is Dumor (dumour) a good feed brand?

[Family Farming]

Thanks for the tips, I have been debating on switching to my local feed store and your advice sealed the deal.

 

[Drewnkat]

I have just had a relevant experience, and would like to share.

My first batch of chicks arrived a month ago from Meyer Hatchery.

Before they arrived I bought a bag of chick started feed from a local feed store. Nice folks, helpful, neighborly.

Chicks arrived, so far so good, everyone looks happy and healthy. They went through that first 20 pound bag in a couple weeks. I bought the next bag of feed from TSC, figuring chick feed is chick feed.

First thing I noticed upon opening the bag was the smell. Holy moly that smell will haunt my nightmares for months. I figured that brand just had different ingredients, no biggie. It probably wouldn't smell as much when it was in the feeder, I just got a concentrated whiff because of opening a new bag. I was wrong. The feed smell filled the whole area around the brooder.

Then the chickens started pooping.

You have to understand, the safest place for them is in my master bathroom tub. I have six kids and a rather large dog. My whole bedroom smelled like that feed, and the poop smelled ten times worse. I was cleaning out the whole business every 3-4 days and you could still smell it out in the hallway outside the bedroom!

Today I went back to the local feed store and bought the other chick feed. The change was immediately noticeable. My bedroom and bathroom no longer have a foul odor. Bonus: my chicks are no longer pooping dark oozy looking goo, but formed stuff that looks like, well, poop. The only thing that has changed at all is the feed.

So, if you're planning to have your chicks staying outside, go for it. But if you're like me and have to share your living space with the chicks for a few weeks, avoid DuMor brand. Your nose will thank you.

 

[scootchick]

I have just had a relevant experience, and would like to share.

My first batch of chicks arrived a month ago from Meyer Hatchery.

Before they arrived I bought a bag of chick started feed from a local feed store. Nice folks, helpful, neighborly.

Chicks arrived, so far so good, everyone looks happy and healthy. They went through that first 20 pound bag in a couple weeks. I bought the next bag of feed from TSC, figuring chick feed is chick feed.

First thing I noticed upon opening the bag was the smell. Holy moly that smell will haunt my nightmares for months. I figured that brand just had different ingredients, no biggie. It probably wouldn't smell as much when it was in the feeder, I just got a concentrated whiff because of opening a new bag. I was wrong. The feed smell filled the whole area around the brooder.

Then the chickens started pooping.

You have to understand, the safest place for them is in my master bathroom tub. I have six kids and a rather large dog. My whole bedroom smelled like that feed, and the poop smelled ten times worse. I was cleaning out the whole business every 3-4 days and you could still smell it out in the hallway outside the bedroom!

Today I went back to the local feed store and bought the other chick feed. The change was immediately noticeable. My bedroom and bathroom no longer have a foul odor. Bonus: my chicks are no longer pooping dark oozy looking goo, but formed stuff that looks like, well, poop. The only thing that has changed at all is the feed.

So, if you're planning to have your chicks staying outside, go for it. But if you're like me and have to share your living space with the chicks for a few weeks, avoid DuMor brand. Your nose will thank you.

I know this is an old thread but I completely agree with Drewnkat above. I bought the non-medicated chick starter from Dumor after my local brand ran out on a day the farm store was closed. The local brand smells sweet and light... The Dumor smelled like something died in the bag and I couldn't bring myself to feed it. It's worth the extra couple of dollars to get the best quality feed you can find.

 

[southernfiction]

I live in a rural area in a rural state and we get the feed that is available. I switched to Dumor several years ago (and laying improved dramatically), but I'm now changing brands. I've been on the phone several times with reps for the company. Here's the main issue: when I buy the $8.39 20# bag, the starter/grower is the Dumor feed I'm used to; granular with little bits of corn, etc. For the tiny bantams I run it through the coffee grinder. When I wanted to save money and bought (two months in a row) the 50# bag, after I got it home and opened it, the feed wasn't at all like in the smaller bags. I'd used their layer before and the starter/grower smelled like layer (molasses smell) and was very brown and in tiny granules. I taped the bag shut and took it back to Tractor Supply. The company reps only investigated my second complaint. Their answer: the brown color and aroma came from a different type grain and baking temperature and that 50# starter/grower was made in Louisiana. The 20# starter/grower came from Fort Worth. This is most definitely a quality control issue and the company needs to address it. And I still don't trust the brown feed. The date of all this happening was June and late July 2014.

 

[Ocala RIR]

Hmm? Good question! After 6 monthes with Dumor. I got 1 hen now won't touch it. Will eat everything else but that. I watch her eggs slowly turn to rubber. I incubated some new ones to add to my flock. Getting me some concerns.

 

[ChcknNurse]

I'm glad to see this topic, as I've been trying to decide on feed brands myself. Definitely giving Dumor second thoughts! Has anyone tried Blue Seal?


As for dog foods, you want to look at the top 5 ingredients. You want protein sources to be specific and simple. "Chicken" or "beef" as opposed to "meat by-product meal". /img/smilies/sickbyc.gif  A good source for picking out dog foods is the "Whole Dog Journal". Each year they come out with a list of the best dog foods. They tell you the reasons why the foods are good and what to look for in good foods. They don't have advertisers, so they aren't obliged to promote (or not promote) any brand because of money being involved. 


Here is a link where you can get a free dog food report. /img/smilies/smile.png

http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/

I know this is an old thread. But the article only gives the first and says it's unavailable without membership (fee).

 

[gclark94560]

For the past few months I've been using the only feed my nearby local feed store sell. It's either Tucker or Taylor brand. Threw out the feed bag so I can't check.

Prior to that I was using Purina. It was fine but I had to drive 25 miles to get it at TSC.

The eggs I was getting with Purina were medium brown, orange yolks and hard shells.

After two bags of Tucker/Taylor the eggs were buff colored, less frequent and paper thin shells. The hens broke many by just stepping on them.

So I decided to try Dumor layer feed. The label showed higher calcium than Purina and a bit more protein.

After two weeks the proper color is returning and the shells are thicker. It seems feed consumption is less too. Looks like I'm back to driving 25 miles.

I found no big issues with Purina but the feed had a strong chemical smell to me and I think animal protein is important.

 

[3riverschick]

I have had good success with my Light Sussex feeding Southern States from Agway. I feed the non-chick birds the Meatbird feed. Also had great success feeding them the Agway Meatbird which is made by Cargill and the sister product to their Naturewise Meatbird feed. I really like the Cargill products. I have always had success with Southern States. I like their chick starter too. I have always fed the Southern States Meatbird crumbles but this last time got the pellets by mistake. Boy am I a fan! The birds love the pellets and so much easier to manage.
Best,
Karen

 

[PreacherSammy]

I have been using Dumor from Tractor Supply since I started raising chickens in May. Chickens seem to be doing great with it.

 

[KrisCVT]

I fed my flock (5 hens, 1 duck, 1 drake) Dumor since they were chicks up until about a week ago. They did really well on the food; feathered out well, ate well, seemed to grow well (except for my runt chick- that's another story). My only complaint was the large amount of dust from the crumbles- seemed to be a problem with the 50lb bags…just seemed like a lot of waste. I would probably keep them on Dumor but they don't seem to have an "All-flock" option. So I switched to Nutrena All-Flock Pellets….which I am still trying to figure out if they really like or not.