My proposed home-made chicken feed mix- does it sound right?

[oneredhen]

Thanks for the nod to the Merck manual- I found some useful tables there- http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...itional_requirements_of_poultry.html#v3344198

 

[ShanandGem]

Thanks for the nod to the Merck manual- I found some useful tables there- http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/p...itional_requirements_of_poultry.html#v3344198

You're welcome. It's really an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to grind their own feed.

 

[Circle-M-Farm]

Please comment (kindly) on the strengths/weaknesses of the following chicken feed mix, as to its appropriateness for laying hens. I am a newbie chicken/pet owner.
The hens will free range a good part of each day (large city yard, lots of bugs), and be given dried and live mealworms as treats. They will also have oyster shell and grit available to them. The hens are in a chicken tractor when not ranging about.

I am aiming for low/no gluten as my son and I both have celiac disease, and I don't want us handling glutenous grains or tracking it in to our house on our feet. I know animal feed grains aren't processed to the same precision as human food, so this is a 'best effort'.

2 parts each of:
cracked corn and
flattened oats;
1 part each of:
sunflower seed (the nut meats, no shell),
red millet,
austrian peas,
red lentils,
1/2 part each of:
buckwheat, and
whole flax seed.


I was thinking of adding kelp meal but haven't found a source (despite being on an island!).

Thanks in advance-

Right off the bat I can tell you that the whole 2 part, 1 parts and 1/2 part is the incorrect way to figure and mix feed.
You need to go by pounds as in say 10 lbs corn, 8 lbs peas and 4 lbs rolled oats.

Your also lacking proteins, and I believe that your using to much linseed ("flax seed").
Too much linseed and give your eggs a fish smell, chickens tend to eat less, hens have over all smaller eggs with less yolk, and chicken can get liver hemorrhages.

 

[ChickenTripp]

I am constantly tweaking our flocks' feed, as the weather changes and so does their ability to free range. Currently we sprout their grains five days - mix of one third wild bird seed, one third corn, one third whole oats. Every few days some liver. Veggie and fruit table scraps. Leftover oatmeal or old bone broth/leftover vegetable ends broth (nice treat served warm with leftover brown rice on cold days!)

Any advice as to what may be missing? Thank you!

 

[chickens really]

Balanced Nutrition = Healthy Chickens

Ever wonder why Birds suffer from Sour Crop, Impacted Crop, Egg Bound.....Necrotic Enteritis?......etc.......



Cheers!

 

[Folly's place]

What's missing is a balanced daily diet! Mary

 

[ChickenTripp]

Greetings, kind chicken friends! I guess I wasn't as clear as could be. Please advise what you would SPECIFICALLY add and why to the following diet...

Grains that are sprouted five days (Sunflower, whole oats, millet, corn) this is the main diet
Daily vegetable and fruit leftovers
Average every third day liver or salmon bones/skin or sardines
Egg shells crushed
Once a week soup (homemade bone broth/veggie broth/brown rice)
Daily leftover oatmeal and honey

Please be kind and don't say "cuz you're gonna kill your birds" or something like that...just looking for some helpful pointers from you friendly experienced ones, I know everybody has their own opinion and we respect one another. Personally, my family has issues with soy and wheat allergy that is why we're trying this. So far the "girls" are happy and laying even though it's winter and dark...always willing to take more advice, though.

 

[chickens really]

Greetings, kind chicken friends! I guess I wasn't as clear as could be. Please advise what you would SPECIFICALLY add and why to the following diet...

Grains that are sprouted five days (Sunflower, whole oats, millet, corn) this is the main diet
Daily vegetable and fruit leftovers
Average every third day liver or salmon bones/skin or sardines
Egg shells crushed
Once a week soup (homemade bone broth/veggie broth/brown rice)
Daily leftover oatmeal and honey

Please be kind and don't say "cuz you're gonna kill your birds" or something like that...just looking for some helpful pointers from you friendly experienced ones, I know everybody has their own opinion and we respect one another. Personally, my family has issues with soy and wheat allergy that is why we're trying this. So far the "girls" are happy and laying even though it's winter and dark...always willing to take more advice, though.

This is the kindest thing I can say........Buy your Birds feed that is pre-made.......All that other stuff are fillers.....

Chickens have very complex dietary needs.....If proper nutrition is not provided many common issues pop up...........It needs to be balanced......Years have been put into Chicken feeds that you can buy without the hassle of trying it yourself....

Your list of ingredients is all wrong......


Anyways......Best of luck......


Cheers!

 

[FlyWheel]

Re: all the comments concerning protein, the OP did say that her birds free range and have access to a large amount of bugs. Don't insects count as a good source of protein? Or is this dietary 'supplement' insufficient?

 

[chickens really]

Re: all the comments concerning protein, the OP did say that her birds free range and have access to a large amount of bugs. Don't insects count as a good source of protein? Or is this dietary 'supplement' insufficient?

I feel I answered the OPs question in all honesty.......Chickens have very complex dietary need that need to be met daily in order to remain healthy and not succumb to any of the common illness so readily talked about.....



Cheers!