Enhanced Protein Feed - Winter?

[Shadrach]

I would prefer to avoid a competition that I would probably lose. Best to seek advice from a wide range and do what "makes sense" and is within my context/ability. Please note my last reply to shadrach. Free range makes perfect sense to me.

My caution is due to the abundance of predators in my area (very rural with few permanent residents). I do have a neighbour who opens their coop door through the summer, I intend to ask their experience with free range and bird loss as a result.

I would also endorse the point centrarchid makes and say free ranging may not be your best option. I lose chickens to predators every year. For some this may not be acceptable.
A lot will depend on what you want your chickens for and the type of predators you have.

 

[Folly's place]

C, you also have Delawares, right? Are they part of your totally free range group?
I also don't have dogs as flock protectors out there, like you have. Our property isn't conducive to having 'free range' dogs because of it's layout.
Mary

 

[centrarchid]

C, you also have Delawares, right? Are they part of your totally free range group?
I also don't have dogs as flock protectors out there, like you have. Our property isn't conducive to having 'free range' dogs because of it's layout.
Mary

American Dominique's. About a dozen or so are free-range kept. Contrary to what is reported for American Dominique's, they are not very good at foraging or at least they will largely stop if feed is readily available. Not as bad as Cornish X, but still not what I understood in the beginning. If games present in same flock, the Dominique's get out there much better.

 

[GC-Raptor]

I suggest that at least part of the reason that your summer feed drops by half is they are getting better, more natural feed from your beautiful runs.

I too wish I had GC's pens!

No that's not their runs. They are out for their hour of free range time. These are their runs.

Sorry bout the confusion. GC

 

[Folly's place]

My mind is mush, and I didn't go back to the start of your thread, sorry.
Same first letter of the alphabet, anyway...
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

These are the ingredient lists for the two feeds I am using. I need to do some research about amino acids as mentioned above but guessing they are contained with either?

 

[CatWhisperer]

That seems really suspicious that they don’t put the ingredient list on the label. Cow hooves are protein, doesn’t mean it’s digestible or good for chickens. I worry companies that market their food like that may not be producing what’s best or are changing ingredients by the batch to whatever is cheaper at the time.

 

[Ted Brown]

That seems really suspicious that they don’t put the ingredient list on the label...

The pictures in my last post above were labels that had been sown to the feed bags that I bought, they give an ingredient list so I am confused about your comment?

If you are referring to my comment about "amino acids" I am guessing that these are not "ingredients" per se rather are derived from the ingredients listed but need to do some research to confirm that guess.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

The pictures in my last post above were labels that had been sown to the feed bags that I bought, they give an ingredient list so I am confused about your comment?

If you are referring to my comment about "amino acids" I am guessing that these are not "ingredients" per se rather are derived from the ingredients listed but need to do some research to confirm that guess.

The tags do not list the ingredients, that is a shady move in my opinion.

 

[Ted Brown]

@CatWhisperer @Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay

My apologies, I now understand what you mean. Both tags state that an "Ingredient List" is available on request, I will ask for that information.

Both of the sources that I buy from are "local" (ie not a Purina or other national organization) to my area, have several outlets in multiple town/cities and have been in business for many decades, in one case for more than 100 years. Nothing "shady" about them. Both manufacturer feeds at their main location. I prefer to support local businesses when I can.