Do I Really Need Expensive, Organic, Non-GMO Feed?

[ChickenLeg]

That's funny, my buddy keeps nagging me to come visit him in Tennessee lol...'I'll find you a job buddy'.

Ive lived in west, middle, and east tenneessee. All three parts have a lot of differences in geography but still lots of hospitality and easy going life in small towns. Ive lived in larger cities here too, they are nice but nothing beats smaller town Tennessee. I hope you find your way here someday!

 

[Compost King]

Ive lived in west, middle, and east tenneessee. All three parts have a lot of differences in geography but still lots of hospitality and easy going life in small towns. Ive lived in larger cities here too, they are nice but nothing beats smaller town Tennessee. I hope you find your way here someday!

I spent a little time in East Tennessee and its one of the better places I have spent time in. East Tennessee, East Kentucky and West Virginia are places I have been looking the hardest at for my next move. Currently West Virginia is winning in that battle. The Entire state is in Appalachia which is my favorite region in the world.

 

[ChickenLeg]

I spent a little time in East Tennessee and its one of the better places I have spent time in. East Tennessee, East Kentucky and West Virginia are places I have been looking the hardest at for my next move. Currently West Virginia is winning in that battle. The Entire state is in Appalachia which is my favorite region in the world.

Im currently in Knoxville TN, moving back full time to Jackson TN in 2 weeks after my job ends. East TN has some nice areas for mountain living. I grew up in West TN so IM kindof partial to that area, the entire state has great music throughout and most places are filled with friendly people. I havent been to WV or East Kentucky (only West Kentucky) but if either is as nice as TN then Im sure you'll love it! Hope you make the move. I see youre in NC, do you travel to Asheville much? I have friends in Charlotte NC

EDIT** Ive been to middle kentucky, its nice their as well!

 

[Compost King]

I rarely go to Asheville or anywhere due to the chickens. I like the Boone area a little better but when I was younger Asheville was more fun. I am halfway between Charlotte and Winston Salem and wish I lived up above the Blue Ridge. The Johnson City area is probably my favorite part of Tennessee, not that I like the city itself its the area around it I like. I have only passed through Knoxville but I really liked the little I saw of it.

 

[Alexandra33]

There truly isn't necessarily a burning NEED to feed your birds top-dollar diet. We've provided our flock with organic, non-GMO crumbles/pellets, with no obvious benefit.

However, I, certainly have a problem with any feed that isn't non-GMO. All those nasty pesticides entering the birds, whose eggs we consume? No thank you!

It's personal preference, honestly.

~Alex

 

[123RedBeard]

My companies headquarters are in Mountain City, TN ... I've been there quite a few times and really like the area ... seriously thinking of moving up in that area ... I was there last week!

 

[Compost King]

My companies headquarters are in Mountain City, TN ... I've been there quite a few times and really like the area ... seriously thinking of moving up in that area ... I was there last week!

Although I have not been to Mountain City I pass by the road that heads to it when I drive to Johnson City and that is the best area of Tennessee I have seen. Its in the middle of a National Forest and in a real secluded area. I get the feeling its just a great place to be.

 

[aart]

A lot of feed is manufactured in the same manner that I and my department use to use to manufacture Green Ball Bearings. I would sent a driver down to the BCA Bower Ball Bearings warehouse and they picked up a 66 Pontiac Catalina Station Wagon Full of BCA Alternator Bearings. Once back at my warehouse the workers in my department went to unboxing the BCA bearings and re-boxing them in boxes that said "Green Ball Bearings" then hand labeling the boxes (ironically) in ball point pen with the corresponding Green Ball Bearing Part Numbers. Presto changeo; Green Ball Bearings.

I would like to hear from the people who feed non-GMO feed and see a copy of the lab report that came back after you sent off a sample of your non-GMO feed off to have it analyzed by an independent lab.

well you have about a 100% chance of it not being organic if you buy conventional.
Much better chance of it being organic if you buy organic.

Still a crap shoot...same with anything labeled non-gmo.

 

[Acre4Me]

There
truly isn't necessarily a burning NEED to feed your birds top-dollar diet. We provided our flock with organic, non-GMO (now they get simply non-GMO) crumbles/pellets for approximately a year, with no obvious benefit.

However, I, certainly have a problem with any feed that isn't non-GMO. All those nasty pesticides entering the birds, whose eggs we consume? No thank you!

It's personal preference, honestly.

~Alex

GMO means “genetically modified organism”. This does not mean there will be pesticides, so pesticides and GMO are not synonymous.

However, some reasons for genetic modification in plants has to do with pests and pesticides - where a GMO plant can withstand the next locust plague (ok, maybe not that dramatic) or is no longer susceptible to a certain rust or other infection...and/or can tolerate exposure to certain pesticides or herbicides. Of course other reasons for GMO are yield related. Now, a quicker growing plant-faster to market, or more pods to the soybeans with more beans per pod, per plant. Now that plant tolerates wet or dry conditions better and can be grown in a larger geographic boundary.

Not expressing an opinion one way or the other on GMO, but if you are going to have an opinion you should understand the finer points of that opinion.

 

[Alexandra33]

GMO means “genetically modified organism”. This does not mean there will be pesticides, so pesticides and GMO are not synonymous.

However, some reasons for genetic modification in plants has to do with pests and pesticides - where a GMO plant can withstand the next locust plague (ok, maybe not that dramatic) or is no longer susceptible to a certain rust or other infection...and/or can tolerate exposure to certain pesticides or herbicides. Of course other reasons for GMO are yield related. Now, a quicker growing plant-faster to market, or more pods to the soybeans with more beans per pod, per plant. Now that plant tolerates wet or dry conditions better and can be grown in a larger geographic boundary.

Not expressing an opinion one way or the other on GMO, but if you are going to have an opinion you should understand the finer points of that opinion.

My apologies, the original post wasn't worded well. I'm rather brain-dead today. I comprehend the definition of GMOs, as well as the fact they have little to do with pesticides. "Non-organic" is a much better fit....which we currently are unable to provide, since money's tight.

~Alex