Is this feed recipe healthy?

[higuy1375]

I agree with ChickenCanoe.

Also, you need salt.

Depending on where you are, also iodine and selenium - if they aren't in the soil, they won't be in the plants. The soils of wide swaths of the world are deficient in one or the other or both. They are usually in vitamin/mineral mixes but check that the mix you select is appropriate for your area.

You should check into the peas and lentils also. Each can be good ingredients as long as the amount is limited enough. However, they are both legumes so I think they have the same reason for needing to be limited percentages. If so, then they should be counted toward that limit together. 25% seems high but it has been a long time since I last looked at that and I don't remember numbers very well so it is something to check with the concept in mind rather than this being the checking of it.

Whether lentils are toxic depends on how you look at it. They have some antinutrients so technically they are. Sort of. There isn't very much and you can select varieties that are lower than most varieties, and there are things that can lower what they do have (heat, for example).

Whoever said to make 3500 pounds for 35 chickens needs the rest of their advice checked and double checked. That would take them well over a year to eat. Feeds should be fed within a couple of months once the seed coat is broken (such as cracking the corn).

I was planning on having the feed for the whole year, we have an older air tight silo I would store it in

 

[higuy1375]

So, what changes would you guys recommend? If I understand correctly, I should drop the mealworms in favor of an actual nutrient supplement. I could maybe consolidate the wheat and oats together for maybe a trinicale mixture, and then that would give me more wiggle room for more protein.

Also this feed mixture would be for new birds I would be bringing. I have a mobile chicken coop I built and they would be free ranging everyday on top of eating the grain. It would be 25 extra chickens, the additional 10 would be going to the normal cooped in chickens I have at my home. They free range sometimes.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Natures best organic pellets, its become too expensive for me. They stopped attack the one chicken and eating their eggs a few weeks ago

Yes, that's an expensive organic, and a very low Met level, even as Organics go, at just 0.25.

What else do you have available locally at a price you are willing to pay? and how important is "Organic" to you?

 

[FrostRanger]

Natures best organic pellets, its become too expensive for me. They stopped attack the one chicken and eating their eggs a few weeks ago

Unfortunately making your own feed is usually the most expensive option. You wouldn't be saving any money at all and would have to go through more hassle

 

[U_Stormcrow]

So, what changes would you guys recommend? If I understand correctly, I should drop the mealworms in favor of an actual nutrient supplement. I could maybe consolidate the wheat and oats together for maybe a trinicale mixture, and then that would give me more wiggle room for more protein.

Also this feed mixture would be for new birds I would be bringing. I have a mobile chicken coop I built and they would be free ranging everyday on top of eating the grain. It would be 25 extra chickens, the additional 10 would be going to the normal cooped in chickens I have at my home. They free range sometimes.

Honestly, my consistent recommendation is that new owners not attempt it.

Its VERY hard to do well, its harder still to source ingredients, and its harder still to do so at reasonable price.

**IF** there is a commenrcial feed available to you which is fresh, for reasons of economy of scale, it will almost always be cheaper than making a similar (and less certain) feed yourself - absent highly unusual conditions.

I know (a few) things about making feed for chickens, and optimum amounts of various nutrients for best performance. The more I learn, the less inclined I am to attempt it myself. and it wouldn't be remotely cost effective for me to do so.

 

[higuy1375]

Yes, that's an expensive organic, and a very low Met level, even as Organics go, at just 0.25.

What else do you have available locally at a price you are willing to pay? and how important is "Organic" to you?

most of my customers depend on organic eggs, its pretty crucial for me at the moment. I have a local mill that makes organic feed that is more expensive too but thats it

 

[higuy1375]

Unfortunately making your own feed is usually the most expensive option. You wouldn't be saving any money at all and would have to go through more hassle

I already have the machinery and land to do so, doing the math its become the more feasable and cost-saving option for me right now, I already raise a few grains for our cattle, and usually have tons left over so I'd like to implement a few more crops for our chickens

 

[higuy1375]

Honestly, my consistent recommendation is that new owners not attempt it.

Its VERY hard to do well, its harder still to source ingredients, and its harder still to do so at reasonable price.

**IF** there is a commenrcial feed available to you which is fresh, for reasons of economy of scale, it will almost always be cheaper than making a similar (and less certain) feed yourself - absent highly unusual conditions.

I know (a few) things about making feed for chickens, and optimum amounts of various nutrients for best performance. The more I learn, the less inclined I am to attempt it myself. and it wouldn't be remotely cost effective for me to do so.

I was planning to grow the crops myself, I have the machinery to do it with

 

[U_Stormcrow]

what can you organically produce (and store) on your own?

at good price???

 

[higuy1375]

what can you organically produce (and store) on your own?

at good price???

Virtually all of the stuff I had listen above apart from the meal worms, I was sort of planning to do away with them.
Also the lentils, I was hoping for some sort of substitute instead.