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- #41
I agree with Joan. Organic is great, but a lot more expensive and not always there. I feed layer pellets, 3 way scratch, and for a treat, HI Game Bird mix. It has a lot of big seeds that they love fighting over. The best bargain is broken bags when you can find them at 50% off. Usually only a small amount has leaked out before they catch them and tape them up. There is nothing in commercial feed that you havenʻt been eating for years in the chickens you bought from KTA. Plus, you arenʻt eating the birds, just their eggs so there isnʻt a lifetime of chemical build-up in the egg. Just a tiny trace, perhaps, that got deposited there when they were initially formed. Thatʻs why they call eggs the healthiest food on earth.
But here is a thought for you, moldy feed is very bad for chickens. It leads to all sorts of respiratory problems. Hilo has almost 100% humidity all the time, so feed can go bad quickly if it isnʻt protected. Same goes for your bedding, so keep it under cover and only buy what they can eat in a month or so.
If you are feeding DE, you shouldnʻt have any problem with internal parasites. DE has millions of sharp tiny edges that cut up the worms. It doesnʻt kill the eggs immediately, but will kill the larvae. Other than that, all Iʻve used is pyrethin powder. It goes by a lot of different trade names, but the active ingredient is pyrethin, a natural insecticide.
One last word to the wise. Shortly, all of the feed stores will have chicks. I presume you know enough not to buy these stressed out and often sick chicks. But you SHOULD buy bedding and food as soon as they appear. Six weeks later, you wonʻt be able to find a bag of feed or a bale of shavings on the island. I got skunked last year and probably wasted $100 in gas driving around looking for food and bedding since all the newbies bought the feed mills out.
But here is a thought for you, moldy feed is very bad for chickens. It leads to all sorts of respiratory problems. Hilo has almost 100% humidity all the time, so feed can go bad quickly if it isnʻt protected. Same goes for your bedding, so keep it under cover and only buy what they can eat in a month or so.
If you are feeding DE, you shouldnʻt have any problem with internal parasites. DE has millions of sharp tiny edges that cut up the worms. It doesnʻt kill the eggs immediately, but will kill the larvae. Other than that, all Iʻve used is pyrethin powder. It goes by a lot of different trade names, but the active ingredient is pyrethin, a natural insecticide.
One last word to the wise. Shortly, all of the feed stores will have chicks. I presume you know enough not to buy these stressed out and often sick chicks. But you SHOULD buy bedding and food as soon as they appear. Six weeks later, you wonʻt be able to find a bag of feed or a bale of shavings on the island. I got skunked last year and probably wasted $100 in gas driving around looking for food and bedding since all the newbies bought the feed mills out.
