Feed mix

[Logar]

I have been researching a lot about feeds and have wanted to try making my own feed. I would probably only have it as 25-50% of the chickens diet and they would still have free choice pellets. I wouldn’t be thinking about trying it if I didn’t free range as they can get plenty of bugs and forage for stuff.

So the mix I have been thinking about using is-
26% whole oats
22% whole corn
22% split peas or field peas
22% hard red wheat
8% flax seed
I would also probably mix in some wild bird seed (10 or so pounds added to 50 lbs of mix) which is mostly BOSS and millet but the amount of each I am not sure about.

thoughts on the mix? Should i change any of the percentages around? Add anything?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have been researching a lot about feeds and have wanted to try making my own feed. I would probably only have it as 25-50% of the chickens diet and they would still have free choice pellets. I wouldn’t be thinking about trying it if I didn’t free range as they can get plenty of bugs and forage for stuff.

So the mix I have been thinking about using is-
26% whole oats
22% whole corn
22% split peas or field peas
22% hard red wheat
8% flax seed
I would also probably mix in some wild bird seed (10 or so pounds added to 50 lbs of mix) which is mostly BOSS and millet but the amount of each I am not sure about.

thoughts on the mix? Should i change any of the percentages around? Add anything?

Yes, its got to many anti-nutritive factors in it, its expensive, and it generally lowers the nutritional value of their diet overall by diluting whatever they are getting from their pellet.

Its moderately high fiber, high energy, low Methionine, low Tryptophan adequate lysine, and a hair low on threonine. You have almost no useful phosphorus, which works in conjunction w/ Calcium - if the ration is wrong, there are health consequences. That's just looking at top line numbers.

on the antinutritive factors, Oats are high in beta glucans and polysaccharides which slow digestion, contribute to sticky fecals, and can block nutrient absorption. High quantity oat feeds usually contain added enzymes to help address those issues. Field peas are high in trypsin inhibitors, which interfere with protein uptake, and can be high in tannins as well - which both taste bad (reducing palatability), and interfere with certain nutrient uptakes themselves. Also moderately high in lectins. Generally, not more than 10% (by weight of course) incluson rates are recommended. Heating and soaking can help with some of those issues as well. Wheat is pretty good - its usual antinutritive concerns don't really become a factor until you hit higher inclusion rates (65%+) though your egg yolks moght be (slightly) paler. Corn is fine at that rate. Linseeds inhibit B6, are low lysine for a seed (not a factor here), and are source of potential toxins when whole and raw, particularly in the presence of moisture - so you don't want to soak these with your peas. They also can encourage the formation of digestion slowing mucilage, not good for a bird.

These are all things one can easily look up. Try Feedtables and Feedipedia.

"Wild bird seed" varies quite a lot in nutrional value - but tends to be glorified scratch. Adding it doesn't make this recipe necessarily better or worse - on would need to know the nutritional value of the wild bird seed - but if its one of the ones with lots of cracked corn, red millet, and sunflower seeds, its liow protein, high fat, high fiber, high tannins, and again, not a useful source of phosphorus.

 

[MichaelDJ]

I have been researching a lot about feeds and have wanted to try making my own feed. I would probably only have it as 25-50% of the chickens diet and they would still have free choice pellets. I wouldn’t be thinking about trying it if I didn’t free range as they can get plenty of bugs and forage for stuff.

So the mix I have been thinking about using is-
26% whole oats
22% whole corn
22% split peas or field peas
22% hard red wheat
8% flax seed
I would also probably mix in some wild bird seed (10 or so pounds added to 50 lbs of mix) which is mostly BOSS and millet but the amount of each I am not sure about.

thoughts on the mix? Should i change any of the percentages around? Add anything?

Black oil sunflower seeds. I also add a bit of flax seeds and barley, all of which are fermented.
After fermenting I add a bit of alfalfa and organic layer pellets.