HELP- Vegetarian Feed???

[Bubba]

I don't think synthetic works for the organic aspect of this poster Mayberry....

Bubba

 

[MayberrySaint]

The only source of animal protein in commercial feeds is meat & bone meal or feather meal. Both are perfectly safe.

 

[wegotchickens]

Backyard Poultry magazine web site had this article on mixing your own feed for a flock. It might answer some questions posed here.

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-3/Harvey_Ussery.html

 

[MayberrySaint]

Quote:
I didn't see her comment about organic feed...sorry. I thought she was asking about animal proteins.

 

[speckledhen]

The animal protein in a layer feed I buy says "porcine", meaning pork by-products, I would imagine. It also says no protein from ruminant animals, meaning no beef or anything else that chews the cud.

 

[MayberrySaint]

Quote:
That's the result of the mad cow scare. Pigs are not carriers of the mad cow proteins. Ruminants are...especially sheep. I'm surprised it doesn't contain feather meal, though. It is a very cheap protein source right now.

 

[Nichole77]

As a veg myself I was wondering the same thing. I don't think you understand the question. Personally I have been looking for feed that does not contain animal products. I have no problem with them eating the lizards and bugs in the yard. I dont want to add to the production of animal products or feed processed who knows what to the chickens. Am I on the right track?

 

[MayberrySaint]

Here's a link to a good site with info on most feed ration ingredients...

http://www.ingredients101.com/index.htm

 

[MayberrySaint]

Quote:
You can get animal protein-free rations. As I said in an earlier reply, they are just as good as rations with animal proteins. Southern States laying ration which I buy is a vegetarian ration. It is $.45 per bag more expensive because of the use of synthetic amino acids.

 

[Zenbirder]

My local feed store makes and bags their own feed here in SW New Mexico. They use no animal protein, but not certified organic ingrediants. If you free range your chickens they will eat lots of non-contaminated insects and other creatures. I absolutely would not want my chickens eating the waste from mass produced animal slaughterhouses. I agree also with MayberrySaint that you could have a healthy chicken on a vegetarian diet. I don't think you need any synthetic amino acids. The whole amino-acid balancing is a bit of a myth. People (and I bet chickens) use bacteria in their digestive tracks to help find any amino acids needed if the diet isn't too extreme (ex- nothing but corn).