Corn

[seminolewind]

<sigh> If I soaked the BOSS before I gave it to my chickens they'd have bigger problems than fibrous shells.....they'd be trying to figure out how to eat the giant Sunflower Seed Popsicle I just put in their run! Soaked food and -12 degrees just don't go together.

I dunno. I've been following this and have reached a monumental conclusion! If you like to feed corn and do it moderation, then continue. If you don't like the idea of feeding corn, then don't. I don't know if a little corn at night helps chickens stay warmer or not. Obviously some say "yes", some say "no." But I do know that if it makes a dedicated chicken owner sleep a little better at night thinking that they've done all they can for their birds' comfort over a long, cold night, then the two minutes it takes to toss some out seems well worth it.

At the risk of adding fuel to the fire here, after almost 64 years on this planet I've come to realize that no matter which side of an argument or discussion folks are on, they can always cite a finding, a study, a research paper, passage in a book or magazine or, especially in this day and age, on the internet, which supports their position. The trick to thorough research is to seek out and find neutral sources - those which present all sides of a position in one spot. Admittedly they are hard to find but as a professional writer who strives for accuracy in the columns I write, I know that they do exist. Then, based on all of the information, form your own conclusion but realize that you are rarely going to change someone else's mind. You might be able to add to their storehouse of information, but if they have their own conclusion firmly entrenched then it becomes the better part of valor to leave them to it. The same with yours - if you have it written in stone in your mind then no amount of discussion to the contrary will chip away at that stone. And that's all okay - it's what makes us who we are.

If there was only one "correct" way to raise chickens, then this entire forum could be read in a half hour - both pages of it. The very size of this forum and the diversity of people using and contributing to it shows the opposite. The key to learning, and the path to good teaching, is to remain open minded and respect the experience and opinions of others. The key to the wealth of information and opinion here at BYC is our unique ability to sort through, try what seems like it might work in our situations, or choose to ignore it and go on the next thing.

Now, if you'll excuse me I'll just to back to my neutral corner.

I love your comment about reading it in a half hour. Isn't that the truth. I agree, you can find research anywhere saying anything. I feel like you do. A reply is a reply. And it shouldn't be bashed by anyone else. If it's bad, push the report button.

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Honey Bee, If you read the ingredients on the feed bag, the first ingredient is either corn or soybean or grains (which Purina does because they buy the less expensive one to use as a "grain") Since there's so much corn in chicken feed , I like to feed something else as a treat. It's usually whole oats (for horses). Occasionally it's a cake, leftovers, bread, watermelon-it makes them Happy. I think that anything is fine for a treat and you should discuss that with your girls, LOL.

In the horse world, most of my horsey friends give their horses more corn in the winter because it's high calorie so they have the extra calories to utilize to keep warm. I think just getting them to eat something extra before bed can help them have more calories to use to keep warm. Because when it's cold you use more calories to stay warm.

 

[casportpony]

Nutrena Feather Fixer is 18% and also has enough calcium for hens that are laying. For those in California, Associated Feed makes a 20% breeder pellet.

• http://associatedfeed.com/products.html

-Kathy

 

[seminolewind]

Thanks Kathy. I will have to look around for the feather fixer.

 

[Chris09]

There is no one-method for chicken keeping. Your way works for you, and mine works for me.

As far as corn goes, every chicken keeper I've talked to has told me that corn keeps chickens warm during the winter. I even saw a show on Animal Planet this week talking about it being a "hot food". Every article I've read says the same thing. It's a common chicken knowledge. Your opinion is that it is a false theory, and I respect that but I do not agree. Go on to any youtube video talking about feed, and every video will talk about corn keeping chickens warm during the winter.

You're the first person I've ever talked to on BYC arguing that corn doesn't keep them warm. If more people back you up, then I might put more research into it, but my theory is the theory that 99% of people on this website believe.


As I stated before, I'm not going to argue with you. You didn't mention books or websites, so why should I have to quote mine?

Good luck with your birds and have a good one.

The thing is most people have no idea what a Hot Feed is.
Hot has nothing to do with making a animal hot, it simply means that it is a high energy feed.

To be quite honest the only articles that I have read that states that corn makes animal warmer in the winter were bad books and poor web sites that based there information hear say and they have nothing to back there information.

I have no problem with people feeding there way, what I do have a problem with is people posting incorrect information and trying to say that it is fact.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

After protein requirements met, the additional corn used as energy source I prefer to feed as whole. The cracked does not compare well with respect to vitamins and possibly fatty acids. Even half grown birds can consume the corn whole. Rule of thumb I follow is birds must consume the same amount of nutritionally balanced feed they would under more ideal conditions where temperatures are in the 60's F before the energy food is applied. When cold stressed they will increase feed intake so I make so most of that increase is represented by corn and soaked oats.

