I am new to the Nor Cal group. We moved up here (near Redding) last December, but had not internet for 9 months. I am now caught up enough to rejoin BYC activities!
Wanted to jump in on the feed discussion, as this has been an issue for us. My chooks have always been fed the Cascade feed, but recently, I have been trying to cut cost. I am not willing to compromise on the corn and soy, which had me very limited for a long time. Modesto Milling started making an organic, corn- and soy-free feed recently, and we have been feeding that some. I also ordered the Big Sky feed from Azure Standard to try it.
The big difference that I am finding is that Cascade uses fish meal as a protein source. Rogue, Modesto Milling, and Big Sky are vegetarian. I have not used Scratch and Peck (did someone say this was organic?), but the label posted shows fish meal. I will probably try some of the S&P when it becomes available through Azure Standard.
The other ingredient that most of the vegetarian feeds have is canola meal. I only recently learned that canola is in the same boat as corn and soy, so I will not be buying the veg feeds listed above anymore.
I changed the feed in the fall, so I attributed the decreased egg production to molt, season, etc. I got some Cascade Starter to mix into the veg feed that I have left, and production started rising almost immediately. Basically, at this point, I am no longer buying any vegetarian feed. I have a local friend that buys her feed by the tote (she breeds about 5 different breeds, I think). She recently found out that her supplier can get 50# bags of organic fish meal for $70. So I am considering buying less expensive veg feed and cutting in the fish meal. At 75% protein, it would not take much to make a difference, I think.
Well, that about sums up my chicken feed experience lately. I love seeing how active this Nor Cal thread is! The other was not very busy at all.
I wonder where you can buy it in this area? Tractor Supply doesn't have it.
