Is there anyone who is able to review the feed I have created-soy, wheat, corn, and dairy free due t

[barkinghills]

Hi Susie,

I live outside Corvallis---curious where is the farm you mention that has soy-free feed? I would love to try it if possible.

Thanks!

 

[susienoe]

You know, I don't know which farm it is that blends the feed. They sell it at the Eugene Backyard Farmer on 6th Street in Eugene. I know that Shack Family farms uses the feed, because we buy soy/corn free eggs from them at Market of Choice in Eugene. Since you are familiar with the area, I plan to call Union Point Custom Feeds tomorrow to ask about a mix. They are in Brownsville. Hope that helps. If I get a custom GF/SF/CF/DF feed are you interested?

 

[barkinghills]

Hi,

I got together a potential buyers group with intent to buy a regular one-ton order of custom feed from Union Point. I called and had a detailed discussion with Alice at Union Point. I thought the conversation went well then she had to abruptly get off the phone saying her neighbor was calling. I e-mailed her several times telling her I would like to proceed with a custom order but needed concrete info about nutrient breakdown and final pricing. I was very disappointed that she never got back to me. I was never sure quite what to make of the whole thing, nor could I figure out why she decided not to work with me.

I am familiar with the Backyard Farmer and go there every month or two to buy Cascade Layer. I was there last Friday and they've switched to Scratch and Peck, so I bought 100 lbs of that. My flock loves it so far.

Thanks for the info,

Gayle

 

[susienoe]

Hmmm, Thanks for the heads up! That is very odd!

I was at EBF today, and they suggested I contact Camas Mills to see what seeds and grains they have. Maybe I will do that first.

 

[Percheron chick]

Another thing to ask the mill if they can't pelletize, is can they crack or crumble pellets? Pelleted alfalfa is a common horse feed product but it's too large (3/8") for a chicken. If they run it through the cracker, it ends up like a crumble. Alfalfa pellets are made from a lesser quality hay so it will have less leaves and be lower in Ca and protein but it's still an option. Another feed common in the horse industry is beet pulp. It the fiber residue of sugar extraction from sugar beets. It's mostly a high fiber filler feed but it's decent in Ca, protein, Fe, energy and has no sugar left in it. It comes either shredded or pelleted. My chickens clean up what the horse drops happily.

 

[chasmyn]

This is a wonderful thread - thanks for sharing your recipe. I'm still new to chicken keeping, and I have been wondering the same about being GF - and how on earth I was going to find feed that doesn't have wheat. I am saving this thread and your recipe for future use.

 

[chasmyn]

I'm also in OR (Tigard area) and would go in on a GF feed co-op if it happened.

 

[susienoe]

BarkingHills, Hummingbird Wholesale in Eugene also sells the Corn/Soy free feed. It comes from Bellingham Washington, but I am fairly certain the one from EBF is a local farm.

I have reformulated a little based on the comments. Let me know if you see issues!

Total Protein is at 15.8% (Birds free range daily in a 30x 60 foot yard.full of crane fly larvae

)

15% Hulled Sunflower seeds
10 % Field Peas
10% Naked Oat Groats
10% Alfalfa Seeds (Or Hay/Leaves Alternate)
6% Millet
5% Sorghum
5% Flax Seeds
5% Brown Rice
5% Sesame Seeds
5% Brewers or Nutritional Yeast (Jury's still out on the NY)
4% Buckwheat
4% Fish Meal
1% Kelp

Mix in Probiotics and oyster shells as well as a poultry vitamin and mineral pack. As of right now I plan to use my grain mill to grain all into a crumble.

chasmyn, I will let you know if I am able to figure something out with a local mill. Struck out today, but I am on a mission

 

[byveidt]

I'm not sure it's a great idea to feed chickens, or any bird for that matter, raw rice. Anytime I have rice I need to use my mobile food disposals for I soak it at least, if not cook it. And I second the lack of nutrition. Even in brown rice it is not substantial enough to justify the room it takes up in the gut as a regular food item. Everything else sounds good. I made my own once, but it wasn't worth the cost. And I'm not sure about fish meal--I was always told by my old Italian relatives not to give them fish or the eggs will taste terrible.

 

[susienoe]

Thanks! That is very helpful. I think I will get by with oats and seeds. Fishmeal will be a very small part. Do you have a different suggestion for protein? Thanks again!