Is feeding chickens organic feed worth it??

[TOPChickens14]

Hello forum members! I am contemplating switching my chickens to an organic layer feed. I have a few question about it. Does it cost too much, why is it not sold in 50 lb bags, what are some benefits and what brand do you use.

 

[Kiki]

Does your local store sell it?
Chickens don't care if the label says organic.

 

[TOPChickens14]

Yep it does

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Unless you believe in eating organic for moral/ethical/political reasons, and are willing to pay a substantial premium for the privilege, or you are selling eggs whose value increases immensely for the record keeping headaches and expense of feeding certified organic, then NO.

No measurable health benefits, increased weight gain, or anything else for your chickens to feed organic. Either do it because its important to you, or do it because its an important statement for you to make to your neighbors (like wearing the most expensive silk tie in the office). Don't do it for the chickens, they don't give a damn, and won't reward you in any measurable way for the change - they might in fact suffer, as many organic feeds use whole grains plus a powder to ensure a complete diet - and your birds will eat the grains, ignore the powder...

 

[Avettfan]

I decided to feed Grubblies Feed instead of any brand of organic. While Grubblies isn’t officially organic, I felt it’s a better option based strictly on ingredients. It’s an insect-based feed (no fish...what chicken naturally eats fish?!?). We eat mostly organic and want my chicks to do the same). I’m new to chickens, so please take this for what it’s worth, lol.

 

[Brooks_]

GMO's play a part, as well.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

GMO is a scare word. Its almost meaningless. The history of mankind is the history of GMOs.

That humans have selectively cultivated particular random mutations is not necessarily more, or less, safe than humans specifically engineering specific mutations. Almost all the chicken breeds we know today - engineered by human husbandry practices. Seedless watermelon and grapes? Humans protected a mutation that would have failed in nature. "Polled" Goats (naturally hornless) would be eliminated due to low fertility, except for us humans protecting them. The use of corn as a human foodstuff w/o the addition of ash? Deliberate selection of beneficial mutations by us.


I could go on. and on. and on. and on. and on. Even cross species gene splicing isn't necessarily bad - though its not necessarily good, either. But it is helping to feed the world.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you are doing this for your own consumption and feel that eggs and meat from birds that haven't been raised on organic feed from the start is "organic enough" for your liking, then feel free to switch. For my own consumption, I want eggs that are a little closer to organic standards so I personally would not be satisfied feeding conventional and then switching to organic.

And organic feed does come in 50 lb bags. Bag sizes are determined by the manufacturers.

 

[TOPChickens14]

Wow thanks everyone for their input. I am going to think a little bit more on it then maybe when my new pullets join the flock I might switch.

 

[Vacman]

It's your decision to make. If you search out and eat other organic foods, then you should do it. The cost is higher, but remember, non-organic grain is most likely sprayed with Round-up. All corn fields which aren't organic are. so when you eat the corn, you're ingesting Round-up. Would you drink a shotglass of Round-up? If not, then why consume it through your food. We eat organic for health reasons so my chickens do, too.