My (quite short) TSC feed experiment.

[Apis mellifera]

If we really wanted to get into the grand scheme of things. They make the things that kill us faster cheaper than the healthy options and we choose it. They get all the money and we continue to feed it to them (i.e. soda, beer, refined carbs, fast food) just imagine if we simply took away ONE of those....how much would obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, etc decrease? We will never know bc we want what we want but yet we think they are targeting chicken eggs? It's almost laughable and I'm a skeptic by nature. We would be better off assuming it's all poison

Agreed. Soft drink companies paid a lot of money to remain on the SNAP benefits list. BTW, beer doesnt kill us faster, please leave beer out of this.

 

[CKfarm22]

I believe I mentioned recalls and bad batches being a possibility. I feel like people forget we do live in a world riddled with imperfections and sometimes crappy things happen. Doesn't mean it is an intentional ploy to screw backyard chicken farmers bc of their high egg cost. I mean if anything, shouldn't we inflate our charges as well if we are for profit?

If we really wanted to get into the grand scheme of things. They make the things that kill us faster cheaper than the healthy options and we choose it. They get all the money and we continue to feed it to them (i.e. soda, beer, refined carbs, fast food) just imagine if we simply took away ONE of those....how much would obesity, diabetes, heart attacks, etc decrease? We will never know bc we want what we want but yet we think they are targeting chicken eggs? It's almost laughable and I'm a skeptic by nature. We would be better off assuming it's all poison

Everyone has their opinion

 

[Cindy in PA]

I dont believe in a conspiracy theory by some faux Amish guy, but Purina isn't exactly squeaky clean either. They have a history of recalls and secretive about ingredients at times. Could they have produced a bad batch of poultry feed? Sure they could have, but we will probably never know.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/ot...-food-could-be-deadly-to-your-pet/ar-AA17leq9

For the 1000th time, Purina dog food & Purina chicken feed are made by 2 different companies.

 

[CKfarm22]

I dont believe in a conspiracy theory by some faux Amish guy, but Purina isn't exactly squeaky clean either. They have a history of recalls and secretive about ingredients at times. Could they have produced a bad batch of poultry feed? Sure they could have, but we will probably never know.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/ot...-food-could-be-deadly-to-your-pet/ar-AA17leq9

Except Land O Lakes makes purina chicken food, and Nestle makes purina dog food. Two different companies.

 

[Tbrad]

Except Land O Lakes makes purina chicken food, and Nestle makes purina dog food. Two different companies.

Lol, I don't really understand why statements have to be picked apart piece by piece. The ultimate point it that ALL/ANY manufacturing companies have recalls and can make crappy products. This whole post started on the premise of the theory that chicken feed is being messed with by its manufacturers intentionally. Loosely comparing to what other corporations have done isn't saying it's the same company but rather making inferences by using examples.

And if we are being technical they once were the same company under Ralston until the company split. So, this example could be from many years ago when they were one company but again, I don't think that's the ultimate point.

You get what you pay for and when I saw producers pride was the cheapest option I mean, what quality are people expecting? What works for some doesn't work for others as well. I got lucky and my first choice has been wonderful and their shells are STRONG and their eggs are BIG. switch food if you think that's it but it could be a multitude of things.

 

[CKfarm22]

Lol, I don't really understand why statements have to be picked apart piece by piece. The ultimate point it that ALL/ANY manufacturing companies have recalls and can make crappy products. This whole post started on the premise of the theory that chicken feed is being messed with by its manufacturers intentionally. Loosely comparing to what other corporations have done isn't saying it's the same company but rather making inferences by using examples.

And if we are being technical they once were the same company under Ralston until the company split. So, this example could be from many years ago when they were one company but again, I don't think that's the ultimate point.

You get what you pay for and when I saw producers pride was the cheapest option I mean, what quality are people expecting? What works for some doesn't work for others as well. I got lucky and my first choice has been wonderful and their shells are STRONG and their eggs are BIG. switch food if you think that's it but it could be a multitude of things.

I guess you missed my previous comments. I do not use producers pride and i’m switching my birds off purina anyway. And to be fair, my comment wasn’t pointed at you anyway. Obviously they’re not making butter in the same factory they’re making chicken feed. Just backing up what Cindy From PA said.

And they have to be “picked apart” if you want facts.

Your opinion is your opinion, and i’ll have mine lol.

 

[Tbrad]

I guess you missed my previous comments. I do not use producers pride and i’m switching my birds off purina anyway. And to be fair, my comment wasn’t pointed at you anyway. Obviously they’re not making butter in the same factory they’re making chicken feed. Just backing up what Cindy From PA said.

And they have to be “picked apart” if you want facts.

Your opinion is your opinion, and i’ll have mine lol.

I know it wasn't aimed at me and I've been speaking generally.... It's more that people take one sentence out of the whole statement as if that sentence stands alone. It has nothing to do with facts when you isolate it from the rest of the context; that is what i mean by picking it apart. I don't think anyone was saying it was all one company or made in the same place but we somehow drifted to that when the overall point was all corporations do fishy things on some productions lines. I didn't follow their link but it did look like they were backing up their claim/example.

