is corn as main ingredient good for chickens?

[Barry Natchitoches]

Quote:
Chris,


You bring to the forefront the thing that is most disturbing about how GMOs are marketed to the general public.


GMO FOODS -- AND GMO SEEDS -- SHOULD BE CLEARLY LABELED SO THAT THE CONSUMER KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE BUYING!


Why does the government require specific labeling of everything else under the sun, but does not require that foods that include GENETICALLY MODIFIED material be labeled as such????


I make every effort to know exactly what I am planting in my organic garden, and what I am feeding my family -- and yes, even my chickens.


But there is a DELIBERATE EFFORT TO KEEP THE PUBLIC FROM KNOWING WHAT IS AND IS NOT GENETICALLY MODIFIED!


And I have to ask: WHY?


This is NOT the case in Europe, where GMO foods either have to be clearly labeled, or just are not allowed in the first place.


Europeans understand the dangers of GMO foods. Why has the American media been so silent about the dangers of such foods? Why has the American Congress -- so quick to legislate on everything else in this universe -- deliberately NOT allowing the labeling of GMO foods?


Consumers who have a clue almost always choose to avoid GMO foods. Marketing research poll after marketing research poll has born this out.


THAT is why they refuse to label GMO food!


IF they were to label GMO food, then the only people who would buy the stuff are those who are uninformed about their danger, or else too dull to understand the implications of genetic modification of their family's food.


To a lesser degree, the same can be said about GMO grass seed.


People don't eat grass seed, so some folks who otherwise avoid GMO seeds might actually consent to buying and planting GMO grass seed.


But since I know that my chickens will eat grass from my lawn, I would not plant GMO grass seeds either. Assuming I know its GMO when I go to buy it.


But as much as I have tried, I cannot find a authoritative, comprehensive listing of what corn varieties are -- or are not -- GMO modified at this point. (Although I am aware of a few varieties that are not likely to be GMO yet).


Why do they hide information as important as that from the average American consumer?????

 

[Chris09]

Barry Natchitoches,
Take Monsanto (I know dirty word) there are a lot of people that hate Monsanto for there Round-up and genetically engineered seed but, will still purchase the companies other products and dont even know that they are doing it. Monsanto's (the family) first product was the artificial sweetener saccharin, which it sold to the Coca-Cola Company. Monsanto also became a leading manufacturer of plastics, including polystyrene, and synthetic fibers. The artificial sweetener aspartame (NutraSweet) is a Monsanto product and in 1968 they became the first company to start mass production of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). Monsanto also has there hand in Celebrex. Even some of the rides at Disneyland and Walt Disney World were sponsored by Monsanto.

Go's to show even if a person thinks there getting away from GE/GMO that there not.

Chris

 

[annaraven]

Actually, we're in process of ripping out our lawn and putting in native plants. My dad was a sod farmer, back in Minnesota, and I worked with *real* grass, back before all this crap. I also know that lawns do not belong in a place like California where there is no rain all summer. So, we're going native.

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

Quote:
Good for you!! I did that 2 years ago, it takes about 4 years to establish a landscape but it is worth it!

 

[Hollywood Chickens]

This is all very interesting but it is way off topic, the mods are going to close it.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
Ok, to answer the original question.

Yes, corn is a good ingredient in chicken rations. It is a highly digestible source of carbohydrates (energy).

Jim

 

[BitsyB]

Yes corn is a good ingredient in chicken feed.

BUT (and this is a big but), chickens should also be given access to pasture whenever possible, as the eggs are more nutritious that way, as well as for the health and well-being of the chickens. If they can't free range, bringing the range to them works too- greens, vegetables, worms etc.

And since a demand for what proof there is for this statement is most likely coming, here it is:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/eggs.aspx

 

[PepsNick]

Well, I'm not getting into this conversation... But just pointing out that corn is a main ingredient in my feed and works excellent. Alright, goodbye!

 

[spartacus_63]

Just to continue the information flow...

GMO is the abbreviation for GENETIC MODIFICATION, and it includes all foods -- and ONLY foods -- which are the result of genetic manipulation in the laboratory.

