I want to buy some bulk grains at the grocery store for this winter.

[delisha]

I've been getting slightly expired bread from the warehouse where i used to work. All kinds 12 grain 9 grain, flax pita bread, english muffins, raison etc. The chickens go nuts over it. Everybody likes bread, the pig, dogs us.

Have you ever done research on gluten? Do you know what it does to a birds crop? How about that yeast in the bread? How good do you think that is for chickens? Chickens do not have a stomach, they have a crop. Just because they love it does not mean you should feed it. Your kids would love chocolate for every meal.

 

[3riverschick]

has anyone had success sprouting oats? They do appear to be a good choice.

Historically, Oats is the very best grain to sprout for poultry. At this URL it is discussed, explained and the how-to given:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/425134/anybody-raise-sprouts-to-feed-the-chickens/220
Here's a neat BYC thread. Pages 23 thru 29. Especially note the value of sprouted oats; Plotspike Forage Oats; feed vs forage oats ;
and age of oats determining their feed function. We use Plotspike here at Waterford English Sussex with great success.
Best Regards,
Karen in western PA, USA

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Historically, Oats is the very best grain to sprout for poultry. At this URL it is discussed, explained and the how-to given:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/425134/anybody-raise-sprouts-to-feed-the-chickens/220
Here's a neat BYC thread. Pages 23 thru 29. Especially note the value of sprouted oats; Plotspike Forage Oats; feed vs forage oats ;
and age of oats determining their feed function. We use Plotspike here at Waterford English Sussex with great success.
Best Regards,
Karen in western PA, USA

thanks i am heading to my feed store in the morning!

 

[blondiebee181]

Okay, I bought whole oat grains and wheat berries from WinCo as well as regular raw sunflower seeds in the shells....a couple questions....can I soak the wheat and oats together? Cuz I know you have to soak them before you can try sprouting them....also...with the sunflowers, I'm getting mixed info on whether I should sprout shell-on or shell-off seeds....and also do I have to soak them too? Do any of these grains need soil to sprout? I also may go back for hulled millet, which also should sprout....do I need to soak those or put them in soil either?

 

[colintoncollies]

I read in my Chicken Magazine to give cracked corn in the winter months as it will help keep the bird warm by generating heat to digest it. I now give my hens cracked corn with their laying ration. I also would like to know what other grains I can give in place of laying ration as the laying ration turns to dust real fast. Great for the feeders but I like to toss some food on the ground to encourage they to scratch.

 

[Chris09]

I read in my Chicken Magazine to give cracked corn in the winter months as it will help keep the bird warm by generating heat to digest it. I now give my hens cracked corn with their laying ration.

Your chicken magazine is incorrect, corn will not help keep your birds warm it is digested to quickly and completely.
You would be better off feeding a high fiber feedstuff that takes longer to digest. Oats, Wheat and Alfalfa meal would be the ones to add instead of corn.


Chris

 

[bairo]

I also have a huge problem with soy. I don't believe it should be consumed, period. Here's an article that talks about soy and the fact that soy isoflavones (a class of phytoestrogens) are found in egg yolks and chicken muscle. http://www.westonaprice.org/blogs/k...-ling-egg-yolks-hidden-soy-from-animal-feeds/

ABSOLUTELY!!!!! Many people think about organics and/or GMO free. It is my opinion (going on a couple years now of careful research) that the single number one goal should be to eliminate soy before moving on to anything else.

1. Eliminate soy first
2. GMO free if you can
3. Organic if it is financially feasible (not nearly as important as #1 though)

 

[bairo]

Your chicken magazine is incorrect, corn will not help keep your birds warm it is digested to quickly and completely.
You would be better off feeding a high fiber feed stuff that takes longer to digest. Oats, Wheat and Alfalfa meal would be the ones to add instead of corn.


Chris

My initial reaction would be to say "wait a minute, are you sure"? That is if it did not come from such a knowledgeable source. I will however do some more research while reserving my opinion. My initial thought is also along the lines of (fast and hot versus slow and steady) in terms of feed energy. I will though look into that a bit more.

 

[bairo]

I used to think that hard red winter wheat was 17% protein also but was corrected by a BYC'er and found out it is closer to 12-14% protein.

Here:
from http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/jo_gr110.txt
"Bids for 11.5 percent protein US 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for November
delivery trended 1.75 cents per bushel higher than Tuesday’s noon bids
for the same delivery period in following the slightly higher Kansas City
December wheat futures."

and

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat
"100 grams of hard red winter wheat contain about 12.6 grams of protein"

Also you might try split peas as an alternative to "field peas." They are actually cheaper for me (at the grocery store bulk bins) than the Austrian Peas I just bought recently per pound from the feed store! Also my chickens find the split peas to be more palatable.

Thank you...I will check on that. The problem is today that their are so many more varieties of wheat out there. It used to be simpler in that a "spring" wheat led the pack in protein with the winter hard wheats a close second and followed by all the soft wheats.
My price on austrian field peas was 33.00 per #50. I will look at split peas as well.

 

[bairo]

I used to think that hard red winter wheat was 17% protein also but was corrected by a BYC'er and found out it is closer to 12-14% protein.

Here:
from http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/jo_gr110.txt
"Bids for 11.5 percent protein US 1 Hard Red Winter Wheat for November
delivery trended 1.75 cents per bushel higher than Tuesday’s noon bids
for the same delivery period in following the slightly higher Kansas City
December wheat futures."

and

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat
"100 grams of hard red winter wheat contain about 12.6 grams of protein"

Also you might try split peas as an alternative to "field peas." They are actually cheaper for me (at the grocery store bulk bins) than the Austrian Peas I just bought recently per pound from the feed store! Also my chickens find the split peas to be more palatable.

The USDA and University of Idaho (largest wheat studies in America) now state that hard wheat in fact averages 14%. My initial information was wrong, but Wiki is off as well.