mixing store bought feeds

[Chris09]

Thank you. Very informative. Maybe I'll give my chickens oats during the coldest days/nights. What kind do you recommend?

Any type of oats will do, I like what some feed mills call bin oats. Bin oats are just what the mill buys in bulk and are stored in the "bins" at the mill. If you get your feed from a feed store you could get "race horse" oats or clipped oats, the two (race and clipped oat) are much the same and are a little more clean than the bin oats.

When I feed oats I like to soak them over night to loosen the fibers and make them a little easer to digest.

 

[justplainbatty]

Oats or Barley:
The primary purpose of oats and barley is to add fiber and to increase the bulk density of feed. The hull
makes up 20% of the weight of oats and barley. High fiber from small grains keeps the digestive track
clean and can also be used to limit feed intake. High-fiber small grains also add protein and energy,
although most of this added nutrition is burned off digesting the excess fiber. Oats and barley have an
inclusion limitation of 15% in any combination without added digestive enzymes. The result of excess
oats or barley is wet litter and poor digestive viscosity.

http://ucanr.edu/sites/placernevadasmallfarms/files/102993.pdf

Any type of oats will do, I like what some feed mills call bin oats. Bin oats are just what the mill buys in bulk and are stored in the "bins" at the mill. If you get your feed from a feed store you could get "race horse" oats or clipped oats, the two (race and clipped oat) are much the same and are a little more clean than the bin oats.

When I feed oats I like to soak them over night to loosen the fibers and make them a little easer to digest.

Thank you both for all the info!

 

[matt44644]

Thank you both for all the info!

I get the 40lb Armada whole oats at Family Farm and Home in Almont $11.49. I've also been growing them indoors in the winter to offer some grass while the ground is frozen.

 

[mpgo4th]

Lets see if this helps, here is a good quote that deals with horses BUT holds true with all animals.


Now energy is not just energy.
Energy is broke down into three types and each type is to a point different.
There is a Digestible Energy (DE), a Net Energy Maintenance (NEm) and Net Energy Growth (NEg), DE is the amount of energy that is able to be digested by an animal, NEm is the energy used to say hold body weight and NEg is the energy used for growth by the animal.
Yellow Dent Corn has 1.78 Mega Calories per pound of feed (Mcal/lb) of DE, .98 Mcal/lb of NEm and .67 Mcal/lb of NEg.

If you want over heat a animal (chicken included) in the summer feed a lot of fibrous food like Oats, BOSS, Alfalfa Meal, etc. and or over feed proteins. One of the main causes of heat stroke in a animal in the hot summer is over feeding proteins. 

So Chris, my feed of choice is southern states super breeder. Its 21% protein, 4% fat and 6% fiber. Its higher in fiber than any store bought feed I've ever seen. Does this make it a bad feed for summer heat? It also contains PrimaLac for healthy digestion.

 

[mpgo4th]

Day one off the scratch feed mix and the flock of 18 has only eaten half a feeder full of the straight layer breeder feed. No scratch was given and oyster shell was tossed on the ground around the feeding area. I'll feed this way for the rest of the week to see if they have any change in egg laying or weird stuff on the poop board under the roost. Still dibating on whether to switch back to 16% layer or stick with the 21% layer breeder. One thing I like is that the higher protein feed has animal proteins in it.

 

[Chris09]

So Chris, my feed of choice is southern states super breeder. Its 21% protein, 4% fat and 6% fiber. Its higher in fiber than any store bought feed I've ever seen. Does this make it a bad feed for summer heat? It also contains PrimaLac for healthy digestion.

21% protein is fine and the fiber should be ok also.
I have seen some grower feed that are 8% fiber.
The fibrous hulls of some grains are harder to digest than a ground fiber that is in feeds.

 

[justplainbatty]

I get the 40lb Armada whole oats at Family Farm and Home in Almont $11.49. I've also been growing them indoors in the winter to offer some grass while the ground is frozen.

Are you talking about the store on Gratiot across from Krogers? I used to have 20 acres over there but now I live between Emmett and Capac. I get down that way only once every 3 months. Do you just put oats out of the bag in dirt to grow indoors or is there some kind of seed you have to buy?

 

[matt44644]

Quote: I use the FFH that is on 53(Van Dyke). Actually the grainery in Armada might be closer to you. http://www.armadagrain.com/
I just use the whole oats that are sold for horses. https://shop.familyfarmandhome.com/products/oats-whole-40lb-14047.html

 

[justplainbatty]

I use the FFH that is on 53(Van Dyke). Actually the grainery in Armada might be closer to you. http://www.armadagrain.com/
I just use the whole oats that are sold for horses. https://shop.familyfarmandhome.com/products/oats-whole-40lb-14047.html

Thank you much! I had forgotten about that grainery, New Haven used to have one I used but, it's gone now.

 

[Michael56]

Anyone tried this one?
http://www.peckomatic.com/index.html

Yes
My Chickens are happy with Peckomatic Feeder