Dumor chick starter

[NickyPick]

I don't think I'll be getting Dumor again. I used Purina last year and had no issues. I started this years batch with Purina, then grabbed a bag of the cheaper Dumor feed to finish their brooding. Big mistake. Their poo stinks so bad it's like something has died! I just don't get it. Dumor is MADE by Purina - why would it have such a different effect on the peeps???

 

[BlazeJester]

My chicks stank to high heaven on Dumor also. Formulations differ and they use different filler material, though of course there's no telling what that is. It's a lower cost product, which follows that it would also be made from ever so slightly lower grade materials (the yuckier parts of "meat byproducts" or ones with more plastic/styrofoam, bulkier and less nutritious ingredients, etc).

Purina is too expensive so I've taken to hitting up the local feed mill for Tucker Mills and I just picked up a bag of Home Grown as well. Put out feelers for local feed stores or other non-TSC options.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There was a time when DuMor was my "go to" because Purina was heading north on the cash register. Frankly, they are both far too high priced and the performance is nothing extraordinary. Not bad, not good, just blah. I also didn't like the push to vegetarian formulas, which I believe to be contra indicated for a bird's well being. I've been buying at a local Hubbard Feed mill for half. Yikes.

I have also purchased a localized, bagged feed company called Armada, which is a fine product, but is only affordable when Family Farm and Home puts it on sale, as they are again this week.

 

[NickyPick]

I would LOVE to find another brand and yes, preferably one that's not vegetarian. I haven't had any luck with that. I think chickens are still kinda new to the area, so there's just not much selection other than the big brands (purina/nutrena). There's plenty of local mill selections for horse feed, so maybe in time, we'll get more of a selection for chicken feed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I would LOVE to find another brand and yes, preferably one that's not vegetarian. I haven't had any luck with that. I think chickens are still kinda new to the area, so there's just not much selection other than the big brands (purina/nutrena). There's plenty of local mill selections for horse feed, so maybe in time, we'll get more of a selection for chicken feed.

http://www.livengoodfeeds.com/indexhome.php

Have you tried here? They list poultry on the website. Worth a try. Cypress, TX.

 

[LaynaDon95]

I am using Dumor right now and I don't find they stink really at all. I've never used anything else, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but I can't smell them until I'm leaning into their brooder.

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Dumor is distributed by Cargill, not Purina. See the FDA aflatoxin recall information.

 

[Pharmacy Chick]

I originally had the MannaPro medicated chick starter and it was being ignored in the chick feeder. I chalked it up to shipping stress, but by day 2, the chicks were still barely touching it. On day 3, I picked up the Farmer's Helper Ultra Kibble for Chicks. You'd have thought I put crack in that feeder...they mobbed it. It's day 7 now and the babies greet every feeding with singing. Sounds like a cage of canaries in there instead of chickens! And it does what it says on the package...makes their droppings a little more solid and less smelly. I still clean and replace all bedding in the brooder every other day; it's just not as nasty a job as it could be. So even though I'm brand new to chickens, I've gotta say I'm pleased with the Ultra Kibble stuff. Anyone else using it?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Dumor is distributed by Cargill, not Purina. See the FDA aflatoxin recall information.

It appears to depend on the region who TSC contracts for their house brand feed. Cargill, as best I can understand it, is only the distributor in the south central area. For much of the US, Purina has a plant in Pennsylvania that produces the bulk of DuMor feeds.

Purina is said to include an agent that reduces the odor of the excrement, but this agent isn't likely included in the DuMor. FWIW and that isn't much.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I originally had the MannaPro medicated chick starter and it was being ignored in the chick feeder. I chalked it up to shipping stress, but by day 2, the chicks were still barely touching it. On day 3, I picked up the Farmer's Helper Ultra Kibble for Chicks. You'd have thought I put crack in that feeder...they mobbed it. It's day 7 now and the babies greet every feeding with singing. Sounds like a cage of canaries in there instead of chickens! And it does what it says on the package...makes their droppings a little more solid and less smelly. I still clean and replace all bedding in the brooder every other day; it's just not as nasty a job as it could be. So even though I'm brand new to chickens, I've gotta say I'm pleased with the Ultra Kibble stuff. Anyone else using it?

I wasnt sure how balanced it was (have a large breed puppy and Giant chicks- Jerseys- so I know to regulate growth for large breeds)-- was worried that the Ultra Kibble was too "hot"- high in protein (too fast meat development at the expense of the skeletal structure...) -- I sprinkle it onto my regular feed (Purina starter) and that works for me.. My 12 day olds are just getting that-- took them out today for a couple of hours on the grass they went crazy pecking and scratching .. My 6 week olds get this mix, grit, and lots of treats -- corn on the cob, scraps , bugs and they are out in the coop/ run as well... I dont think I use enough to make the droppings so solid (the treats can make their poop runny)- with the birds outside I only have to clean out the coop weekly and I sprinkle fresh hay and DE into the run to cover over the poop. The babies' Brooder gets cleaned out every few days (its really big 4 ft x4 ft cardboard run attached to to a wire dog crate that has the lamp attached-- I tend to freshen it up daily with clean straw...) and I am hoping to get them out daily and that should help with having to clean out the Brooder so much....