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Whole grains stored properly will last a whole lot longer than "processed" pellets etc. Many people feed mash that contains whole & cracked grains, along with vitamins & calcium & the birds get what they need just fine. I bought some Mazuri gamebird feed a while back that was already 3 months old when my feed store got it in. I asked Purina, why they sell old feed. I was told their feed was good up to a year. I quit using it, as I did not like that answer. Most vitamins go bad within 6 months or less. Just because you can feed the feed that long, doesn't mean it is the best thing.What is the nutritional breakdown of the feed you were using? One problem with whole-grain diets is that the birds can pick through it and eat what they want - usually the high-fat stuff. Processed foods have several advantages, including longer stability and shelf-life, and that the birds eat a completely balanced diet. "Natural" and "organic" do not equal superior in quality - arsenic and botulism are natural and can be organic also. You can always add some greens, veggies and treats up to 10% of their daily calorie intake without unbalancing their diet.
There is a misconception that more protein is what makes chickens grow well. Growing birds need more protein because they are forming new muscle, but they need it balanced with other nutrients, such as fats, carbohydrates and vitamins/minerals to properly form body tissues. Overfeeding protein increases the risk of kidney damage as they grow. Too much fat leads to birds that grow too quickly and have issues with excess body fat and improperly formed joints. Too much calcium, or calcium provided without the proper calcium to phosphorus ratio, leads to kidney problems and poor bone formation.