't seem to find it at any of the feed stores near us, and getting anywhere out here is a big deal--45 minutes to the closest grocery store. I have a small flock (7 hens and a rooster), so I only need a small amount of the kelp, making shipping costs less relevant.

You said feed store. Are you saying store or mill. Do you have a mill near you? The mill would carry more feed supplies then a "store" would.

 

[galanie]

Of course I'd consider fish meal better than soy, but you did ask for an alternative to fish meal.

 

[petitbleu88]

By "feed store" I meant farmers' coop. We have several of those in the area, but none of them carry fish meal, which I found odd. To my knowledge there are no mills near me.