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

[LeslieDJoyce]

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)

I agree ... that's my list of priorities, too. Maybe I'd add in "eliminate corn," too, but I'm not quite sure I'm wanting to go all the way with that, or just "no GMO corn."

I am wondering what kind of substitute one could use for the soy. I REALLY don't like soy, and am not happy feeding it to my chickens (or myself, even if indirectly through their eggs). I saw one or more "antique" chicken feed recipes which listed both soy and fish meal in the "protein choices" column of the recipe ... but I also assume there is a (valid, one would hope) reason a lot of chicken feeds are "vegetarian." I presume the reason soy is used in addition to the grains which all have a lot of "protein" is because soy protein is "complete," like fish meal would be ... ???

Any solid articles available which discuss this topic?

 

[bairo]

Here is another ref. on field peas

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/livestoc/as1224w.htm

For above. "Soy" is not a complete protein. No one feed item in this world is complete with all amino acids.
The reason for vegetarian feeds with soy as a main protein source is simply cost and margin for the feed companies. That is one of the very good reasons that even back yard poultry should free range as often as possible....even if "free range" means just a few hundred square feet of grass. They need the opportunity to hunt bugs, worms, etc. So as to diversify their amino acid profile for optimal health. If you look at my coop page under the
space" article, you Will find this fact was a major contribute in why I have such views on space and especially run space along with free ranging

 

[bairo]

I have corrected my feed chart to reflect some small changes. Split peas are an alternative to field peas if you can get them cheaper. My price on field peas is 33.00 per 50 lbs but much higher on split peas. If you have only a few birds though it might be worth the convenience to just buy a few pounds at a time of split peas from a whole foods market versus trying to deal with 50 lb bags from a feed dealer.



cracked corn 15 lbs 9% protein
field peas 25 lbs 25% protein
crimped oats 20 lbs 14% protein
whole wheat(red hard variety) 20 lbs 14% protein
sunflower(at least half black) 20 lbs 19% protein

Rye can also be substituted in some of the above; keeping in mind that is averages 14.5% protein

Remember that although this formula averages 16.5% protein....that I believe it is important to free range your birds as often as possible for amino acid (protein) diversity

 

[blondiebee181]

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.

I do agree that feeding that much bread is probably not very healthy for your animals....bread has very little real nutrition in it except maybe the flax and sunflower seeds baked in...it's not even very good for humans to consume in large quantities...not to mention that wheat is one of the most genetically modified crops in the world, even over corn. To each his own, but I would try fiding out whether your grocery store has anything to offer in the way of old produce, fruit or veggies (that hasn't molded yet) These will be much better for all of your animals, and consequently make the nutrition content of any eggs or meat much higher.

 

[blondiebee181]

Here is another ref. on field peas

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/livestoc/as1224w.htm

For above. "Soy" is not a complete protein. No one feed item in this world is complete with all amino acids.
The reason for vegetarian feeds with soy as a main protein source is simply cost and margin for the feed companies. That is one of the very good reasons that even back yard poultry should free range as often as possible....even if "free range" means just a few hundred square feet of grass. They need the opportunity to hunt bugs, worms, etc. So as to diversify their amino acid profile for optimal health. If you look at my coop page under the
space" article, you Will find this fact was a major contribute in why I have such views on space and especially run space along with free ranging

Yeah soy is not very good.....

 

[blondiebee181]

Well, I just went for it and tried Whole, un-roasted sunflower seeds in the shell (not black oils), whole wheat berries (I think of a winter wheat variety) and whole oats. So far, the sunflowers have taken right off (nested loosely in a 1" or so bed of soil) and the wheat berries are doing great! The oats did nothing except get a funny smell and slightly slimy.....dunno what that was about if anyone else does.....??? Anyway here's a pic.....


I'm going to sprout Alfalfa and millet next I think....I got these grains/seeds at WinCo.

 

[LOTSAGIRLS8]

TOMATOES ARE TOXIC? MY CHICKENS DEVOUR THEM. THEY DON'T EAT THEM OFF THE PLANT (I'VE HEARD THE LEAVES ARE TOXIC) BUT THEY LOVE THEM OUT OF MY HAND.

 

[delisha]

Don't tell my chickens tomatoes are bad for them, they have been eating them for over 30 years at my place.

 

[delisha]

I do not use dirt when I sprout seeds. I put them in a zip lock bag with water and hang them on my kitchen curtains for 24 hours or until they crack. I than put them in quart jars with cheese cloth and the rings. I rinse the seeds daily and dump out all the water. I have even sprouted a handful of beans from 7 bean soup. I feed bean sprouts, oat sprouts, wheat sprouts, grass sprouts, clover sprouts, all winter long.

 

[blondiebee181]

TOMATOES ARE TOXIC? MY CHICKENS DEVOUR THEM. THEY DON'T EAT THEM OFF THE PLANT (I'VE HEARD THE LEAVES ARE TOXIC) BUT THEY LOVE THEM OUT OF MY HAND.

Haha yeah mine devoured the stems of our plants where they hung off the deck...they love them and no sour side effects there....