Current Social Media Chicken Feed Craze - posted testing results

[U_Stormcrow]

Well who cares about the % specifications of protein, fat, fiber, minerals... Whats in the feed that is NOT these things that would put them off laying. For that matter, What can put them off laying if eaten? Thats is what to test for.

NOTHING.

There is no known, readily available, oral contraceptive for chickens which causes them to stop laying. There is a rather expensive chemical cocktail which can be periodically injected subdermally to stop some birds from laying - its used by zoos - but again, no oral equivalent.

I can't prove a negative in a universe of posibilities. I instead invite you to demonstrate the existence of this hereforto unknown magical substance. Incredible claims demand incredible proof, not merely the blathering of the ignorant, no matter how loudly the crowd brays.

 

[NatJ]

Well who cares about the % specifications of protein, fat, fiber, minerals...

If the feed was badly wrong on any of those things, it could cause problems-- including no laying, or sick chickens, or even dead chickens.

So checking those things seems like an obvious step. Yes, we expect those things to be fine, but when there are problems it's good to check the things we think we know.

Whats in the feed that is NOT these things that would put them off laying. For that matter, What can put them off laying if eaten? Thats is what to test for.

Yes, that is something to test for. But I think the lab can only test for specific things (like each pesticide in the list given.) They don't have a general test for "anything else." So someone has to think of what things to test (or choose from a list of tests the lab already offers.) If the lab has no test for a particular substance, either they have to develop a test, or they cannot test for it.

As for what can put them off laying if they eat it, I'd like to see such a list myself. I don't know what things may do that.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

In general answer to the questions above re: moisture. MANY potential sources. Sitting on concrete (which has the tendency to wick moisture out of the ground beneath - particularly when a moisture barrier is not placed before pouring. Very high humidity (typical FL< parts of MS, TX near the Gulf, etc...), and day it just rained, or is about to...

Rapid temperature change - moisture will condense on a bag when it gets cold quickly same as it will condense on anything else. You don't think TSC uses climate controlled warehouses to store feed, do you? Even the back of store, once you get past those big swinging double doors doesn't seem well air conditioned locally.

That's not something I can fault Producer's Pride for, its more likely from storage - I just noted it because higher moisture levels are more attractive to mildews and molds.

 

[Geena]

So someone has to think of what things to test

And cough up the money to carry out all those tests.

 

[Bhubbard]

NOTHING.

There is no known, readily available, oral contraceptive for chickens which causes them to stop laying. There is a rather expensive chemical cocktail which can be periodically injected subdermally to stop some birds from laying - its used by zoos - but again, no oral equivalent.

I can't prove a negative in a universe of posibilities. I instead invite you to demonstrate the existence of this hereforto unknown magical substance. Incredible claims demand incredible proof, not merely the blathering of the ignorant, no matter how loudly the crowd brays.

Feel free to tell me I’m wrong. Say such magical substance was real… wouldn’t we be seeing a host of issues other than lack of egg production?

 

[Joel Just Joel]

If I recall correctly (and I think I do, because I would never have even thought of this), my Kalmbach feed bags say that they are not waterproof, and not to store on cement. So perhaps that might be the same for the feed tested. Or the bag may not have been stitched closed as well as it should have been.

Thank you for filling in a related piece of the puzzle. I have some feed that I suspect is bad. Bought 4 bags at same time, but did not notice any moisture on the bags. Stored in back seat of pickup truck. Freezing temperature overnight. Noticed visible wetness between the bags when removed from truck next day. If condensate was moisture drawn from the feed, that's only possible if the bag is porous. And if feed bag is porous enough to let moisture out, surely it works both ways and moisture could be drawn in if bags are stored in a wet environment before getting to the store shelf. So, that may solve the mystery of the high moisture content. I've had clumps of mold in PP feed in the past, so no surprise. PP feed, nevermore!

 

[David61]

well, i don't use one type of feed anyway and use a mineral supplement once a week. They get half flock raiser crumble and half ten way show stopper grain. once a week they get some manna calf pro one day and some soybean meal another day.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Feel free to tell me I’m wrong. Say such magical substance was real… wouldn’t we be seeing a host of issues other than lack of egg production?

This has been my thinking regarding this conspiracy theory as well-if a chicken is not laying because of something lacking in feed (or some nefarious mystery substance) then there would be more going on than just a lack of laying. As a woman I can tell you that anything that stops ovulation is bound to have noticeable side effects besides the intended one.

 

[Bhubbard]

So I only deal with humans and diet/training. In my world bad nutrition and stress (weight training/conditioning) would cause amenorrhea. In my view it could only ever be low macronutrients.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Feel free to tell me I’m wrong. Say such magical substance was real… wouldn’t we be seeing a host of issues other than lack of egg production?

Depends on how it works. Magic, remember? But yes, probably.

Lets say production layers are getting a high dose calcium feed, but not laying. Over time, we'd start to see the effects of calcium toxicity on those birds.

HOWEVER - adult birds are much less susceptable to calcium toxicity then hatchlings, and plenty of people feed their roosters layer as well and never notice the difference. Which isnt to say the roosters are fine, just that the signs aren't obvious to most.

If instead this magic substance disrupted their endocrine system... I don't know. That beyond my abilities in biochemistry - and apparently beyond the biochemical abilites of those researching how to turn off laying in zoo avians, too. So I'm in good company?

Remember, in humans, we turn off laying by tricking the body into thinking its already pregnant. We do the same in other mammals. For obvious reasons, that method won't work in a bird...