How to feed a corn free, soy free diet cost effectively?

[jessica66]

I was looking into amaranth myself a few years ago. I can't remember what I found out about it specifically related to feeding it to chickens, but that it can be problematic and does need to be cooked, first. I have grown amaranth, and am growing loads again this year (only because I spilled my seeds ), and I can tell you that harvesting the seeds is very time-consuming. I do go through and pick leaves every day or two and feed those raw to the birds.

The best way that I have come up with to reduce commercial feed intake (thus reducing corn and soy) is choosing breeds that thrive on foraging and just letting them run wild. Right now I have three groups of youths that barely touch their feeders because they're able to find most of what they need in the yard.

Ps I have been told I have bougie chickens because they don’t like foraging lol. Those Buff Orphingtons would rather beg for snacks then look for bugs. I already stopped free feeding them and now they scratch more but still beg at any chance. They have learned to to come up to the patio and look into the kitchen for snacks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I second the Hearty Hen!

It’s good stuff! I like it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Ps I have been told I have bougie chickens because they don’t like foraging lol. Those Buff Orphingtons would rather beg for snacks then look for bugs. I already stopped free feeding them and now they scratch more but still beg at any chance. They have learned to to come up to the patio and look into the kitchen for snacks.

Yeah my Orpingtons and a couple other birds are like that too lol they’re a bit lazy they’d rather follow the shovel and wait for us to dig the holes for them. on the other hand, my Leghorn goes all over the place finding all sorts of stuff. And produces huge eggs every day. Very industrious little bird lol my Easter Eggers are pretty good foragers too.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I haven’t read through the whole thread yet, but I recommend Green Mountain Feeds( http://www.greenmountainfeeds.com/products/poultry/) if you’re willing to buy organic. I know they have a soy-free feed too. Their feed is good quality, there’s practically no dust. It’s the only feed I feed my layers.
I hope you find what you’re looking for!

 

[Mossy Dell]

Sunrise Farms here in VA grows or stocks all GMO free grains and soybeans. They also sell mixed feed. You'd probably have to find a dealer in Florida or a middleman who ships. Their feed is competitive, in my experience, but shipping could add a lot.

As an early adopter of Joel Salatin's pastured poultry system, I have raised many nice broilers and laying pullets on his corn and soy based feed formula.

I get the reluctance to use soy, based on GMO, as GMO-free can be hard to find, but other than that issue I personally like roasted soybeans. Kind of a miracle feed, which has such high protein and energy that it allows you to add all kinds of neat goodies to feed. Fresh roasted soybean meal smells wonderful and chickens love it.

Anyway, I sympathize with you way down in Florida trying to source feed. I grew up in Satellite Beach.