Feed comparisons

[crooked stripe]

Every feed store in my area sells a different name brand feed. Is there realy a big diffenence in all these feeds? Every feed bag states theirs is the best so who do you believe? John

 

[Cats Critters]

If feed Drumor, we tried Agway's because it was cheaper but it was way to dusty and had an off smell.

 

[crooked stripe]

Thanks for the reply. The main reason I was asking I can buy Pen Pal layer pellets for $11 per 50 lbs bag. Purina Layena (sp) pellets is costing $14 per bag. I read the labels and both are pretty much the same. Both feed stores are basically the same as far as location, inventory and clientele. There must be a reason for such a price difference.

 

[cmom]

I feed mine Nutrena layer feed. That is all that is available here besides TSC's Dumor.

 

[keljonma]

What are you looking at - the protein and mineral levels or the actual ingredients?

I don't know about the rest, but Purina doesn't use animal or animal by-products for their protein. We feed Flock Raiser, oats, BOSS, oyster shell and grit.

 

[digitS']

The gov'ment only sets minimum nutritional standards, as I understand it. Maybe there are some controls on ingredients in chicken feed but I hardly think so.

You can find some information published on the internet where state agencies have tested feed for what is claimed on the labels. Some are honest but some have failed these tests.
The consequences . . .

.

I bet that the feeds not only differ by company but also differ by area. The bag and logo may remain the same, the standards remain the same, but different local mills are using different ingredients in the formulas. So, the Purina I buy may not be quite the Purina you buy.

This doesn't help you much in making a decision. Probably, very few of us BYC'ers have enuf chickens to do much comparison over time with different products. We aren't raising our birds under contract for the food industry, either.

I just try to use feed from a company that I feel has some integrity . . .

Steve

 

[keljonma]

I bet that the feeds not only differ by company but also differ by area. The bag and logo may remain the same, the standards remain the same, but different local mills are using different ingredients in the formulas. So, the Purina I buy may not be quite the Purina you buy.

Okay, let me rephrase that. The Purina Sun Fresh products do not contain animal or animal by-products for their protein.​

 

[digitS']

I wasn't questioning what you had to say, Keljonma.

Purina should be expected to live up to what claims it makes. There's a Purina mill not far from where I live and probably much of the grain it uses, comes from nearby. That feed is probably sold locally also.

That would mean that the Purina products in other parts of the country are not coming from this fairly small outfit.

I've got a feed tag in front of me. Purina isn't telling us any more than "grain products, plant protein products, processed grain by-products" and then a list of minerals and vitamins. My guess is that those grain products & by-products and plant proteins could be darn near anything depending on many factors.

That might be okay . . . their animal nutritionists can formulate a feed using different ingredients. But, I really wonder if someone using a product with this tag and logo could expect exactly the same performance in South Carolina or Texas or Minnesota. I really suspect, not.

I hope they are doing right by us.

Steve

 

[bigzio]

Chickens really prefer fresh feed. I would think in Ohio you have alot of feed mills that grind and mix fresh layer feed at quite a savings vs pre bagged feed in the stores.

It is usually higher in protein, alot fresher, and alot less costly. Farmers visit these places for good reason.

~ bigzio

 

[keljonma]

digitS' - I didn't think you were. But I wanted to make sure that what I wrote was clear to others.

digitS' wrote: I hope they are doing right by us.

Me too!


bigzio - the nearest mill to me is over 1.5 hours from us. I'm not sure the savings would amount to a 3 hour round trip when I need feed.



edited for typo​