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

[ShrekDawg]

I don’t know about corn free but there are commercial feeds that are soy free now. I like Nutrena Naturewise Hearty Hen feed (also has higher protein at 18%) and a local brand Poulin Grain has a feed Egg Production Plus that is similar to the hearty hen. Maybe you could find something near you?? Not sure why you want to avoid corn but I’ve been able to avoid soy at least and it’s good feed. Though with a rooster you may not want layer feed. But there are other ones.

 

[centrarchid]

For the health of those eating eggs, I’d like to switch my chickens ( 3 hen 1 roo) to a corn free soy free food. I’m a-ok to make it myself and have sufficient space to grow food within reason. I’m having issues cost effectively sourcing wheat and other grains. I’m in south Florida so not much grain is grown here. Any ideas? I am growing sorghum, amaranth and cowpeas so could I incorporate these to some purchased grain to minimize cost?

How many bushels do you think you can raise of each? Do you have setup for harvesting cowpeas and the other two grains?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I’ve also bought this before and liked it so it might a good place to get an already premixed seed blend?? Though they do also sell the individual grains too if you’d rather go that route. I got the New England/Great Lakes one cause that’s where I am but you may need the Florida one. Though I think the blends are somewhat similar with just a few variations.

https://www.naturesseed.com/pasture-seed/poultry-pastures/

 

[jessica66]

How many bushels do you think you can raise of each? Do you have setup for harvesting cowpeas and the other two grains?

That’s my main issue with growing grains is that the harvest is so challenging. The cow peas I can do by hand fairly easy.im sure I’ll change my tune once I harvest more then 10 lbs of cow peas by hand lol

 

[DaisyG2317]

I don’t know about corn free but there are commercial feeds that are soy free now. I like Nutrena Naturewise Hearty Hen feed (also has higher protein at 18%) and a local brand Poulin Grain has a feed Egg Production Plus that is similar to the hearty hen. Maybe you could find something near you?? Not sure why you want to avoid corn but I’ve been able to avoid soy at least and it’s good feed. Though with a rooster you may not want layer feed. But there are other ones.

I second the Hearty Hen!

 

[jessica66]

Thank you all for the feedback. Reason for chicken diet change is dog (who gets some eggs) has highly aggressive lymphoma so we are trying to change diet to help in any way. May or may not help but it is worth at least trying.

Upon further probing, the corn free and soy free is actually so that feed is GMO free, so I can buy a bagged feed for this. Will still probably supplement it with stuff from the garden.

 

[iwltfum]

Upon further probing, the corn free and soy free is actually so that feed is GMO free, so I can buy a bagged feed for this.

Just don't be surprised if you find corn as a main ingredient in bagged non-GMO feed. There is lots of non-GMO corn out there.

 

[Phoenixxx]

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.

 

[Phoenixxx]

Thank you all for the feedback. Reason for chicken diet change is dog (who gets some eggs) has highly aggressive lymphoma so we are trying to change diet to help in any way. May or may not help but it is worth at least trying.

Upon further probing, the corn free and soy free is actually so that feed is GMO free, so I can buy a bagged feed for this. Will still probably supplement it with stuff from the garden.

Be careful of all grain and legumes. non-GMO means exactly that: not genetically modified. It does NOT mean "glyphosate-free". Glyphosate is used not only as a pesticide/herbicide, but it is also used as a dessicant to dry out crops prior to harvest. Unless you're buying organic, your potatoes, peas, wheat, oats, barley, rye, etc. etc. are poisoned with heavy doses of this stuff (they don't rinse the crops after spraying).

 

[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.

Thanks for the heads up on the amaranth. I actually planted it for leaves for the humans to replace spinach - which were great. I kinda let it go once the caterpillars got to the leaves. Thinking I’ll just chop the whole thing down and put it in the run once the seed heads come in.