Chickens and Hog Feed ????

[upthecreek]

Quote: look at my previous post .......... one can find quality pig starter and pig & sow feeds (but the quality Has to be in the Ingredients) learn & apply

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

You just said it was better not why. The pig feed will be deficient in methionine and calcium. In sitting the pig starter feeds will hanger milk sugars which the chicken typically can not digest.

 

[Dewayne441]

Some advise not to do it because companies know best. After all they are the ones doing the studies right? Maybe, but what about those of us who have roosters in with our hens for breeding purposes? Hens need the calcium more than roosters do.They put the extra calcium in the egg shells. Roosters however have no way of dispensing of all this calcium and it can kill them. I lost several roosters before I found out it was the calcium building up in their liver killing them . Hog suppliment presents no such problem and the hens do well on it too.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hog chow has a vastly superior quality protein than todays big box store laying pellets, which imo are produced more with an eye toward pleasing back-yard-chicken keepers preconceived prejudices, and not towards pleasing the palettes of chickens. What good does a chicken derive from a ration if the chickens' owners won't buy it?

When mixing a homemade chicken ration, hog chow and pig starter (which has tankage and bone meal in it as part of its protein supplement) is a very good place to start and it supplies almost all the needed proteins and fats plus plenty of good carbs. You will however need to provide your flock with crushed oyster shell and granite grit fed free choice, which you should be doing anyway.

There is a good article from Clemson University about hog and pig feeding if you care to look.

 

[dealfinder500]

There is a large farm in the area that sells feed by the 100lbs. They sell pig feed/chicken feed as the same thing. And it works just fine with my girls.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Before expelled soybean meal became widely available as a protein supplement, dehydrated buttermilk was the baby chicken feed of choice. I still like to give my new chicks buttermilk as their first fluid. Besides numerous people (myself included) give their chickens yogurt and I have never noticed it giving them the stomach ache or a bad case of flatulence.

 

[TracyLovesDucks]

Some advise not to do it because companies know best. After all they are the ones doing the studies right? Maybe, but what about those of us who have roosters in with our hens for breeding purposes? Hens need the calcium more than roosters do.They put the extra calcium in the egg shells. Roosters however have no way of dispensing of all this calcium and it can kill them. I lost several roosters before I found out it was the calcium building up in their liver killing them . Hog suppliment presents no such problem and the hens do well on it too.

Sorry to hear about your roosters. This idea of feeding hog feed to chickens is brand new to me. But I had a question, could you just feed your flock a poultry grower feed? Then crushed oyster shell on the side for your laying hens. That way, your roosters don't get the calcium and they're all still on a diet intended for poultry.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Sorry to hear about your roosters. This idea of feeding hog feed to chickens is brand new to me. But I had a question, could you just feed your flock a poultry grower feed? Then crushed oyster shell on the side for your laying hens. That way, your roosters don't get the calcium and they're all still on a diet intended for poultry.

The protein % is higher than what is needed for a layer ration and because excess protein is expelled in a chicken's droppings much like excess calcium is, the excess protein is wasted and will result in high ammonia levels in the decomposing chicken manure.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The protein % is higher than what is needed for a layer ration and because excess protein is expelled in a chicken's droppings much like excess calcium is, the excess protein is wasted and will result in high ammonia levels in the decomposing chicken manure.

Excess calcium is not expelled, it is stored in the body - which is why excess calcium is scientifically linked to issues such as kidney damage. Layer rations offer the bare minimum needed protein content. A feed with protein of 18-20+% protein does not result in protein being expelled in droppings.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We're talking about excess protein in the manure. There are certain times in the life of a chicken when its protein requirements are high. At other times its protein requirements are lower.

Not all chicken rations are always the most suitable at all stages and times in a chickens life.

Will all chicken feeds stave off starvation?

Why sure they will.

Are any and all chicken feeds equally beneficial to the chicken and likewise easier on the chicken keepers pocket book?

No they are not. What's good for the goose is not always good for the gander.... especially if the male goose in question happens to be a rooster or else a baby chicken.

If you all will open and read the provided links you will see that ammonia levels in chicken manure are linked to Nitrogen levels in a chicken's droppings. Like wise the chemical tests used to determine protein levels in food test for the amount of Nitrogen or "N" in that food.

http://www.litterlife.com/poultry-ammonia

http://www.backyardnature.net/birdpee.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protein_(nutrient)