Growing our own feed, question on protein... peas?

[bigredfeather]

I used a soy free ration for one batch of meaties this year, and it had Canadian (aka yellow) peas in it. They were dehydrated and stabilized. I think it would be best to grind them before feeding, as they kinda picked around them whole. They are a great source of protein, as 1/2 cup has 19 grams.

 

[ShadyHoller]

OK, gosh, now I'm back on-board for field peas! First I was all set to feed peas, then I was scared of this newly-discovered Trypsin stuff, and now I'm convinced that it's more of a risk in some beans than it is in peas. In just 48 hours since I first posted, I have learned a lot and changed my mind a couple of times.

The pattern that seems to be emerging is that some legumes are higher in Trypsin than others. I would guess that clover and birdsfoot trefoil (which are both legumes) aren't too high in it, because our pasture is loaded with both of them.

However, I am also excited to discover that turnips have such high protein. I probably should have been aware of that, because folks around here plant it for cattle forage, but I just never made the connection. Also, they can be early spring planted (along with the peas) which puts me on-track for mid-summer use.

So, to recap, here's what I'm thinking right now: peas, turnips, millet, buckwheat. I'll still be feeding some wheat berries that are grown nearby, and I'll have a feeder full of high-protein all-purpose pellet feed in the tractor, so the birds aren't totally reliant on the forage I plant. I'll be planting each thing in long, narrow parallel strips, so I'll be able to move the tractor down the strip, and it will straddle all of the plantings, giving the chickens a "salad bar." I'll plant the peas and turnips in March (or, depending on mud, as soon thereafter as I can get them in) and I'll get a parallel planting of millet and buckwheat as soon as risk of frost has passed. In my past experience, white proso millet will set seed in about 60 days.

 

[alpinefarm]

Quote:
I'm really enjoying reading about your plans. Hope you'll keep sharing!

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

glad you are learning a lot. one piece of advice, double check all that you learn; many people on forums pass on (with the best of intentions) info they read "somewhere". just google everything that sounds good and make sure there is something outthere to back it up

 

[BlackBart]

Will chickens eat turnip greens? or is it like everything with chickens the more you try to keep them away from something the more they like it.
Example my parsley and chives........toast!

 

[ShadyHoller]

Quote:
Our laying hens love turnip greens. Unlike our meatbirds who get fresh pasture every couple of days, our layers are in a coop, so the only green stuff they get in their diet is the garden scraps we feed them. They eat turnip greens like candy.

Now, I'm not positive this will work. Planting turnips especially for the meat birds is going to be an experiment. I'll see if I can get one of the varieties that grows a lot of top and a small root. But if I end up using regular old Purple Top, it won't be the end of the world. Turnip seed is cheap.

Your chickens ate the chives?! I'm impressed. That's pretty spicy for a chicken. We can't get them to eat any allium. No onions, garlic, leeks, nothing. They won't touch it. However, if we throw any cabbage or kale or broccoli or turnip greens or any other brassica in their coop, they devour it down to the woody stalk.

 

[marquisella]

I read somewhere, don't remember exactly,that Comfrey has a high protein content.

And, it is hardy so the chickens can't destroy it so readily.

 

[Dogfish]

I planted some Mossy Oak Biologic "brassica" for the deer in our area. They contain anywhere from 17-24% crude protein. This is a member of the cabbage and mustard family. It appears that it is going to last until next spring and will possibly have another growth spurt. The birds discovered it after it had grown up, and then they would head there first, the strip I planted, after I let them out to free range.

 

[BlackBart]

Your chickens ate the chives?!

They ate it right down to the dirt. It keeps trying to grow but there is no hope, unless I put it in a cage.
They are not starving, they always have food. Lots of food and they get porridge with flax almost every day.

They ate all the new shoots in the veggie garden, except radishes. They got in despite the high fence and gate.
They ate my rhubarb leaves, rhubarb leaves! I thought they were poisonous? Didn't even slow them down. I have yet to have a chicken, eat something that will kill them. (Knock wood)

Mine will not eat a head of cabbage. Maybe if I boil it for them and serve it with salt/pepper and butter
They do like grass clippings, all fruit except oranges.
They like the soaked alfalfa (leaves) for the horses and any of the wild cat's food they can sniff out. The Bantie Hens are very good at finding the wild cat food.

Basically, they are land sharks, about 120 of them

 

[tagra123]

Quote:
I agree - we use our goats to "grind the alfalfa & clover" -- we feed them in a tub.

I have 1/4 inch hardware cloth that I pour the tub contents through each morning and filter out the stems from the leaves. Only takes a couple of minutes for two #10 cans of fresh ground hay

I usually mix this 50/50 corn/hay for the chickens and they do very well with it.


We started feeding the goats in a tub instead of a rack because they were sloppy eaters. Now we get the added benefit of some free protein for the chickens that would have normally ended up being bedding or wasted.