Feeding the "Old fashioned way"

[HeritageGoose13]

So I thought I would weigh in on my original post and let people know how it was going... I realized that there was no way that I was going to be able to afford to make my own balanced feed, so we are buying a higher quality crumble feed and giving veg scraps and locally grown scratch grain, as well as free ranging every day. The chooks have cut down on my grasshopper plague better than any insecticide could! I still prefer to go as GMO free as possible, but I can only do so much. I know they wont get the fun of chasing the bugs here in a month or two, but I'll think of something else to keep them occupied then.

Have you considered a fodder system? It is not really "old-fashioned" but it is GMO-free and natural and very economical.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Nutrition.html

 

[duluthralphie]

Interesting link that is not helpful at all,

It almost seems like Purina gave the university a large grant so the university gave Purina this study.

(feel free to substitute any other large agri-business for the name Purina)

 

[shortgrass]

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Nutrition.html

Interesting link that is not helpful at all,

It almost seems like Purina gave the university a large grant so the university gave Purina this study.

(feel free to substitute any other large agri-business for the name Purina) 

Were you talking about that link?


I disagree... That link has a great wealth of information, and the links provided are from other ag extension offices, not magazine articles etc.... There are a couple of very informative PDFs in each section as well...


I guess I'm missing something lol?

 

[duluthralphie]

Yes, I was talking about the link, unless I missed something, it basically implied you have to buy a "formulated" feed.

I could be wrong, I just never found much on those links. I respectfully submit this to just clarify and respond to your question and am not going to argue about it.

 

[shortgrass]

Yes, I was talking about the link, unless I missed something, it basically implied you have to buy a "formulated" feed.

I could be wrong, I just never found much on those links. I respectfully submit this to just clarify and respond to your question and am not going to argue about it.

Oh, no arguing here lol

I was just making sure I didn't, in fact, miss something

I figure the basics are covered in the whole site, links to what and why certain things are added... I guess I didn't feel like it implied a forced formula, just considerations... A good tool for gleaning information or for some that are new to what that is on the label

Of course, nothing is ever implied with ME lol; I'm stubbornly set on no bagged feed... I do what I want when it comes to my mixture ha-ha

But I agree that almost ALL of the links to the University of Florida redirect to nowhere, so ok... A QUARTER useless

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Everyone is free to feed their animals any way the feel is right for them. There's no absolute correct way to do so.
If you can feed "the old fashioned way" and get the production you are looking for, then do so.
Others in this thread have mentioned that 200 years ago, chickens weren't nearly as productive as they have been since.
Not everyone has large pristine pasture 12 months out of the year that can continue to provide optimal nutrition to even the best foragers.
Old time poultry husbandry men know the importance of complete nutrition. Nothing is gained from scrimping on the cost of animals or feed.
Chickens are omnivores, just like humans so feeding from purely vegetative sources won't likely provide all the essential amino acids they require without feeding excessive amounts of others. Crude protein % is a guideline but if some AAs are missing there will still be poor growth, disease resistance and productivity.
There are 13 essential amino acids that chickens need as opposed to 9 in humans.
The nutrient requirements of poultry have been well known since early in the 1900s when the commercially raised product came on the scene.
As opposed to other livestock, chickens have a fast growth rate, short life span, is an easy animal to study and with the close relationship between poultry scientists and the poultry industry, there is a rapid transfer of newly attained knowledge.
It is in the best interest of the profitability of the company to provide optimal nutrition at the lowest cost.
That nutritional knowledge is widely disseminated.
If profitability is important to the small keeper, then providing optimal nutrition to their animals should be just as important.

 

[duluthralphie]

Do not disagree with anything you said. However, the statement "Others in this thread have mentioned that 200 years ago, chickens weren't nearly as productive as they have been since."


While true, it implies something that is not strictly true.

Productivity of eggs began to really take off in the 1930's which is about the same time as the REA and electricity began to hit rural areas. I maintain it was the addition of a light bulb to the chicken coop as much or mare than any other event that increased production. If I want to increase my egg production, I need simply turn on a light 8 months of the year. Regardless of what I feed them I will get more eggs.

 

[John Scott]

If you belive this, you need to do more reserch. Dairy and Beef catlle HAVE to use hormons due to the high demand for their products.

 

[shortgrass]

Do not disagree with anything you said. However, the statement "Others in this thread have mentioned that 200 years ago, chickens weren't nearly as productive as they have been since."


While true, it implies something that is not strictly true.

Productivity of eggs began to really take off in the 1930's which is about the same time as the REA and electricity began to hit rural areas.  I maintain it was the addition of a light bulb to the chicken coop as much or mare than any other event that increased production.     If I want to increase my egg production, I need simply turn on a light 8 months of the year.  Regardless of what I feed them I will get more eggs.

What I read there was essentially this; "I can feed them nothing but corn, then turn on a light and they will lay eggs." Nothing could be further from the truth. A hen can't even lay an egg without proper nutrition; and honestly, if all shecwas fed was corn, she would die from malnutrition way before POL.