chicken food

[AV Brahmas]

I am going to have to differ with a couple of folks here. One being the comment to keep them on starter until they start to lay. No, no, and no!! While it is unlikely to harm them, starter is just what it says it is, and once they are started move to a grower or simply just a good balanced maintenance feed. Also, and apologies to canoe, I do not buy the concept of perfect nutrition coming from a bag. What you get is a balanced ration but it cannot replace pasture with all the fresh growing greens and various other life forms your chickens may sample. Don't want to believe it? Try penning your birds for a few months on crumbles only. Then one day let them out on the lawn. I guarantee they will frantically eat grass. They know what they need and it is not in the bag.

The whole idea that sack food is better is flawed logic. Why do people pay a premium for free range meat and eggs? Sack food is formulated for birds that CANNOT be put out on pasture. These would be the same flabby, pasty meat birds and pale yolked egg layers that we get from the factory farms. We can do better and that is why we raise our own...right?

My answer to your question? Starter for 6-8 weeks depending on breed, then maintenance feed supplemented with pasture (or lawn) and free choice mineral mix....not just plain oyster shell. That is how we do it.

Exception (isn't there always?)....chicks raised by the hen outside only get starter for a week or so. After that they leave it and chase off after those mosquitoes and other bugs they are so fond of. We cannot keep the on or even near the crumbles.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
Ahhh, in a perfect world........I agree wholeheartedly, AV, but ya gotta realize there are folks posting here daily that want to feed only scratch, or cracked corn, and this to fowl that live in pens, or runs all their lives. Most of these folks just need a little educating and they`ll be fine. Then there are the folks who think they can improve on their chickens health by mixing their own feed. Possible, but when you think that scientific minds work for the commercial feed companies and said companies spend small fortunes formulating a balanced diet for birds used for varying purposes, it doesn`t make since to try and mix your own. If everyone had a big yard, or a pasture that was safe, that indeed would be a perfect world. Free ranging is always healthier, but some folks are plagued by predators and it isn`t possible. I subscribe to your theory and wish it were possible for all, however, for those who can`t free range, feed the best feed you can afford. If you can`t afford the best, cut down on the number of birds until you can. It`s the responsible thing to do........Pop

 

[AV Brahmas]

Lollipop, it is a pleasure to meet you! I understand where you are coming from and agree that it is far better to feed flock raiser than scratch to penned birds. How many times have I been in the feed store and seen the clerk telling someone that the dusty bag of cracked corn and wheat was "all they needed". You learn quickly not to speak as neither customer or clerk want to hear your opinion!

However, mixing your own feeds can be a rewarding hobby within a hobby for those who can and do have some room. I started mixing my own feed and formulating my own minerals a very long time ago. It started with the purchase of some old textbooks from the state university. I read and reread and consulted with the state vet. The result was very interesting and rewarding. I have my own blend of whole grains that changes seasonally and another of minerals that I feed to all the birds here. They do outstanding on it and not all get out on the grass very often.

Mixing feed is not rocket science. Farmers did it for centuries. They have spent a lot of money and time on what they do at the feed mill but a lot of that is also directed at their margins. You also need to consider the fact that when you break a grain it opens it up to harmful molds. You also never really know what additives are in the feed. This is taking a lot on faith in corporate America! My blends work for me. They are based on whole grains and are considerably cheaper than processed feeds.

I strongly recommend that the small backyard person with limited knowledge use the prepared feeds and avoid scratch. It only makes sense for them. For us it is different.

 

[Lollipop]

The pleasure is mine, AV. I know some serious poultry guys that mix their own recipes, but the average Joe Chicken Raiser may not even recognise the difference in their birds health and vitality when feeding cracked corn and treats, or feeding a good commercial blend. How many times have I seen, in print, "that`s how my grandma used to do it" or, "they do just fine on mostly vegies and corn". Makes ya doubt that some folks should even own a chicken. Enough of the rant. Guess I`ve never had the desire or the time to mix my own feed. Having my breeds of choice, I fed Purina Gamebird Blend at 14% protein until moving my fowl to GA several years ago. Now, since I can`t get the purina feed in my little part of paradise, I feed a blend from Southern States that they call Thirteen Way at 16% and it`s very similar to the Purina Blend, in composition. I ad a small amount of Red Cell to their water a couple times a week and in return I get large strong breasts and lusterous feathers. Doubt if I could mix anything better. That`s just my prefference. Anyway, Nice to meetcha. .......Pop

 

[mommissan]

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To each his own.... I'm with you AV Brahmas. I believe that nature provides many supplemental nutrients that man cannot manufacture. My girls love to eat the plantains and other weeds from the lawn.... packed full of antitoxins and an anti-inflamatory chemicals, nutrients and vitamins... minerals. Then there's the bugs, natural grit, so many other flora and fauna that round out a diet nicely. My girls laid late, 23-25 weeks before they began. That is, I assume attributed partly to the large variety of "other" foods they eat besides their bag feed. However, their first eggs were full sized and they very robust healthy birds. I use bag feed as a staple, always available. I bring them scraps for treats and let them forage as much as possible. Imagine if people had to live on a scientifically formulated bag feed only?

 

[chittyn]

thanks for the help guys