Dog food for chickens.

[Lorli]

Thanks. This is grain-free dog food (Dogswell Nutrisca), and unfortunately it is opened. Otherwise I would donate to a shelter but I'm pretty sure the local shelters wouldn't take anything opened.

 

[theoldchick]

I'd be cautious about the sources of grain the the dog food. Another member on here commented that the grains in dog/cat food are grown to pull any residual insecticides out of cotton plantation land (when it gets to the point where cotton will no longer grow because the soil is so poisoned). Pet grade food doesn't have to be regulated like any human food chain food does.

This is very true as some dog food manufactures have been caught putting 'protein enhancers' in their product that have killed dogs. Not to mention the recent pentothal scare in certain dog foods. Unfortunately, dog food companies are not the only ones who do this.

 

[Folly's place]

Your local humane society, or a dog rescue group, would be happy to have it. Make some phone calls.
Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'd be cautious about the sources of grain the the dog food. Another member on here commented that the grains in dog/cat food are grown to pull any residual insecticides out of cotton plantation land (when it gets to the point where cotton will no longer grow because the soil is so poisoned). Pet grade food doesn't have to be regulated like any human food chain food does.

I live in what use to be the center of cotton planting in North America but the reason it is now planted to soy and corn is because a past politician killed cotton farming in the United States in favor of Brazilian cotton planters. Cotton still grows very well here think you, especially since GMO cotton has all but replaced all pesticides previously used in the production of cotton from 14 applications of poisons per year to zero applications per year. I'll bow to a Kiwi's knowledge of the wool industry by not to the production of short staple cotton.

I am unsure who miss-informed you about cotton farming in North America but take every thing they tell you in the future with an ocean, not just a pinch of salt.

BTW, the last cotton crop of any size produced here netted over two bales per acre. An all time high.

 

[JaeG]

I live in what use to be the center of cotton planting in North America but the reason it is now planted to soy and corn is because a past politician killed cotton farming in the United States in favor of Brazilian cotton planters. Cotton still grows very well here think you, especially since GMO cotton has all but replaced all pesticides previously used in the production of cotton from 14 applications of poisons per year to zero applications per year. I'll bow to a Kiwi's knowledge of the wool industry by not to the production of short staple cotton.

I am unsure who miss-informed you about cotton farming in North America but take every thing they tell you in the future with an ocean, not just a pinch of salt.

BTW, the last cotton crop of any size produced here netted over two bales per acre. An all time high.

I very much doubt it would be happening in your lovely country and I apologise if that was implied, but other countries aren't so good at keeping tabs on what growers are doing. China is the worlds largest producer of cotton and I doubt their standards are as high as yours, and it would appear that many grains for the petfood industry are sourced from them.

This from an article from the company we buy raw food from for our pets, not about cotton, but about another rather disturbing reason pet food had to be recalled:

http://www.rawessentials.co.nz/junk-pet-food
Pet- food recall
Whilst we discuss the pet food scam, we should keep in mind that two giant chocolate manufacturers, Mars and Nestlé, jostle for supremacy of the pet-food industry. Mars was ahead with brands such as PAL, Pedigree, Waltham and Whiskas. Nestlé spent a reputed $10 billion buying Purina and pulled ahead, but Mars regained the lead when they acquired the French company Royal Canin. Both Mars and Nestlé span the globe with vast expansion plans into India and China — it’s the unacceptable face of Western capitalism, globalisation and cruelty to animals combined.31, 32

In the second tier other large conglomerates — Colgate-Palmolive, Procter & Gamble, Heinz and Del Monte — compete for consumer loyalty. The companies may seek to differentiate themselves and their products; in fact we know there’s a sameness about them all as was amply demonstrated in the recent Menu Foods recall. Dogs and cats in North America were ill and dying of acute renal failure traced to the output of one contract pet-food manufacturer, Menu Foods.33 At first it was thought rat poison had contaminated batches of ‘food’ but as the story unfolded it turned out melamine, a chemical used for manufacturing plastic countertops, glue and fertiliser, had been added into Chinese shipments of wheat gluten affecting almost 100 different brands.34

Apparently, Chinese manufacturers of wheat gluten boosted the nitrogen and thus the protein reading of their gluten by adding in nitrogen rich melamine. It’s obviously wrong to adulterate foodstuffs with poisons for profit, but that differs little from the industry practice of ‘Least Cost Formulation’ — with little or no regard for the health of the consumers.35 First derive a formula for chemical ingredients that meets the industry’s artificial standard; scout around for the cheapest (mostly grain derived) chemicals; buy in bulk for maximum economy of scale; mix and cook in a vat. Seal the resultant sludge in McCans or dehydrate and extrude into McKibble. Affix brand name labels telling pet owners these are superior, unique and healthful products — the very best available.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Melamine is a hard plastic that I think is used for furniture and certian types of dishes.
I think that you ment to type the noun, Melatonin which is a hormone that controls circadian rhythms. I even believe that in the USofA Melatonin is available over the counter. I am respectfully awaiting your explanation about the connection between either the hard plastic Melemine or the hormone Melatonin and the pet food industry.

Perhaps the company that you purchase your raw pet food from would care to be forthcoming with a link between Melemine, Melatonin, and Puss & Boots cat food.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I am sure they meant melamine. China had a scandal a few years ago where they found it in baby formula. It ups the protein. Never buy dog food that has ingredients from China.

 

[Folly's place]

It was a huge scandal! Some pet foods were involved, having an ingredient from China, and later, infant formula there was also poisoned. There were executions, and rightly so.
Fortunately, none of that infant formula landed here, and pet food manufacturers are generally more careful now.
Our current pet food issues are more about bacterial contamination, especially in the raw food diet craze.
Mary

 

[JaeG]

It was a huge scandal! Some pet foods were involved, having an ingredient from China, and later, infant formula there was also poisoned. There were executions, and rightly so.
Fortunately, non of that infant formula landed here, and pet food manufacturers are generally more careful now.
Our current pet food issues are more about bacterial contamination, especially in the raw food diet craze.
Mary

I'd forgotten about the infant formula scandal - scary stuff indeed!

We would only buy from the raw food pet company that we do as it was set up by a vet, all food can be traced back to its source, and all food is frozen for at least 10 days prior to sale to ensure there is minimal risk of salmonella. We also have to watch cadmium levels in NZ's soils due to historical fertiliser use (cadmium levels in products used are now limited) so offal for human consumption cannot be used from animals older than 30 months old, as it accumulates in the internal organs, especially in the kidneys. This company does not use animals older than 30 months old in any of their products because of the risk of this heavy metal building up over time in our pets internal organs. Sadly, the same is not so for processed pet foods made here as they will use kidneys and other organs from older livestock.

Raw food must be treated like any other meat and care needs to be taken with hygiene and food storage. But in almost 6 years we've never had a problem feeding our dog raw food and her teeth, skin, weight and health are fabulous.

 

[Beer can]

I was sent an extra bag of dog food from a mail order pet food service, and they don't want it back. Is it okay to give it to the chickens, mixed with their layer pellets and scratch food? Someone told me that it will make them aggressive and they might start eating their eggs, too.

Does anyone know if that is true?

No it will not make them aggressive or eat eggs, that's silly.
I mix dog food into the chickens feed any time I'm running short of feed. No probs.
Yes it is higher in protein, but also high in fat, so not something I'd make a habit of.