Locally grown and milled feed

[cafrhe]

At an poultry class offered by our organic farming organization, I learned about a local farm that grows their own crops and mills their own feed. I was told that it is non gmo. I dont see any claim to be organic but I think the presenter also said it was organic...or maybe he just said natural. I will have to look at my notes.

I had fed chicken feed from TS and a local feed store previously and noticed the difference in how that food looked vs this food. Here is the label and a pic of the food. Any opinions/comments?? It is 16% fir layers.

Thanks!
Jennifer

 

[cafrhe]

So I guess my questions are: Does this look like normal ground chicken feed? It seems like a lot of husks to me and lots of fine particlates (dust?). I was surprised that there are really 4 grains and then so many suppliments. I guess I need to find and read the label on the other feeds I fed and compare.

I like that this was a feed recommended by a successful farmer (and an organic farmer), I just want to make sure it gives the girls what they need.

thanks

 

[RJSorensen]

Hello,

To me, that looks like first class feed. I would like to try out a bag or two. The fines in it are most likely just small bits and parts from the mixing. If it is organic, I would believe you would perhaps see, things in it. Since they don't use spray and chemical fertilizers a few weeds and other exotic things are bound to get into the bag. I suppose this to be part and parcel of your management style.

Looks like you love your birds, I am good with that,

RJ

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks for the info and your opinion on how the grain looks. I have no experience with milled chicken food-I have only seen processed foods. I worked at a horse farm who bought separate grains and we mixed them, but they were whole grains not ground.

While I do not feel the need to be organic--I prefer as natural and unprocessed as possible. And this feed is much cheaper than I expected...After I saw it, I was concerned that there was a lot of filler (again being unfamiliar with ground grains.).

After reading, I am wondering if I want to add something else to raise the protein a little. Maybe boss. Or would adding mealworms (considering growing them!) be better. They do forage and have a large area, but I am sure bugs cant be that plentiful all the time...

Thanks again for your input!

 

[Chris09]

If it was me I wouldn't feed it, oat hulls are hard for poultry to digest and I don't like seeing it in a poultry feed unless it is soaked or soured and fed wet. Also I don't see a Calcium amount on that tag which should be stated on all poultry feed another reason I would not feed it. Did the tag say poultry layer on the tag? Something just doesn't look right to me.

If the feed was Organic it would state it on the feed tag.

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks for your input! It was the hulls that bothered me a bit. I spoke to the farmer when I picked up the bag and he said it was layer. But the bag doesnt say layer. It says Poultry 16%.

 

[flickerloo]

It does look like quite a bit of hulls. Is it like that all the way through. And is it just hulls,or is it whole oats with the hulls on? I uses Scratch and Peck, which is a mash feed like what you have. I ferment it, and that seems to take care of any problems with the fine particles that often remain behind in the bottom of the feeder.

 

[Chris09]

The tag says oats and that would be the whole oat.
If it was just the hull the tag would say oat hulls just the same as if it was just the "heart" it would say groats.

I wouldn't even call that mix a mash because it's no ground, it's rolled.

This is mash,
(Not my pic)

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks for the input!!!

In the name of education and because I am a photographer, I pulled out my macro lens for some close ups. Hopefully this will help anyone interested. I think I feel better about the feed after seeing it closer. And I will remember to wear my glasses when I look at stuff from now on! Let me know what you think!!

I pulled up some handfuls from the middle of the bag:




Spread out some on a white background:

 

[flickerloo]

Looks quite similar to the consistency of the Scratch and Peck feed. It should be fine. When in doubt about the digestibility of it, try fermenting it, which will make it more digestible. My main concern is that it is mostly corn and soy. But I guess that is what is in most standard feed.