Anyone NOT feeding commercial pelleted/mash feed to your layers?

[shortstaque]

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What do you think of freshly ground flaxmeal for Omegas? I know they break down quickly once ground, so its best to grind as you go.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have been trying to find out how many grams of protien, and calories they need a day. I can find all kinds of info on %, but none on grams/calories, does anyone know? Right now I mostly feed non medicated chick start, w/ a lot of "treats" b/c it is so much fun watching them. (all healthy treats, fruit, veggies, grains, bugs etc..) I just started my roach colony, but won't be able to harvest much for about 6 months, and intend to grow a lot of their plant dietary needs. If I do fish, it will be what my husband/ fil catch themselves, but have to admit having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that chickens in the "wild" would not fish for food. Ultimate goal is raising as much food for selves and chickens as possible in my limited space, may never be 100%, but closer then I am right now anyway.

 

[shortstaque]

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I asked the same question, heres the answer:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=418445&p=1

 

[cluckcluck42]

Interesting thread.

A local farmer sells his own mixed chicken feed. He has not been adding soybeans for an experiment they are doing raising meat birds. What could I do to add protein? (Besides fishmeal) Any ideas? I'd love to buy his stuff for my layers and supplement with calcium and extra protein. I really like the idea of supporting local farmers, that means a lot to me.

 

[shortstaque]

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It would help to know what is in the mix. I'm assuming that if he is mixing it as chicken feed he could probably tell you the protein content.

 

[Kassaundra]

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I asked the same question, heres the answer:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=418445&p=1

Thanks, that is just what I was looking for!!! I've been googling for days and couldn't find the answer. Now all I need is the calorie/ protien gram content of roaches. I'll try e-mailing the roach guy that I bought them from to see if he can answer.

 

[HeritageHens]

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I have no knowledge of Bil-Jac but it seems like a decent product - for a dog. I guess the question would be why feed them something that is even more processed than commercial mash feeds?

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I'm soy free here and proud of it!

All the movies you cited are indeed eye opening. Even my husband was riveted by them.

ON, the fish meal at my local place is $53.00/50 pounds. I don't find $1.00 a pound to be out of the question. Heck, some of the specialized food I have to feed to the cat and ferrets is >$6.00 per pound and they ain't laying eggs for me! I guess the environmental aspects would be more troubling but this is organic fish meal and it is 60% protein.

 

[Organics North]

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I like flax a lot! Good protein level at 34%. It is also a good plant source for Omega 3 and 6. I was using whole organic flax seed, and found just a little too much waste. I was considering either fresh grinding it or soaking it to soften it and get it to stick to the larger ingredients. I say this in the past tense, because on my last order I was given organic expelled flax meal. (Did not catch it until I got home.) Does not exactly fit with the idea of fresh live grains...

I will use it up though...

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Good price!
It is my understanding fish meal is fish meal, what makes one organic is the lack of preservatives. I have heard a concern about mercury levels in fish meal... To me the the environmental impact has to do with the over harvesting of the feeder fish used to make fish meal in the oceans.
Don't get me wrong, I still use it, but feel guilty..

ON

 

[SeattleChickenHead]

triticale and peas are the protein in my feed i think (scratch n peck) interesting though seems tricky to grow triticale, not sure what to think of it yet.

 

[cluckcluck42]

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It would help to know what is in the mix. I'm assuming that if he is mixing it as chicken feed he could probably tell you the protein content.

Yeah I will have to ask him. Would BOSS be something I could use to up the protein?? I don't want to use soy and I am glad he is offering stuff without it.