Feed Options for Hens

[anthonyjames]

So I am trying to make my own mix of feed for my layers. They free range and my plans are the following:

500 lbs Corn
320 lbs Roasted Soybeans
120 lbs Crimped/Rolled Oats
4 Egg Innvations
5lbs Kelp
8 lbs Salt
10 lbs Poultry Pellets (Poultry Pellets are lime chips or calcium carbonate.)

(The Egg innovations is a vitamin premix consisting of

Vitamin A 2,000,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin D3 670,000 IU/lb.
Vitamin E 2,660 IU/lb.
Vitamin K 400IU/lb.

Choline Chloride, Managanese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Diatomoaceous EArth, Vitamin K Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin E Supplement, Organic Soy Oil, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine, Cholecalciferol, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid.)


My questions are the following:

Is the Sodium Selenite in the Egg Innovations all the salt I need or should I omit the extra salt?

For offering other options of food what should I add as side dishes?
Grit?
Sunflower Seed?
Wheat?
Lime or Oyster (calcium)?

I would like to offer them more than just not sure what all I should give them extra if they need it.

Thanks

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I mix my own feed too, and I just offer the salt free choice. They do peck at it, and self-regulate. I use sea salt, no iodine, but I don't know if that is what is recommended. I haven't read anything scientific about this, but I believe animals know how much salt they need.

The kelp I dump on top of the feed once it's in the feeder, because it's so small. I don't bother with vitamins, since mine are in a large garden eating other things. I also place diatomaceous earth in their feeder periodically, maybe once a week, on top of the grains and they eat it. I also sprinkle it all over the shavings.

I offer grit in the run at all times, #3 for the older girls, and #1 for the chicks, #2 for the young pullets. Oyster shell I haven't started yet, since they haven't started laying.

Here is the link to the recipe I got off http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/ChickenFeedRecipe.html
and I have changed it back and forth so much that it isn't the same anymore. I used Pearson's square and Kim's rectangle.

layer:
20 parts corn, cracked
60 parts red wheat
30 parts millet
1 part cracked peanuts unsalted
4 parts sunflower seeds
2 1/2 parts oats (not rolled or quick) from the feed store
8 1/2 parts crushed pumpkin seeds


I am currently using the last bit I mixed up of this one (but I modified it for 17% protein since my girls aren't layers yet):
20 parts corn
10 parts oats
60 parts wheat
10 parts wheat bran (blows away as you sift- I don't think I'll buy again)
30 parts millet
5 parts split peas (they don't like these)
1 part peanuts (these are expensive and I have to crush them)
4 parts sunflower seeds.

I enjoy calculating the protein and trying new foods out for the girls to eat. I am trying to avoid GMO soy. I found this recipe by doing a search for chicken feed recipes. I have found that the girls don't waste as much feed by using whole grains, IMO.

Frankly, I think I will be getting away from the pumpkin seeds, split peas, and peanuts. They just enjoy the sunflower seeds so much more. Maybe I'll rotate them.

 

[anthonyjames]

Well here is what I can get at my feed mill. They will mix, roll and bag what ever I ask if I purchase at least 500 lbs which I do. So any help would be great. 20 of my hens have been laying year already and 60 of them will begin laying in August sometime.


Black Oil Sunflower Seeds. (Whole)
Stripe Sunflower Seeds (Whole)
Flax Seeds
Red Millet
White Millet
Wheat (Not sure which type)
Peanut Pickouts
Oats

I already have Kelp and DE.

I just got my birds off of soymeal and have them on roasted soybeans. But I would like to get them off of soy in general. Plus, I removed all meat meal. I feel they get all the meat they need from either us with leftovers or from their bugs.