GMO is the abbreviation for "genetically modified organism". I did not use the abbreviation GMO specifically for that reason. My point is that GMO crops have gotten a bad deal in the tree hugger press. I am of the belief that commerce is driven by profit. Other than the backyard poultry market, where is there a product that is marketed to cover costs?
GMO crops have a place in the world just as hybrid seeds. Monsanto is NOT a company full of mad scientists. Without companies like Monsanto and Pioneer, our food prices would be much higher, there would be fewer family farms and more starvation in the world. Look at the outcry when the price of tortillas went up in Mexico due to the increased production of ethanol fuels.

Genetic manipulation happens with selective breeding. Even though this genetic manipulation could occur in nature, it is not likely. That is how our current flocks of chickens came about. Some Monsanto predecessor saw there was a market for eggs and meat from the Jungle Fowl and started selectively breeding the birds to achieve a goal. They manipulated the genes of that species. I'm not certain that my birds are any less safe to eat or more or less nutritious than Jungle fowl, but I do know that they get bigger and produce more eggs.

Corn is corn. The nutritional value of corn is not significantly different between a Monsanto Hybrid and a GMO or a heirloom seed. If anyone wants to grow crops for their use and or sale at a local market, my hat is off to you. I do it myself. What most fail to realize is that crop farming is a narrow profit business. There are so many variables outside the control of the farmer that could cause catastrophic crop loss. Seed companies have developed seeds that reduce the environmental gamble, produce higher yield and help to keep our food products affordable.

Corn and soybeans are NOT the only grains and legumes that can be fed to man or poultry

True statement, but they are the two most profitable and viable crops available for both man and beast. Although my birds don't really like soy.

there is a DELIBERATE EFFORT TO KEEP THE PUBLIC FROM KNOWING WHAT IS AND IS NOT GENETICALLY MODIFIED!

I disagree with this. Seed companies are less concerned about telling you that a seed is a genetically engineered or a hybrid version than they are about telling their propitiatory secrets. This goes hand in hand with the patent argument. Seed companies spend millions to develop seeds, similar to pharmaceutical companies. They need to be able to recover profit from their effort. Farmers know exactly what seed they are putting in the ground. Are you saying that a farmer needs to label his grain when he sells it to a grainery? That then the grainery must label their grain when selling it to a mill? Then that mill must label their products when selling it to the bakery? I can just see it now...GMO donuts at Wal*Mart.

For those that believe Europe has it figured out, you need to go to their markets, which for the most part are all local, and check out their prices. Most farms in Europe are very small. They do not produce the yield we do. I have lived in Europe and have seen the farming techniques used there. They are not a good example to look to if your concern is health. Most of their ground water is non-potable. That is why beer and wine is so popular at lunch and dinner ;-) Their restriction on GMO grains is more a way to impose a tariff than it is about safety, IMHO. Goes back to the money thing.

Yes corn (in any current form) is a good ingredient for poultry feed. As with any animal, a balanced diet is important. If I were to pick one grain to be the centerpiece of my flocks diet, it would be corn. This is based on nutrition and affordability.

One last bit of trivia...Monsanto is also responsible for Astro Turf originally kown as Chemgrass.​

 

[Barry Natchitoches]

Spartacus,


As I tried to explain before, laboratory based genetic modification is NOT the same thing as breeding hybrids.


I don't want to hijack this thread, but I recommend that you learn more about what GMO actually is, because honestly, you think you know, but you do not. I apologize if you feel insulted by that statement -- I honestly do not mean it to be.


The problem is that you are mixing the two technologies up in your thought processes, as if they are one and the same, which they are not. Development of hybrids is something that both nature and skilled breeeders frequently do to improve the quality of the seeds or animals. Genetic modification is NOT done in nature, and it canNOT be done by the casual farmer or breeder. Genetic modification is ONLY done in a highly sophisticated laboratory, by scientists using test tubes and other fancy equipment.


This is not the time or place to get heavy into this topic, but I encourage you to research it further. Or better yet, get the DVD "The Future of Food" from amazon.com, or "King Corn," or one of several others that amazon sells that explains this very well.