Custom Feed Recipies

[Jashdon]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was just wondering how fresh (or stale) the feed from the feed store is by the time I buy it and rip open the bag. It seems like it would be pretty stale and therefore unhealthy. I was hoping to get each individual ingredient relatively fresh and then mix it myself, creating a much more healthy food for my chickens. But I can't really afford much more than we already pay for feed. Anyway, it was just a thought and I appreciate all the info.

 

[TerrasCritters]

X-Cel feed in Tacoma have packaging dates on there bags, we picked up 2 80lb bags last week. I was tring to go to just whole grains for my birds but I ran out of one of them to mix up another batch, they sell alot of the whole grains there too. I feed it to my chickens and my ducks.
See if you can find anyone in your area who sells X-Cel feeds.

This is what I mixed for my birds and seemed to work great, I was told this by a good friend of mine who has been raising birds for many many many years.

60% oats, 20% Barley and 20% Wheat. The wheat will add the fat producing calories plus has Wheat germ which does help fertility in Waterfowl. Don't use the corn. It's not needed in a waterfowl diet. The birds are healthier with out it. Corn produces to much internal yellow fat in Waterfowl.

Depending on the quality of the grains that your getting. Your protein could range from 12% to 15%. If you add the Alfalfa meal in, it would raise it a point or so. In 1000 lbs. of feed you'll need 100 pounds of alfalfa meal. For Calls you should have a protein level of 23% to 27% for the breeding season. That's where the animal proteins come in. The meat and bone and fish meal are all extremely high protein sources that are very available to waterfowl. The feedmill will be able to tell you how much to add to get the protein level your shooting for. Yes, this feed can be fed to your chickens but cut the protein down to 18% to 20%. Large fowl less Bantam chickens higher level. Also ask about a 1 to 1 mineral. This helps balance the ration out.


I am having trouble finding the fish meal and the 1 to 1 mineral...

Edit to add when feeding whole grains make sure to have free choice grit to help the birds process it in there systems

 

[Stephen in SoKY]

My usual mix is:

325 lbs ground corn
185 lbs soybean meal
20 lbs Akey Layer 75 (Vitamin/mineral concentrate)

I have this custom ground/mixed monthly & feed to all ages. Layers obviously get oyster shell free choice. Currently paying $16.25/100 lbs.

 

[tom bass]

Can you use 3 grain scratch and just add to it to bring up the protien ?

 

[Folly's place]

Bagged feed will have a 'mill date' on the bag, and it's necessary to check every bag, so the feed will be used up by the time it's no older than about six weeks. I'm not interested in home made feeds; to do it right is expensive and difficult in small batches.
Mary