Free choice feeding corn, oats, meat meal, and oyster grit?

[JosiahK]

In Pastured Poultry Profits, Joel Salatin talks about feeding his loose-housed layers free choice, cafeteria style corn, oats, meat or bone meal, and oyster grit, in addition to hay and grass clippings. Has anyone else tried this? Does it work as well as pellets without any loss in egg production?

Thanks!

 

[Nupe]

Hi again!

I think the most important point to consider would be the term "loose-housed." To me that implies the birds are free range and able to forage most of what they need. Even still, without a complete feed to supplement, you probably won't see the same production. If your birds are confined, it will be much more difficult to provide the proper nutrition as compared to a commercial ration. A lot of research and development has gone into proper nutrition and the commercial feeds already have it. There are plenty of recipes out there that will work, but unless you have a monstrous flock where you can buy ingredients by the truckload, you're not going to benefit economically. Most people who produce their own feeds do so because of personal allergies or philosophical aversions like with GMOs. Some people are just misinformed and think scratch or cracked corn is the same as chicken food.

 

[JosiahK]

Thanks! Black Australorps sound pretty good...

 

[Suprise-Chicks]

Wondering if anyone can help me.
I was told to feed my free range chickens meat meal/pollard.

How do I do this?
Do I make a 50/50 mix in hot water?

I have a Hen who hatched 4 babies, 3 months ago, and she is broody again with 4 eggs.
She is a tiny Belgian D'uccle/fizzle, I would like to try and faten her up, before the babies hatch.

I should say they get a good scratch layer mix, which I add corn wheat and diatomaceous earth. Apple Cider Vinger in there fresh water three times a week
Plus house leftovers, when possible but I think I made them fussy eaters.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

In Pastured Poultry Profits, Joel Salatin talks about feeding his loose-housed layers free choice, cafeteria style corn, oats, meat or bone meal, and oyster grit, in addition to hay and grass clippings. Has anyone else tried this? Does it work as well as pellets without any loss in egg production?,,,

If there was no loss in production or else no increase in price of production the sharp penciled bean counters would have all the big commercial poultry producers doing it.

 

[lazy gardener]

Salatin's methods are unique to his husbandry model. IIRC, he houses them in large tractors that are moved daily. He has a large number of birds, so is most likely buying in bulk. For the back yard flock master, his method, while being nutritionally equitable, if not superior (IMO) to commercially blended feed, would not be financially feasible. (his method would be more costly for the small flock.)

 

[doubleleft]

Corn, Wheat, Oats and Meat & Bonemeal would be an improvement over what most chickens are fed!!
The very thing that chickens crave and need (but are deprived of) the most is the bugs, worms, microorganisms, baby mice, lizards, any kind of larvae, frogs, tadpoles ...... i could go on and on. As close as you can get to it in a 50lb bag is Meat & Bone Meal(if you can find it)