MarketGardener
Songster
- May 22, 2022
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i am designing my diet grain free, we will be on pasture in few month but till then im looking to design a diet without soy or grain as both raise omega 6 instead of 3 which has affects on my immune disorder,
grain is affecting me in ways where the dust from the chickens gets me as well as it adding to imbalance their omegas,
ive been advised to eat soy free grass fed at £40 a chicken or make expensive food .
ive been researching for months/years and feel i have finally found a good recipe without using a million inputs but while supplying every Amino acid and protein they need.
however i do question weather the meat cockerels should have oyster shell available or ground bones as CA Phos as they have some skeletal development still in grwoth which i feel may be lowish aswel as vit d with winter here, but codliver oil can fix this but thats on the calculator the fresh greens should supply all that they need
required | total in diet
Arginine 0.8% 1.95% Good (exceeds; from peas/flax)
Glycine 0.7% 1.05% Good (exceeds)
Histidine 0.3% 0.53% Good (exceeds)
Isoleucine 0.65% 0.94% Good (exceeds)
Leucine 1.0% 1.58% Good (exceeds)
Lysine 0.75% 1.30% Good (exceeds)
Methionine 0.3% 0.39% Good (meets)
Methionine + Cystine 0.6% 0.71% Good (meets)
Phenylalanine 0.6% 1.10% Good (exceeds)
Threonine 0.55% 0.86% Good (exceeds)
Tryptophan 0.14% 0.25% Good (exceeds)
Valine 0.7% 1.17% Good (exceeds)
Vitamin A 3,000 IU/kg ~10,000 IU/kg Good (exceeds; alfalfa/kelp)
Vitamin D 400 IU/kg (higher in winter) 0 IU/kg Deficient (winter sun limited; add premix or cod liver oil for 400-500 IU/kg)
Vitamin E 20 mg/kg ~30 mg/kg Good (meets; flax/alfalfa)
Vitamin E20 mg/kg~30 mg/kgGood (meets; flax/alfalfa)
currently the chickens have been on an almost all meat diet and kitchen scraps and there bigger and stronger than any previous hatch ive had i sware i have monster cockerels in there 3x their dads size! but i feel they do need some more stuff as there happy with meat but i am running out of freezer room to keep givign them organs and carcasse so i need to use the meat to feed them , aswel as incouraging their bulking,
''High-fiber diets can benefit meat chickens by improving digestive health, nutrient utilization, and reducing carcass fat. For example, adding fiber can increase the size of the gizzard and intestines, increase breast meat yield, and reduce abdominal fat. It can also improve litter quality by increasing the time it takes for birds to eat, which can reduce water intake. High fiber content is sometimes reduced or carefully managed in the late stages of growth to avoid negatively impacting growth rate''
so what do you all think to my finnishing diet?
grain is affecting me in ways where the dust from the chickens gets me as well as it adding to imbalance their omegas,
ive been advised to eat soy free grass fed at £40 a chicken or make expensive food .
ive been researching for months/years and feel i have finally found a good recipe without using a million inputs but while supplying every Amino acid and protein they need.
however i do question weather the meat cockerels should have oyster shell available or ground bones as CA Phos as they have some skeletal development still in grwoth which i feel may be lowish aswel as vit d with winter here, but codliver oil can fix this but thats on the calculator the fresh greens should supply all that they need
Grain-Free, Soy-Free Chicken Feed Recipe for 16-Week-Old Cockerel Meat Birds (~24% Protein, Winter-Adjusted)
This recipe is for 16-week-old cockerel meat birds in an open-sided shelter during winter, targeting ~24% crude protein. It uses fresh rabbit or deer meat, field peas, flaxseed meal, coconut meal, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, limestone powder, salt, and coconut oil (to boost energy for cold weather). Fiber is kept at ~7% (insoluble, from alfalfa/coconut, beneficial for gut health per research), with fermentation to enhance digestibility. The batch makes ~50 kg (110 lbs) for ~10 birds over 5 weeks, with daily portions (~150-200g/bird) frozen for freshness. All essential amino acids are met or exceeded. Winter feeding increases by 20-30% to address low metabolizable energy (ME). (due to kelp i will mitigate salt as it said high)Ingredients (50 kg Batch)
Preparation Instructions
- Source: Fresh rabbit/deer meat (minced, include some bone); dry ingredients from feed stores; coconut oil (food-grade, e.g., Azure Standard).