Cracked corn otherwise known as "corn chops" looses a lot of its oil content or the oil quickly becomes "rancid" once exposed to the air. There is also the problem with corn chops of losing a portion of the starch content when corn is cracked, chopped, crushed, or broken into tiny bits. Whole corn remains a complete food (as much as any whole grain) for a longer period of time than violently processed kernels of corn.

A 100 years ago I imagine that whole corn was about all your grand parents or great grand parents chickens ever saw in the form of owner supplied chicken feed. Eating scraps, or foraging in the fresh dung of a milking parlor or in the mule stable for undigested whole corn and other grains is where most free ranging chickens got their groceries back then.

Now folks tell us to eat locally and to be sure to "free range" our poultry but please, please, please, don't give them any of "that there" evil whole corn.

Has the world gone stark raving mad, or is it just me?

 

[MeepBeep]

A 100 years ago I imagine that whole corn was about all your grand parents or great grand parents chickens ever saw in the form of owner supplied chicken feed.  Eating scraps, or foraging in the fresh dung of a milking parlor or in the mule stable for undigested whole corn and other grains is where most free ranging chickens got their groceries back then

100 years ago was an entirely different world chickens were true farm animals on large plots of ripe farm land, not cultured and mowed chemical treated grass backyards and humans were not spraying this or that into the air on the ground, the ground and surroundings 100 years ago were ripe with a much higher numbers of critters and varied plant life and such... Also today's chickens (short of some heritage breeds) are not the chickens of 100 years ago, 100 years ago you were not getting 300 eggs from a hen nor were meaties huge, fat and ready to slaughter in a 6 months, honestly it's two entirely different pictures, almost an apples to orange comparison... In the end you are heading down a flawed path if you choose to apply a chicken diet from 100 years ago to today's birds... The blunt reality is that if you want healthy long lived birds that lay 300 eggs a year and/or are ready for slaughter in 6 months a corn diet even with modern free range in most/many areas just isn't going to supply what they need anymore...

 

[Nel75]

Thanks! I will remain a member of course, I think I will steer clear of this discussion though and remain on the neutral (I give a bit of corn in the evening ) side, I don't want to be spoken to in a horrible fashion by certain members. It is not so much the evidence they are supporting (which if based on scientific fact of course it is accurate) but the way some of these members are talking and phrasing things which I feel is phrased wrongly and rudely. ( towards Leghorn) It isn't rocket science communication skills....there is a way to state your opinion/advice whilest being diplomatic, nice and polite at the same time and not rude and authoritative and bossy. Aside from that I shall stay and represent England! ( Is this a mainly American website? It is extremely informative and I love it! Thanks for having me!

 

[Nel75]

Thanks! I will remain a member of course, I think I will steer clear of this discussion though and remain on the neutral (I give a bit of corn in the evening ) side, I don't want to be spoken to in a horrible fashion by certain members. It is not so much the evidence they are supporting (which if based on scientific fact of course it is accurate) but the way some of these members are talking and phrasing things which I feel is phrased wrongly and rudely. ( towards Leghorn) It isn't rocket science communication skills....there is a way to state your opinion/advice whilest being diplomatic, nice and polite at the same time and not rude and authoritative and bossy. Aside from that I shall stay and represent England! ( Is this a mainly American website? It is extremely informative and I love it! Thanks for having me!

This was a response to Semolinewind...I have just worked out how to quote!! Duh.

 

[centrarchid]

100 years ago was an entirely different world chickens were true farm animals on large plots of ripe farm land, not cultured and mowed chemical treated grass backyards and humans were not spraying this or that into the air on the ground, the ground and surroundings 100 years ago were ripe with a much higher numbers of critters and varied plant life and such... Also today's chickens (short of some heritage breeds) are not the chickens of 100 years ago, 100 years ago you were not getting 300 eggs from a hen nor were meaties huge, fat and ready to slaughter in a 6 months, honestly it's two entirely different pictures, almost an apples to orange comparison... In the end you are heading down a flawed path if you choose to apply a chicken diet from 100 years ago to today's birds... The blunt reality is that if you want healthy long lived birds that lay 300 eggs a year and/or are ready for slaughter in 6 months a corn diet even with modern free range in most/many areas just isn't going to supply what they need anymore...

Honey Bee needs to clarify production goals but based on pictures I saw in Honey Bee's album the birds are not high performance production breeds. Looks more like a varied lot of ornamental breeds with some hertiage mixed in. The performance issue you bring up still valid. Importance of free-range forages not indicated either. My best guess is fllock will be in a maintenance mode over winter with only low rates of egg production regardless of diet.


Honey Bee, consider the mixing of a chick starter / grower with greater than 22% protein in the overall diet. If birds then resort to gleaning which can result in waste, then employ the wet / fermented approach to improve palitability of your formulation. Once the formulations tweaked, then you can come back to explore your high energy grains.