Best Budget Food

[Molpet]

I did for over two years... for a flock of 82+.

It didn't save me a dime, nor were my birds healthier because of it. I no longer do it and think keeping a formulated ration formulated instead of attempting to alter what the experts deem good is semi ignorant on our part.

I wasted a lot of time and effort... though it was fun to see the bubbles and experience the changes that took places. I even tried it on my dog food, and don't recommend it!

If this is someone's route to save money due to waste.. I suggest using plain water and serve right away as standard mash.

Ultimately... all animals eat to fill their ENERGY (aka caloric) need. Yes, there is a fill up factor with regards to volume... but overall the energy consumption will be the same... according to my understanding.

Sorry it didn't work out for you. Works for me... but I definitely agree about the dog food. My dog disliked it in short order

 

[Kiki]

You guys are the best! Thanks so much. I prefer to go the organic route whenever I can just to reduce the amount of chemicals I consume, but I’m not 10000% devoted to it if there’s another quality option.

Where are you located?
Mail ordering feed gets expensive quick.

Have you checked any other local to you feed stores out yet to see what they carry on their shelf?

Even if your store doesn't carry another organic brand they may be will it order you some with their next order.


Here are a couple other organic brands...you can use these websites and their "where to buy" option to see if any are sold near you to compare prices.

https://www.kalmbachfeeds.com/products/17-organic-layer-omegga-crumble

https://www.modestomilling.com/soy-free-poultry.html

http://organicstockfeed.com/poultry/layer-birds

http://www.baraleinc.com/index.php/products/poultry/item/115-organic-17-soy-free-layer-pellet

https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-organic-layer-pellets-or-crumbles

 

[Folly's place]

If you plan to feed only organic, it will cost more, because it costs more to produce. @Texas Kiki has good advice here!
It's less expensive to feed a non-organic feed, and my choice here is Purina Flock Raiser, with separate oyster shell.
Whatever you buy needs to be fresh, by the mill date on each bag, or get something else.
Mary

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Several times, people in this group have said Dumor is not a good brand. I use New Country Organics. Fermenting it has decreased the amount they eat. I also grow barley fodder. They free range part of the day and when the weather is nice and there’s lots of good stuff out there they eat even less feed.

 

[Compost King]

I had bad results from using Dumor.

 

[Folly's place]

Years ago I tried Dumor, and wasn't pleased.
Mary

 

[aart]

You get what you pay for.
Organic is going to be costlier, as is higher protein.
If you're spending too much, or your birds are eating 'too much' look at feeder waste first. Then look at reducing your flock numbers.

 

[Lynn Borich]

This is great information. Thanks to everyone for this helpful thread!

 

[Onslow's Hens]

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!

 

[Secondof9]

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