Good whole grain organic feed for omega eggs?

[Mac in Wisco]

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We had a long conversation about this the other day on BYC. What constitutes free range? There were many different opinions, yet as far as marketing eggs in the U.S. goes, "free range" means access to the outdoors whether they are penned or not, versus caged or cage-free barn raised. In Europe there are specific minimum acreage requirements.

If your birds have ample space and pasture, regardless of where the fence is, then "free range" may be an appropriate label. Many of the large U.S. producers market eggs as "free range" by providing some token outdoor access. If you feel that you truly have meaningful outdoor access that allows your birds to scratch, forage, and do the things that birds do in a natural setting, then I don't think that anybody would have a problem with you using the term "free range".

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Our cooperative markets omega-3 fortified eggs. I've talked to some of the producers about this and there are some issues there.

The literature I have read says to feed flax at not more than 10% of the ration or production will suffer. I'm not sure of the amount our producers are feeding, but our cooperative tests the eggs to ensure omega-3s are at appropriate levels to make the marketing claims and asks the producers to adjust the rations accordingly.

The producers I have talked to say that the birds perform poorly on the flax seed ration. Although they do get a premium on those eggs, flax is expensive, overall egg production is slightly less, and it's a juggling act to ensure that the profits on the omega-3 eggs are at least that of the non-fortified eggs.

You'd have to put pencil to paper to see if it is worth it. Although a premium price may be justified, sales may suffer due to the higher price point.

 

[Chris09]

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The literature I have read says to feed flax at not more than 10% of the ration or production will suffer.

That is what I have herd also.

flax is expensive

The sad thing if you go to the feed mill and get a pound of Flax and a pound of Linseed your going to pay more for the Flax than the Linseed and there the exact same thing.
You are paying for the name (Flax)

Chris​

 

[ChickenAl]

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Now, that is a marketing ploy!

I think they were always afraid to call Flax oil by its more common name, Linseed oil, in the health food stores because of the connotation with paint. If you leave Flax seed oil hanging around or even for an extended period in the fridge it does smell like the old oil based paints. I used to take it until I left it too long in the fridge and it smelled like paint. It turned me off for good.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Perhaps they sell it that way in retail markets, but I don't know of any producers or feed mills that differentiate between the two names.

 

[Chris09]

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They do around here, They have two bags there one is tagged Flax and the tagged Linseed.
When I asked why the difference in price he told me that Flax is "human grade" where as Linseed is more "Livestock grade" and they even pay more for the Flax than Linseed.

Chris

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
They do around here, They have two bags there one is tagged Flax and the tagged Linseed.
When I asked why the difference in price he told me that Flax is "human grade" where as Linseed is more "Livestock grade" and they even pay more for the Flax than Linseed.

Chris

That does make more sense as many grains are sold as "food" or "feed" grades, but the price difference is in the grade, not necessarily just the name.

I wonder if there is anything to the "food" grade that would make it more desirable as a "feed"?

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Here is an explanation of food grade flax:

http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/english/index.jsp?p=suppliers2&mp=suppliers

I don't see much benefit to livestock, except for those that may exist in traits of specific varieties of seed.

 

[Carter57]

I throw out cracked corn for mine. May not be organic ir omana3 but the like it.

 

[Auscal]

I planted flax seed as part of my chickens "salad bar. I'm wondering whether the actual plants are a source of omega's, or just the seeds.