Feed Nerds! Opinions wanted re: whole grain feed recipe

[chickmom22]

Right now my chickens are getting a mix of homemade and commercial to make sure they get everything they need while they're still growing, but I plan on phasing it out after my current bag. To be honest they don't seem to eat much of the commercial anyway and I think most of it ends up thrown onto the ground or left in their bowl, so I take that as a sign they're doing okay with just the homemade. I based my recipe off this one, but changed it slightly to fit what's available in my area because shipping from Azure Standard would be too expensive for me. I also cut back on the sesame because I noticed my guys were leaving a lot of those behind. I've bracketed anything that would need replacing (I noticed you had oats in your recipe, so I'm assuming you're okay with oats and left that in).

4 cups oats
4 cups black oil sunflower seeds
6 cups (wheat)
2 cups buckwheat
2 cups (barley)
2 cups millet
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup brewer's yeast
1/4 cup kelp granules
Free-choice oyster/eggshell and grit

I have been using a similar recipe for homemade chicken feed for my hens, (using rye berries and triticale instead of buckwheat and barley, and adding lentils), but when one of my chickens died today, I was told by the Dr. who did the necropsy that she died of Mariks disease, had too much internal fat, and was low on calcium and Vit. D. They get oyster shell free choice and are on grass all day, scratching for bugs in my flower beds. I may be putting out too much feed and they pick what they like and don't eat it all, thus getting an unbalanced diet. Has anyone done an analysis on this particular recipe? How would I add vitamins and calcium to the recipe?

 

[LindaB220]

I have been using a similar recipe for homemade chicken feed for my hens, (using rye berries and triticale instead of buckwheat and barley, and adding lentils), but when one of my chickens died today, I was told by the Dr. who did the necropsy that she died of Mariks disease, had too much internal fat, and was low on calcium and Vit. D. They get oyster shell free choice and are on grass all day, scratching for bugs in my flower beds. I may be putting out too much feed and they pick what they like and don't eat it all, thus getting an unbalanced diet. Has anyone done an analysis on this particular recipe? How would I add vitamins and calcium to the recipe?

Sorry to hear about that. Have you thought about fermenting you feeds? It adds extra Vit D and K and other nutrients. It's late and my memory has gone for the night. Sorry.

 

[bootsNbirds]

Quote: Aw that's terrible. I lost chickens to Mareks in the spring, before I started feeding homemade feed.

Could the deficiencies be results of Mareks disease?? I don't know what could cause internal fat, yet also cause vitamin deficiency...

Are your grains whole? Maybe they aren't digesting the whole grains very well for some reason? You could try cracking or grinding the grains slightly.

 

[Double Kindness]

I absolutely need to do something! I started getting very sick again, vomiting in the morning into the evening b/c of the gluten in the feed. It's at the point now where I either get rid of my flocks or somehow make them gluten-free feed.

I need to thin out my flock tomorrow as it's supposed to be warm. I need to process at least 5 ducks and 15 roosters. Yes. I am over come with roosters. But they were headed to freezer camp anyways.

 

[SchipAlong]

This post was in my inbox today: http://www.gardenbetty.com/2014/11/..._medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=gardenbetty

It has instructions in the post on how to download the spreadsheet. I haven't had a chance to actually test it yet as I don't have Excel on this computer, but it looks really good.

 

[bootsNbirds]

I absolutely need to do something! I started getting very sick again, vomiting in the morning into the evening b/c of the gluten in the feed. It's at the point now where I either get rid of my flocks or somehow make them gluten-free feed.

I need to thin out my flock tomorrow as it's supposed to be warm. I need to process at least 5 ducks and 15 roosters. Yes. I am over come with roosters. But they were headed to freezer camp anyways.

Oh my gosh! That sucks!!

Is there anyone who can help you out by feeding the birds for you, until you find GF feed??
Yeah cut down those numbers... I'm poised to "delete" some roos in the next two days as well. Including my Lavender Orps that all turned out boys :'( What kind of ducks do you have? I've got Mottled Browns (look like small Mallards) and they are a pain in the neck! Can't wait to send them to freezer camp with the turkeys!

 

[bootsNbirds]

This post was in my inbox today: http://www.gardenbetty.com/2014/11/..._medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=gardenbetty

It has instructions in the post on how to download the spreadsheet. I haven't had a chance to actually test it yet as I don't have Excel on this computer, but it looks really good.

That. Is. Awesome. I need that in my life ASAP. Wish I'd seen it earlier, would've saved me hours of calculating.

 

[pdirt]

This post was in my inbox today: http://www.gardenbetty.com/2014/11/..._medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=gardenbetty

It has instructions in the post on how to download the spreadsheet. I haven't had a chance to actually test it yet as I don't have Excel on this computer, but it looks really good.

Check out OpenOffice. It's free and includes a spreadsheet program.

 

[Double Kindness]

I'm omw to the feed store to pick up bulk seeds/grains for my first foray into making gluten-free feed for my flocks of 34 chickens and 3 muscovy ducks.

I'm going with this-

45# proso millet
27# safflower seeds
20# boss
8# flax seeds
15# crimped oats
25# split peas
10# alfalfa pellets
10# cracked corn
3# brewers yeast

Does this seem right? I have finally gotten so sick and not heard back from any feed mill I have contacted. So it's do this or sell my flock. I have 12 roos, the rest are pullets. I will futz with a chick starter mash in the spring.

 

[chickmom22]

Sorry to hear about that.   Have you thought about fermenting you feeds?  It adds extra Vit D and K and other  nutrients.  It's late and my memory has gone for the night.  Sorry.    

thanks for that suggestion. I have started fermenting grains and she loves it. She had to get used to it, but now she eats it all up at one time, about a half cup. She still has dry feed and free range for bugs, grass and weeds.