Growing fodder for chickens

[RangingChicks]

Since I started feeding barley grass to my rabbits they have gone from 4 or 5 per litter to 8-10. Also they impregnate every mating, before it was only about 50% hit. I believe the difference is due to illiminating GMO corn and soy which was in the commercial rabbit pellets. The chickens have gone to 10-15 eggs a day from 2-3 AND look mucxh healthier. The chickens I feed a treat of sprouted boss and lentils twice a day but mostly fermented non GMO grains.
I have read that GMO products effect the reproductive systems of mamals but it must also effect that of rodents and birds. Wont the same hold true for humans? 90% of corn and 95% of soy raised in USA are GMO. All comercial feeds even fish food contain those as major components.

We are getting chickens soon but I don't like the idea of feeding them GMO feed. I would love to feed them non GMO fermented grains and fodder but can't find any place that sells it. Do you have any suggestions on where to find non GMO barley and or wheat that is not ridiculously priced?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Well, SOMEWHERE in the USA you could probably find them.

If you'd like more "local" information, perhaps you could share your location? There are a few mills in the country that are "organic" but they are costly. If you have room, and energy, perhaps you could buy organic one time and plant/harvest your own?

 

[pawtraitart]

I could be wrong, but I don't think that wheat or barley are GMO in the United States.........yet. In processed poultry feed, the big GMO baddies are corn, canola, and soy unless the product is labeled organic.

 

[RangingChicks]

I could be wrong, but I don't think that wheat or barley are GMO in the United States.........yet. In processed poultry feed, the big GMO baddies are corn, canola, and soy unless the product is labeled organic.

Well, SOMEWHERE in the USA you could probably find them.

If you'd like more "local" information, perhaps you could share your location? There are a few mills in the country that are "organic" but they are costly. If you have room, and energy, perhaps you could buy organic one time and plant/harvest your own?

Currently I live in southern Virginia. My family is moving to northern Florida in the Jacksonville area there we will get chickens.

How much more expensive is organic than just regular grains? And is buying in bulk any cheaper???

Growing my own wheat/barley is not an option. The property we are moving to has 2 1/2 acres but a lot of it is wooded driveway. Great for foraging and free ranging but not for growing large amounts of grain.

Thanks for your help!

 

[ms4runr]

Currently I live in southern Virginia. My family is moving to northern Florida in the Jacksonville area there we will get chickens.

How much more expensive is organic than just regular grains? And is buying in bulk any cheaper???

Growing my own wheat/barley is not an option. The property we are moving to has 2 1/2 acres but a lot of it is wooded driveway. Great for foraging and free ranging but not for growing large amounts of grain.

Thanks for your help!

The cheapest I found on line for barley is $.89/lb. Organic. They also offered flat price shipping of $7.99. Just shop around. I was not looking for organic necessarily. If I was buying the grown wheat I would be concerned about organic, but not the seed. Bulk is always cheaper. My farmers coop said wheat seed not in until late summer. Just my thoughts.

 

[missnu01]

I could be wrong, but I don't think that wheat or barley are GMO in the United States.........yet. In processed poultry feed, the big GMO baddies are corn, canola, and soy unless the product is labeled organic.

Actually GMO foods came about so these companies could tout the organic logo..they made soybeans that don't need to be sprayed for bugs, so they can say they don't use pesticides...so organic foods can mistakenly end up being possibly worse for a person if it's tru that GMO food makes you grow a third eye or whatever the issue is...Lol.

 

[RangingChicks]

The cheapest I found on line for barley is $.89/lb. Organic. They also offered flat price shipping of $7.99. Just shop around. I was not looking for organic necessarily. If I was buying the grown wheat I would be concerned about organic, but not the seed. Bulk is always cheaper. My farmers coop said wheat seed not in until late summer. Just my thoughts.

Good to know. Thanks for your help!

 

[pawtraitart]

Actually GMO foods came about so these companies could tout the organic logo..they made soybeans that don't need to be sprayed for bugs, so they can say they don't use pesticides...so organic foods can mistakenly end up being possibly worse for a person if it's tru that GMO food makes you grow a third eye or whatever the issue is...Lol.

I thought that certified organic had to be conventional seed and not Monsanto mutant seed ie: GMO's????

 

[missnu01]

Now you have to look for things that specifically say non GMO. It's ridiculous. But when the organic craze started is when these companies started trying to come up with ways to get rid of weeds and bugs without spraying... Even the things that are supposed to be good for us, aren't clear... It's a tough one. So certified organic non GMO would be good, but no longer is certified organic all that comforting by itself...
Unless it says 100% organic it can still be marked as organic, and contain upwards of 30% GMO foods. And there are more than soy and corn now too. The sugar beet is now GMO, and has been approved for use in products. So... When something contains sugar there is no way to tell if its cane sugar or GMO beet sugar, unless it specifically says cane sugar.

So USDA certified organic doesnt really mean crap. The USDA is not known for keeping human welfare at the forefront of their goings on.
Cottonseed and canola are also GMO now too. So, no sugar, no oil... They're sneaking right in on us.

 

[RangingChicks]

I will have to look into it further. Thanks for your help