- Mix: Blend dry ingredients (peas, flax, coconut meal, alfalfa, kelp, lime, salt), then mix in minced meat and melted coconut oil.
- Ferment: Soak in dechlorinated water (1:1 ratio) for 24-48 hours, stirring daily. Feed when bubbly/tangy to maximize fiber benefits and digestibility.
- Portion & Freeze: Divide into daily portions (~1.5-2 kg for 10 birds; 150-200g/bird, higher in winter). Freeze in airtight bags (thaw overnight); lasts 3 months.
- Storage: Refrigerate fermented mix or freeze
- Supplements: fresh greens and fruits to pick at between meals .
Feeding & Monitoring
- Daily Amount: 150g/bird (1.5 kg for 10); increase to 180-200g in winter (+20-30%) for extra energy (cold increases needs by ~1.5 kcal/g body weight/°C below 20°C).
- Winter Setup: Open-sided shelter means cold exposure; higher feed compensates for low ME. Ensure dry bedding to avoid chilling.
- Foraging: Reduce feed by 10% if ranging; winter forage may be limited.
- Monitoring: Weigh weekly (target 5-7 lbs by slaughter). Check stools (firm = good fiber use; loose = reduce alfalfa to 3%).
Nutrient Comparison Table: Requirements vs. Diet Supplies
Requirements based on NRC (1994/updated) for broiler finishers (6-18 weeks; adjusted for 16-week-olds and 24% CP goal). Supplies calculated as-fed (USDA/Feedipedia). Winter needs noted (e.g., higher ME). Status and fixes address deficiencies.
required | total in diet
Arginine 0.8% 1.95% Good (exceeds; from peas/flax)
Glycine 0.7% 1.05% Good (exceeds)
Histidine 0.3% 0.53% Good (exceeds)
Isoleucine 0.65% 0.94% Good (exceeds)
Leucine 1.0% 1.58% Good (exceeds)
Lysine 0.75% 1.30% Good (exceeds)
Methionine 0.3% 0.39% Good (meets)
Methionine + Cystine 0.6% 0.71% Good (meets)
Phenylalanine 0.6% 1.10% Good (exceeds)
Threonine 0.55% 0.86% Good (exceeds)
Tryptophan 0.14% 0.25% Good (exceeds)
Valine 0.7% 1.17% Good (exceeds)
Vitamin A 3,000 IU/kg ~10,000 IU/kg Good (exceeds; alfalfa/kelp)
Vitamin D 400 IU/kg (higher in winter) 0 IU/kg Deficient (winter sun limited; add premix or cod liver oil for 400-500 IU/kg)
Vitamin E 20 mg/kg ~30 mg/kg Good (meets; flax/alfalfa)
Vitamin E20 mg/kg~30 mg/kgGood (meets; flax/alfalfa)
i have altered salt out of the recipe but not out of the % table
currently the chickens have been on an almost all meat diet and kitchen scraps and there bigger and stronger than any previous hatch ive had i sware i have monster cockerels in there 3x their dads size! but i feel they do need some more stuff as there happy with meat but i am running out of freezer room to keep givign them organs and carcasse so i need to use the meat to feed them , aswel as incouraging their bulking,
''High-fiber diets can benefit meat chickens by improving digestive health, nutrient utilization, and reducing carcass fat. For example, adding fiber can increase the size of the gizzard and intestines, increase breast meat yield, and reduce abdominal fat. It can also improve litter quality by increasing the time it takes for birds to eat, which can reduce water intake. High fiber content is sometimes reduced or carefully managed in the late stages of growth to avoid negatively impacting growth rate''
so what do you all think to my finnishing diet?
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good morning i appreciate the reply, unlike most my circumstances are that my family manage rabbit and deer for people on land so we end up with a lot in the chiller but when no one wants it and i cant eat it all its provided food for my animals and friends dogs for years, which stops waste of course so in my situation i have it available at no cost 
