Do you feed corn?

[PoultryPedia]

Note on corn-on-the-cob:
Be SOOOOOOOO careful to never feed any corn to chickens if you see ANY black mold on it, even if you trim the mold off.
I had 3 chickens die from internal fungal condition after I did the wrong thing & fed some to them. They slowly starved to death from the condition, despite everything I could do. It was horrible.
If anyone ever does experience this problem with their chickens, please email me--I now can give some information that might possibly help in curing.

 

[greathorse]

This is a curiosity as I have no opinion and no bias. Why is soy now considered to be such suspect feed? The natural and organic food industry seems to have taken a 90 degree turn with respect to soy as well. It has gone from a wonder food to a very suspect one. I though when soy was heated it became a very good protein source for livestock??

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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That goes for any sort of moldy feed. If you see any mold or fungus whatsoever, throw it out. They produces mycotoxins that are hazardous to your birds. The most common mycotoxins are usually tested for in commercial feeds, but if you don't store it properly it can cause serious problems.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

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Part of it is the widespread use of GMO soy, the other suspect is plant based estrogens in soy that can mess with the human endocrine system. Whether those estrogens carry through into egg, meat, and dairy products, I don't know. Those that are concerned about it are trying to avoid it altogether.

 

[greathorse]

thanks

 

[ivan3]

I know the link to the original paper was given earlier in the thread. I'll post it again, as I'm posting the link to Monsanto's response.

The study: http://www.biolsci.org/v05p0706.pdf

Monsanto: http://www.monsanto.com/pdf/science/seralini.pdf

Also, for the hardcore: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=2114 (read for free online).

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:

Now that is funny!!!

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

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We are running into problems trying to maintain the ME level of the feed without using corn. I have several renditions of the ration but m not happy with the recipes or the nutrient profiles yet.

Jim

What ME are you trying to get to? I'm no expert, but I would assume that you can drop the ME to a certain minimum level and lower the protein level instead of trying to match the energy density of a corn/soy ration, or is that what you are already doing?

I've already dropped it below a level that I am comfortable with for a corn-soy diet.

 

[kathyinmo]

Jim,
Just wondered how you were doing on this. Any progress? Soy free is my goal. I also prefer animal byproducts / fishmeal. I, personally, wouldn't care if there were some cornin the feed, and would opt for organic.

 

[Taylor]

my chickens love corn! in the summer when we raise a garden, we have corn and when we harvest it every couple of weeks we feed them a few corn cobs, they go after it like gold! they love it!!! they also love tomatoes, a very good treat for hot days, good for the blood and heart in them