Quote:
You might enjoy this website:
http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/poultry/bba01s20.html
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/003/X6930E/X6930E05.htm
another good one - note the caution on oats having lots of hulls
*Don't forget to make sure they are free ranging or have grit supplied size #3 (here is the correct size according to my grit bag):
http://cherrystonegrit.com/grit_sizes.html
I got that you are right at 16% not including the yeast and kelp (completely ignoring them). Nice protein percentage!
16% x 6 parts BOSS
16% x 6 Oats
14% x 6 red wheat
17% x 3 alfalfa
7% x 3 corn
20% x 1 flax
25% x 1 split peas
30% x 1 lentils
19% x 1 sesame seeds
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448 divided by 28 parts = 16% protein
Now I have some suggestions:
1. I recommend you switch to pounds instead of parts. I used to use parts, too.
If you will notice, if you plug in the food to the website on my BYC page (USDA), it give you the amount of protein per 100 grams. But you can also select cups.
I base mine on the grams result of searching their pages. Hence my recipe (see my BYC page) is in lbs. I cannot take credit for this wonderful insight- a fellow BYC'er said it (I think Chris09).
2. Winco sells sesame seeds for around $2 per lb. At least in my area. Peanuts, unsalted with 25 % protein, at $1.32 per lb is available at Winco in the bulk section. They LOVE peanuts, and you don't have to crush them (I'm assuming these are not chicks under 6 weeks). They peck at them and break them up. I used to crush them.
3. Millet is a good option. It is $16 per 50 lb in my area, 11% protein.
4. Lentils might need to be sprouted first- you might want to look into this to decide for yourself. Peas are low in anti-nutrients (not zero though), but I BELIEVE lentils are higher.
5. If you get "rolled oats" at the feed store, the hull is still attached, and the protein level goes down to 10% but it is really cheap ($10 per 50 lb or so). It will be cheaper than human oats, but the protein level will be less.
6. Rolled barley from the feed store is very cheap ($12 per 50 lb in my area).
7. In my area, a bag of red feed wheat is $18 per 50lb, while white feed wheat is $15 per 50lb. Red wheat is grown in Montana, and white wheat is grown
here in the Pac.NW.
8. If you can get a good price on birdseed, that is millet.
9. Split peas at winco are about 46 cents a pound in my area.
10. Flax seeds at winco are about 69 cents a pound in my area.
11. You can buy organic chick starter and mix in if you want to increase protein for younger pullets or throw them some more seeds. Less than 6 weeks I feed organic chick starter to. I switch them to my mix at 6 weeks.
12. Another option for you is wheat bran. It has 17% protein and isn't that expensive at the feed store. Nice, huh? But it is dusty and fine. Great for mealworm colonies I have heard.
Sorry if I talked too much here!
Everyone has their own thoughts on feed, and keep in mind that I just do what seems right to me, and all that I have said is just my opinion- I am no expert.
