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

[bairo]

Just found this thread and astounded at the wealth of information. Even for just my 3 hens I love the idea of being able to mix my own feed and know completely what they're getting. Thanks everyone for all of the great, well though out, and factual information.

One question I have is: I am a home brewer and regularly have 12# or more of "spent" barley as a result of the process. This barley is malted (raising enzymatic levels), then cracked, converted (starches to sugars) and rinsed. Efficiency (a term in the brewing process) is around 70% leaving 30% or so of the nutritional value in the kernel. What I'm wondering is: are the negative aspects of barley with regards to poultry digestion negated or minimized by the brewing process or elevated? I'd like to dry my spent grain and add in others to create a balanced feed but I'm not sure what the nutritional value of these leftovers is. I have a friend who is a food scientist looking into this but no answers yet.

Thanks all. GREAT thread.

Yes...your barley would be considered a spent distiller grain and can be added to your feed. If you can get it dry enough (10% or less) your shelf life can be several years. Most negative aspects are negated with the brewing process

 

[bairo]

@ Chris

I wondered if you might be in a mathematical mood to work out the basic profile on this as well as give your opinion. I just told my wife I want a pellet mill for Christmas, but I wont hold my breath.When I told her it was 3, I think she thought I meant 300.... oops

corn 20
field peas 20
flax 5
fish meal 5
oats 20
wheat 20
boss 10

 

[debbyvenus]

This is great! Don't forget to add probiotics which you can get from Fastrack by Conklin. I also add water in the feeder and mix in so it isn't dusty and then they don't waste any of the powder which has many minerals etc. I then sprinkle Sea Kelp (only 1% -2% daily)
I also understand that feeding them whole grains helps eliminate parasites. I use steamed cracked oats for better digestion.
Isn't it fun!

 

[Chris09]

@ Chris

I wondered if you might be in a mathematical mood to work out the basic profile on this as well as give your opinion. I just told my wife I want a pellet mill for Christmas, but I wont hold my breath.When I told her it was 3, I think she thought I meant 300.... oops

corn 20
field peas 20
flax 5
fish meal 5
oats 20
wheat 20
boss 10

Your looking at around 20% protein

Is this mix for Chicks or layers?

Chris

 

[tahola82]

Has anyone ever heard of Malted Barley?? This is the way to go, it has much high vitamin/mineral/ protein/aminos in it and cheaper then oats! I use both a little bit of oats and more malted barley, trace minerals, molasses, that's it! Of course we throw put scratch have oyster shell always available, and we throw occasional stale boxes of cereal and bread, they lay awesome have great eggs and seem happy! but it has to be MALTED BARLEY(not just barley), check it out! I use this same blend for my pigs, cows and horses at different mixes but same ingredients

 

[bairo]

Quote:

field peas 20

flax 5
fish meal 5
oats 20
wheat 20
boss 10

Your looking at around 20% protein

Is this mix for Chicks or layers?

Chris
I need a good mixed age feed and try to just offer oyster shell on the side. I just have not had a chance to work all the #'s yet, but the fat might be pushing it a bit? Not sure if that 10% Boss and 5% flax pushed it too high or not. I want to try the soy free thing...not because of estrogen's, but the purported lack of digestive efficiency on the soy.

PS. I should clarify mixed age. I would use a commercial chick feed through 8 weeks. So I should have said 9 weeks and up inclusive of roosters and layers.

 

[Herb in PA]

I ended up getting seeds from Sustainable Seed Company (www.SustainableSeedCo.com). They have a group of seeds (http://sustainableseedco.com/Poultry-Package.html) for growing your own chicken feed. I'm also growing sunflower seeds for my girls. I plan on just mixing everything together and use it reduce the feed I buy by 50%. Plus I'm growing additional corn so my girls will have a higher corn diet. Currently I cook 1 egg a week and feed it to them mixed in with thier feed.

My mother grew up in Germany right after WW II. Her family lived off the chickens they raised and they never purchased feed. Her cousins still raise chickens and mostly just feed them table scraps. She feels that it is a waist for me to buy feed. Of course, she is surprised at how fast my girls are growing up.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

What if i do a bag of hard red wheat https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/1078/ and a bag of BOSS, with the bugs in the summer, Would this be a sufficient diet for the summer? they free range all day.

 

[cover357]

we give our girls and boys.. plain yogurt.. no flavors... but not the babies.. its extra calcium for them they love it.
Also I cook rice and give them plain.... they love cooked oatmeal on cold or cooler days..like for winter. I have never gave them
milk... the yogurt is full of the calcium they need like oyster shells.I also give our girls Cheerios's dry no flavors for a treat.. its the oat content.. they love.. no problem here with any of it.. dried wheat bread but not a lot at a time...

 

[cover357]

don't forget your omega 3.. they need that as strongly as they do the calcium