Correct mixture of grains for feed

[jckruid]

Hello, I am curious if anyone can help figure out a good mixture/ratio of the grains I have available for chicken feed. I'm looking for a mixture for 50lbs worth. I have Black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, whole cleaned oats, milo, and white millet. I do not want to add corn or soy products. They are free range chickens that are free to browse wherever In the yard. They also have free choice oyster shell. I'd just like to know a good ratio to mix the above grains at for 50lbs. Oh and I also have diatomaceous earth to add. Thanks for your help

 

[Chris09]

Hello, I am curious if anyone can help figure out a good mixture/ratio of the grains I have available for chicken feed. I'm looking for a mixture for 50lbs worth. I have Black oil sunflower seed, safflower seed, whole cleaned wheat, milo, and white millet. I do not want to add corn or soy products. They are free range chickens that are free to browse wherever In the yard. They also have free choice oyster shell. I'd just like to know a good ratio to mix the above grains at for 50lbs. Oh and I also have diatomaceous earth to add. Thanks for your help

To be honest your not going to get a chicken feed out of those grains a nice scratch grain mix or wild bird seed mix yes but not a chicken feed.

No mater what ratio you mix these grains your going to end up with a Low Protein, High Fat mix that lacks in much needed Vitamins, Minerals and Proteins (amino acids).

 

[jckruid]

I understood that black oil sunflower seed was around 26% protein and Safflower was around 18%. They also free range wherever they like on our 10 acres.

 

[TalkALittle]

Aren't they high in fat? By the time you added enough to get the protein up, the fat would probably be too high.

 

[jckruid]

Ingredients: Black oil sunflower seed, Artificial Flavor
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein 16% (min)
Crude Fat 40% (min)
Crude Fiber 35% (max)
Moisture 12% (max)

 

[jckruid]

Lions grip shows this


FOOD SOURCE %PROTEIN, BY WT


Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Sunflower seeds 26.3
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5

 

[jckruid]

Here's another breakdown


Nutrient Amount
(per 1 lb) Nutrient Amount
(per 1 lb)
Calories 2588.40 Protein 103.50 g
Carbohydrates 85.25 g Fiber
(dietary) 47.74 g
Sugars 15.03 g Fat 225.46 g
Water 24.38 g Omega-3
Fatty Acids 0.25 g
Omega-6
Fatty Acids 148.40 g Lysine 24.5 mg
Vitamins:

Vitamin Amount
(per 1 lb) Vitamin Amount
(per 1 lb)
Vitamin A 222.48 IU Thiamin 10.36 mg
Riboflavin 1.14 mg Niacin 20.46 mg
Vitamin B6 3.54 mg Vitamin C 6.32 mg
Vitamin E 340.50 IU Folate 1033.90 mcg
Vitamin K 12.25 mcg Pantothenic Acid 30.69 mg
Minerals:

Mineral Amount
(per 1 lb) Mineral Amount
(per 1 lb)
Calcium 527.43 mg Copper 7.96 mg
Iron 30.82 mg Magnesium 1609.57 mg
Manganese 9.22 mg Phosphorus 3205.50 mg
Potassium 3132.75 mg Selenium 270.53 mcg
Sodium 13.64 mg Zinc 22.99 mg
They are also high in amino acids...which are very important for muscle building and maintenance.

 

[Chris09]

I understood that black oil sunflower seed was around 26% protein and Safflower was around 18%. They also free range wherever they like on our 10 acres.

Black Oil Sunflower seeds on the average is 16% protein, Sunflower Meal is around 23% protein.
Safflower can vary some what between 16% to 18% protein.

Remember that nutrition will be depleted as lesser protein grains/ingredients are added.
Free ranging doesn't mean much, yes they will get some proteins from bugs and other animals they eat but the bulk of there nutritional intake should come from there feed.
Chickens are not grazers like cattle and sheep there also not forager like goats so grasses do very little for poultry other than deplete nutrition.

 

[Chris09]

Lions grip shows this


FOOD SOURCE %PROTEIN, BY WT


Dried fish flakes 76
Dried liver 76
Dried earthworms 76
Duckweed 50
Torula yeast 50
Brewers yeast 39
Soybeans (dry roasted) 37
Flaxseed 37
Alfalfa seed 35
Beef, lean 28
Earthworms 28
Fish 28
Sunflower seeds 26.3
Wheat germ 25
Peas & Beans, dried 24.5
Sesame seed 19.3
Soybeans (boiled) 17
Wheat bran 16.6
Oats, whole 14
Rice polish 12.8
Rye 12.5
Wheat 12.5
Barley 12.3
Oats 12
Corn 9
Millet 9
Milo 9
Rice, brown 7.5

The sunflower seed states 26.3% protein, Its incorrect. Sunflower seed is only about 16% protein.
I think some of the other may be off also but it is safe to say that most of what that site has posted is out of date.

Also those percentages would be per 100 pounds of weight.

 

[glib]

Fermenting it will increase the proteins and vitamins of course. In the case of lysine, the most limiting amino acid, it will increase by a factor of several, so it is not clear that fermented grains are necessarily low in proteins. Concur that you have to get an idea what they eat when free ranging, though grass does provide a lot vitamins and some proteins. If there is abundant clover in their range, they should be fine.