First time raising meaties... Commerical feed versus Salatin ration???

[randyandmegs]

My 100 CX will be here this week. I have found local places here in Western NC to buy all the ingredients (the exact Salatin-Polyface Ration) and a mill that will mix them (the mill is however worried about how to evenly mix the micro ingredients evenly). Joel suggests that its ok starting out with a commercial non-medicated feed for first timers and then work with the ration afterwords. I have a TSC and several mills in the area that I could use to get my feeds from just not sure what to do and Im looking for advice from you guys.
1.What woud you guys suggest as far as a non medicated commerical feed or would you suggest going ahead and working on the Salatin ration from the start?
2.Another question to help my favorite mill out. How do you mix the micro ingredients evenly?
3. Any suggestions on suppliments to add to a non-medicated feed that would help the growth of the birds?
4. What percentage protein for the CX should I use?

I already have a couple hundred birds sold if all goes well. I dont want to use medicated feeds or feeds with any animal parts in them.

Thanks in advance. You guys have always been so helpful in the past.

 

[Amyable]

I would really like to find out answers to these questions too. I'm a Salatin fan, been reading his books to find out how he keeps his livestock and operates Polyface. You're lucky to have several mills near you who can mix what you want.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Stick with a commercial broiler feed. Since this is your first time with broilers you don't need the added variable of the unknown result of using the other ration. The commercial feed will lmeet then nutrient needs of the fast growing, highly efficient meat birds.

Jim

 

[Bossroo]

Don't forget to restrict their feed after 2 weeks of age to 12 hours full feed during the day and no feed for 12 hours ar night to slow down their growth rate . This will limit losses. Use the commercial feed and add the micronutrients as a top dressing or into their water.

 

[al6517]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Stick with a commercial broiler feed. Since this is your first time with broilers you don't need the added variable of the unknown result of using the other ration. The commercial feed will lmeet then nutrient needs of the fast growing, highly efficient meat birds.

Jim

I agree wholeheartedly with Jim................... Just not a fan of this Joel Salitin character.

AL​

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

ok, ignorant me . . . who is he?

 

[Olive Hill]

He owns Poly-Face Farms and was the main small farmer featured in Food Inc. He is also a writer and speaker on the topics of small, sustainable agriculture.

I'm not familiar with his ration so I'm not entirely clear on what poses the mixing problem. Is it just a custom mix of grains? I have our feed milled locally, rather than using commercial, and have always been happy with the results. One thing to keep in mind with custom rations is that the chickens don't need a perfectly balanced diet at every single meal. Over the course of the day, the week, the month it all works out in the wash. You don't have to formulate every single meal perfectly, you just need a pretty good balance overall.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Go with the commercial feed... I have came to learn that Salatin is half brilliant and half Bull$#*t....

 

[Bossroo]

Quote:
The Bull$#t is what he makes his MONEY with and that is no Bull$#t !!!

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I have come to learn that demonizing the great Joel Salatin can get you ostricised from the crazy section of chicken growers, and that's fine with me, people have been doing what he professes for centuries but when you write a book and go on speaking tours then I guess he is now the chicken god LOL. sorry folks you can keep him and his cult.

AL