Feed Recipe - Not Sure How Much Of What...

[WI FarmChick]

I do not know.....Try calling your mill and ask what the protein content of their fish meal is.
They should tell you.

 

[Reyvaughn]

If I reduce the fish meal to 5% and add 4% linseed, that makes the mix 20-20.8% protein. Now, I still don't have vitamins and minerals added in. I am sure there will be more protein in whatever I use. I may have to reduce the fish meal even more.

Do I have to have animal protein in my birds' diet? I am pretty sure I can reach 18-20% without it. Between the alfalfa, soybeans and flax/linseed, they all have a lot of protein.

 

[WI FarmChick]

Do I have to have animal protein in my birds' diet? I am pretty sure I can reach 18-20% without it. Between the alfalfa, soybeans and flax/linseed, they all have a lot of protein.

I personally feel it should be in there. But right now I don't add it in with my "feed mix". I am slowly building my feed supply. I do have mine out free ranging so they are getting some in the bugs they eat. I will be getting something before winter. So in the mean time I am supplementing with other things. I

I try to keep the flax seeds to a minimum because I too have heard conflicting info.

IMO....I would use more soy beans and then less alfalfa then minimum flax seed. (just my opinion)

Also everything depends on...what your ingredients cost. but I do try to keep the "good" stuff" at higher percentages. I don't want to make my feed to be that of Store bought, with less concern for my chickens health and more concern for the price of ingredients.

 

[Reyvaughn]

Alright, I got it down to 19.22% protein. I am happy with that.

200 corn
150 soybeans (whole roasted)
170 oats
130 wheat
100 grit
100 alfalfa
50 sunflowers
40 fish meal
60 vitamins/minerals/trace calcium
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1000 pounds

Now, I feel like I am feeding to much oats, though. I am sure I'll have to tweak it more once I figure out what for vitamins and minerals I am going to use. I may have to up the oats more...

 

[WI FarmChick]

looking good.

 

[micareli]

NO IT WASNT WRONG THREAD... IT WAS TONGUE IN CHEEK.... TO SAY THAT A 22 CAL PELLET RIFLE WILL SCARE OFF THE DOGS TO LEAVE THE CHICKS ALONE..... IF DOGS or other nusiance come onto my property bother my checks i will shoo them, then shoot them.... pellet guns generally do not harm but shoos them away and allows me to free range my birds without the nusiance

 

[micareli]

since I am a total newbie.... have a question on cost benefit analysis of "homemade " feed, if the feed is at 1000 pounds, according to our feed mill price schedule, I would out be close to 400.00, or 20.00 per 50/lbs, my commercial supplier is approx 280...... is the homemade worth the extra money.... just wondering

 

[Reyvaughn]

I am paying $9.50 a 50# from the mill now. This mix is $9.94 (just under $200 a half ton) without the vitamins and minerals. With the vitamins and the cost of the mill to mix and bag, the total should be less than $15 a 50#.

Benefits:
1) More diverse & better nutrition for healthier eggs (eating and breeding) and growing birds.
2) Feed won't be as dusty (I discovered the mill's crumbles make about 75% of my chicken dust).
3) Ease of feeding - no more multiple feeds for different birds.
4) No by-products.

Now, some people on here feed their birds mixes that cost $20+/- per 50#. They swear that these homemade mixes make the birds feel fuller and they last longer with less waste. I dunno, I can't say for sure. I just know I am going to mix a ton and see for myself. If I can feed all my birds on less than 150lbs a week, it's automatically a savings for me.

Edited ton to half ton!

 

[madamwlf]

I think you may have your calculations wrong. A ton is 2,000 pounds or 40 bags at 50 pounds each which is $380 a ton. Just don't want you getting a shock at the mill when you ask for a ton and see the price.

I am paying $9.50 a 50# from the mill now. This mix is $9.94 (just under $200 a ton) without the vitamins and minerals. With the vitamins and the cost of the mill to mix and bag, the total should be less than $15 a 50#.

Benefits:
1) More diverse & better nutrition for healthier eggs (eating and breeding) and growing birds.
2) Feed won't be as dusty (I discovered the mill's crumbles make about 75% of my chicken dust).
3) Ease of feeding - no more multiple feeds for different birds.
4) No by-products.

Now, some people on here feed their birds mixes that cost $20+/- per 50#. They swear that these homemade mixes make the birds feel fuller and they last longer with less waste. I dunno, I can't say for sure. I just know I am going to mix a ton and see for myself. If I can feed all my birds on less than 150lbs a week, it's automatically a savings for me.

 

[WI FarmChick]

since I am a total newbie.... have a question on cost benefit analysis of "homemade " feed, if the feed is at 1000 pounds, according to our feed mill price schedule, I would out be close to 400.00, or 20.00 per 50/lbs, my commercial supplier is approx 280...... is the homemade worth the extra money.... just wondering

IMO.....Yes.......I feed the whole grains as once the grain is ground then it will start to loose it's nutrients and the oils start to go rancid.

i feel I am gaining better quality nutrition.

I do not have the ability to store 2000/ton pounds of feed at this point. hopefully soon.

The price of my feed recipe goes down as the protein level goes down as well. But I am with in the range of 3-5$ per 50#bag of TSC store bought feed. If I would travel to my mill to pick up the feed the gas costs at this point would bring the mills feed up to that of the store.

I am able to control what is in my feed recipe. Rather than having corn as the main Ingredient and some undesirable or questionable ingredients in the feed recipe.

This is my first flock i am feeding whole grains to. I feel they are in great shape so far.