Best Budget Food

[aart]

I at first used Dumor feed, which contained soy as the second ingredient, the chicks poo smelled HORRIBLE!

Have heard that too....not sure if it's from the soy tho.

 

[Folly's place]

It makes sense to avoid soy in your chicken feed if you are allergic to it, because it will aerosol in the coop, and get everywhere, and inhaling it won't be good for you either, never mind eating it directly.
Mary

 

[Secondof9]

Organic is expensive. I do see why some would choose to buy it. But, there really is good quality non organic feeds out there that cost much much less.
If you are going to spend the extra money for Organic feed - then you have to feed 100% everything organic, including all treats AND table scraps. If you feed non organic treats and table scraps, what is the point of buying organic feed at 40.00 a bag.

I don't buy organic. Simply to expensive. When I did try it, I saw no benefit in their health over non organic. I feed Southern States Meat Bird to all my chickens and roosters. It is 20% protein and they look much much better on the high protein. Molts are quick and no need to switch feeds to help them along. Chicks get starter feed for about 4 weeks then they go onto the SS Meat Bird. Oyster shell on the side of course for the layers. The ingredients in the SS are the best of any bag of non organic commercial feed I have read so far. Im always reading feed tags. My second choice is Purina Flock Raiser pellets. Only because of the lower calcium for the roosters and the higher protein - the ingredients are not impressive.
Egg quality and taste are the best on the SS feed. No contest. I have feed all kinds of brands and honestly, the eggs really are the best on the ss.

Obviously, others may find better results on a different brand and whatever works best for you - use it.
Just putting in my 2 cents on the brand that works best for my flock. Also, the SS feed smells really good, like food should. No other feed I have tried (including organic) has smelled so fresh and just like good stuff. Even my hubby comments on how good it smells when we are coming home with it in the cab of the truck.

Free range (if possible) for the natural foods. You simply can not go wrong allowing your chickens to forage for themselves. They will glow!

It's interesting to me that you mentioned the smell. I use Scratch and Peck Layer and I also thing it smells good! The chickens like it really well too.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I thought I'd weigh in on the organic question - I use organic feed because it's the only kind I can find locally without soy! I am very allergic to soy products so I don't want it in my chickens. Besides, when I at first used Dumor feed, which contained soy as the second ingredient, the chicks poo smelled HORRIBLE! LOL. I went to soy free and...much better. It does cost more but I only had 4 chickens to start with so not too bad.

From the New Country Organics site:
http://www.newcountryorganics.com/our-story/#why-soy-free

Soy free. . It's available at TSC. GC

 

[Secondof9]

Soy free. View attachment 1924169. It's available at TSC. GC

Thanks! I appreciate the suggestion and will check it out - I do have a TSC nearby.

 

[Onslow's Hens]

Never considered the stinky poo factor. Hmmm. I may try a feed that is soy free and see if it makes a difference with the poo. Southern States feed division was taken over by Nutrena (Cargil) and now they don't have the Meat Bird SS feed anymore. Been feeding the 24% Chick/Turkey starter cumbles to get them thru the molt. They are done molting so now I need to find a low calcium, high protein, preferably a pellet, soy free feed. No luck so far. Soy seems to be in them all and in large amounts. I am not allergic but to much of any one thing can't be great. Will keep reading feed tags....