California - Northern

[PetRock]

Just curious, how do you know that your chickens are not doing well on a certain feed? We just switched from Purina to Modesto Milling. All of my over 1 yr old birds are molting right now so no eggs from them and they look downright scarey! The younger 9 who are 30-38 weeks old include some new layers and a few who haven't started yet. I took home some samples of King feed from the chickenstock. They love the whole grain food but I haven't given them any of the other samples yet. I've thought about ordering from Azure Standard but wanted to hear from someone who has used it. I am also interested in a coconut feed that Tropical Traditions sells but the price is way beyond what I can afford right now.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Quote:
I guess it's nothing specific other than they didn't seem to thrive. The young ones didn't grow to the size I was hoping for, the adult's feathering could have been better. Egg quality wasn't good. I have them on turkey starter now. The ingredients are better (not organic but I like the ingredients better), they eat less of it and just seem healthier.

I'm looking at some of those King Feeds, also. The thing about organic and no soy/corn is- look at the ingredients. There are less of them and if you do research, which I have, there's just not enough nutrition in those limited ingredients. I'd love to be able to feed organic, no soy, no corn, no gmo. But if I do, I'm shorting my critters on nutrition. Plus I can't afford to pay so much.

Ron, your birds are fine, but I have a breeding flock and I'm trying to get size up to SOP. I can't do that with organic, no soy/corn/GMO.

This is an issue that is making me crazy, not only with my chickens, but my pigs. Feeding omnivores is tough. Cows & sheep are easier because they can be grass only.

Kim

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
I guess it's nothing specific other than they didn't seem to thrive. The young ones didn't grow to the size I was hoping for, the adult's feathering could have been better. Egg quality wasn't good. I have them on turkey starter now. The ingredients are better (not organic but I like the ingredients better), they eat less of it and just seem healthier.

I'm looking at some of those King Feeds, also. The thing about organic and no soy/corn is- look at the ingredients. There are less of them and if you do research, which I have, there's just not enough nutrition in those limited ingredients. I'd love to be able to feed organic, no soy, no corn, no gmo. But if I do, I'm shorting my critters on nutrition. Plus I can't afford to pay so much.

Ron, your birds are fine, but I have a breeding flock and I'm trying to get size up to SOP. I can't do that with organic, no soy/corn/GMO.

This is an issue that is making me crazy, not only with my chickens, but my pigs. Feeding omnivores is tough. Cows & sheep are easier because they can be grass only.

Kim

>>>>>>>>
I don't know if they did not thrive on the Modesto Mills feed. I have been adding Ultra Kibble to it, which has animal protein, and they would scatter the feed from the feeder to get to the kibble. They went crazy going after the modesto pellets after it rained and the pellets were wet. Also, they wasted a lot of it and so I went through 50 pounds very quickly.

My Australorps were raised on the Modesto Mills feed from little peeps and they grew up big and strong(look at Sienna in my Avatar). I really don like any of the Purina feeds. So I would rate the feeds as:

Best: Magill from Azure
OK but pricey and wasted more: Modesto Mills
A Dud: Purina Layeena and Omega 3 feed.

The guy that developed and sells the Ultra Kibble has a thread about feeding chickens. His claim is that most feeds don't really feed the chickens and so they poop most of it out, over fill their gullets and have poor feed conversion. If true, it seems like that would be due to the vegetarian nature of the feeds. Like Kim says, chickens are omnivores and need lots of free range space for getting enough bugs in their died. It's something like a 1/4 acre per chicken. And of course there are less bugs in winter.
Here is an image of the ingredients for the magill Cascade Layer: Azure sells it for 28.00 per bag. Modesto Mills is $35.00 per bag.

Kim- I would love to hatch some of your Dorking eggs! Also, I still want to get some to split with you from McMurry in the spring.

Ron

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Check it out!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7872226#p7872226

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Cascade is the most expensive here, I haven't personally fed it but a friend of mine does and her chickens are big and gorgeous.

Second is what I feed, Modesto Milling, it's cheaper here as we do group orders by the pallet. I have had nothing but great results on it, just look at my pics in my auction here to see for yourself;

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=7872226#p7872226


I have had BAD luck with Kruse, Kelly's, Purina and all the other crud they sell at the feed stores. I would feed either Cascade or Modesto. Both a really great feeds.

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
Hi and Thanks!

Since I can't get in on the Azure Standard drop in my town and have to travel 30 miles to Vacaville, there is not much of a chance of sharing a pallet from Modesto Mills. I have considered this though. For the Modesto Mills feed I have to drive to Dixon, which I can do at lunch time since I work in Davis(It's about six miles to Dixon from work). How much do you pay for 50 pounds?

Great looking chickens

I wish I could have Roosters here. Yours are very nice looking. I would be interested in your hatching eggs, but I need to practice more before spending that kind of money on them. I am regretting my ebay purchase of Lemon Cuckoo Orpington eggs. Only two developed and I saw one move the egg yesterday and heard some peeping. It's hard to hear them though because of the fan. Day 21 is tomorrow and I hope both make it. If only one makes it I will go pick up a chick from a lady in Rio Linda.

Ron

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

The Modesto Chick Starter is about $26 and the Layer is about $24, for a 50# bag.

The Cascade (Magill) is the one from Azure Standard and the Chick Starter is $28 and the Layer is $28, for a 50# bag.

Thank you for the compliments on my roos, I

my chickens.

 

[ChicknThief]

Sacramento!! For now anyways. In a couple years my fiancee and I plan to buy a house with some property on it somewhere in this general area.

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
I lived in Sacramento for 24 of the last 27 years (spent 3 years in Baton Rouge from 2003-2006). We just left Sacramento about 7 months ago, moved up to the mountains in El Dorado county. We *love* it up here. At least here, if we hear gunfire, it's not a drug deal gone bad.... just someone taking care of a predator on their property, doing target practice, or killin' a deer for some meat.

I will go to Sacramento to see my family or go shopping, but otherwise, I avoid it like the plague.

 

[ChicknThief]

Quote:
I don't blame you! I was raised in the foothills. I really, REALLY dislike Sacramento haha. I only moved her cuz DH lives here. Luckily we live in a relatively safe area, but we still hear sirens every night and the occasional gunshot. Freaky. Happy to have a BYCer in my area though