I will say out of all this I did learn something new which is Nestle owns purina for dog/cat food and land o lakes owns the chicken feed side. I have known though that all this big brand businesses are eerily connected and this just adds to that list. My purina chicken feed bag looks almost identical to the dog food bag, minus colors and such, so it would be very easy to think they were connected. Actually, I just looked up the pictures of both and they use the same emblem (red/white checkered box). Perhaps Nestle and Land o Lakes have the same parent company

 

[CKfarm22]

I know it wasn't aimed at me and I've been speaking generally.... It's more that people take one sentence out of the whole statement as if that sentence stands alone. It has nothing to do with facts when you isolate it from the rest of the context; that is what i mean by picking it apart. I don't think anyone was saying it was all one company or made in the same place but we somehow drifted to that when the overall point was all corporations do fishy things on some productions lines. I didn't follow their link but it did look like they were backing up their claim/example.

I will say out of all this I did learn something new which is Nestle owns purina for dog/cat food and land o lakes owns the chicken feed side. I have known though that all this big brand businesses are eerily connected and this just adds to that list. My purina chicken feed bag looks almost identical to the dog food bag, minus colors and such, so it would be very easy to think they were connected. Actually, I just looked up the pictures of both and they use the same emblem (red/white checkered box). Perhaps Nestle and Land o Lakes have the same parent company

“Nestle Purina DOES use the checkerboard on their pet products. Years ago, Purina was one company, owned by Ralston. The company split many years ago and Land O'Lakes is the parent company to Purina Mills (now Purina Animal Nutrition) and Nestle ended up with the Purina pet side”

 

[NatJ]

Except Land O Lakes makes purina chicken food, and Nestle makes purina dog food. Two different companies.

I thought that was just an example of a pet food recall that had occurred, rather than pointing fingers at the specific company.

Recalls happen with many different companies, usually because a mistake was made somewhere.

Here are three examples from different companies, in a different years:
https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-...l-flock-party-quack-snacks-sold-united-states
In 2021, duck treats were recalled because of possible salmonella contaminationa. The brand was Flock Party, the manufacturer was Manna Pro.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-...lls-easy-feed-organic-chick-startergrower-org
In 2021, a chick starter was recalled for having insufficient salt. That manufacturer was Hubbard Feeds.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-...ern-statesr-feed-due-highexcessiveor-elevated
In 2019, a number of different poultry feeds and other feeds were recalled for having aflatoxin levels that were too high. The manufacturer was Cargill, and they had been sold at Southern States stores.

Those examples are from the FDA list here:
https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals
(Many of the others are pet foods, and many are because of salmonells. I picked two specific examples that are more relevant to chickens.)

All of those companies have produced plenty of animal food that is just fine, and one or a few batches that had problems. If there are problems with some currently-available chicken foods, I think it's more likely by mistake than because of any big plan or conspiracy.

 

[ChicFil- A]

Hey everyone! I’m not sure how many of you have heard the “Tractor Supply chicken food is bad” rumor, but when I first stumbled on a video warning me that my Producer’s Pride mini pellets (40lb bag) feed is why my chickens had a weird molt and stopped laying this winter, I got to thinking.

Background: I live in Missouri about an hour east of Springfield, and I have Buff Orpingtons from Cackle Hatchery. When I lived in Virginia, I’d owned red sexlink, gold sexlink, heritage RIR, and heritage Black Java, and I’d fed them Dumor brand feed. None of my previous chickens had stopped laying like these girls did this year. This is my first year with Orpington hens, but I also have five laying-age pullets that my hens hatched. I have seven hens and five pullets (and a rooster).

Armed with the new feed information, I decided to do a little experiment. I bought some local feed and gave that to my chickens for a week, and the results were outstanding! I went from getting 1 egg a day (every once in a while 2) to getting 5-6 by the end of the week! I was thrilled, but I also knew this was after Winter Solstice, and it could be coincidence. So I fed them the PP feed for a week. The eggs dropped a bit in size, but production stayed the same. I wanted to try one more time for two weeks each feed, but I got sick for a week and the kids had to feed the chickens. Both bags were getting low, and the kids just alternated depending on which bag was easiest to get into (they’re still kind of young). The TSC food ran out. I bought two bags of local feed because it turns out to be cheaper and I like its scent better. Also, I like big eggs.

During the time I got sick, the egg production lessened again to 3-4 a day. I’m still only getting 3-4 a day, though they’re a decent size and my chickens have only had local feed for the past week. I wasn’t sure why production dropped again when I’ve been giving them food from the very bag that potentially got them laying 5-6, so I asked my neighbor about her experience. She’s been feeding her 40 laying pullets (and three roosters) the local feed all winter, and they also stopped laying--about a month after mine stopped, and are only just starting up again a month after mine did. So, with all this information, I have a new theory that it’s the weird weather causing the egg problems.

One thing people often forget about is that this year’s Autumn and Winter have been crazy; I think it’s that that caused the weird egg problems, not the food. If it is the food, chances are it wasn’t done on purpose. Why would large feed companies sabotage themselves when they know there are tons of local companies we can turn to?

So, have you done any experiments with your chicken feed? If so, what did you do and what were the results? If you want to try an experiment, please feel free to post and update it here!

Good day!
I’ve fed both TSC brand and Purina layena, There is a difference in my chickens behavior, before I started the Purena my chickens seemed to be starved each time I went to the coop. They were more than hungry!
and their egg shells were soft and easily broken. since i’ve changed to Purina brand. the yolks are a deep orange, and very strong shells, and best of all my chickens seemed more satisfied. and not starved. I don’t have answers however I believe people when they tell me their chickens are not producing! I actually believe it has more to do with the severe weather summer and winter, each season we’ve broken records for coldest and hottest and we’ve had drought then excessive rain so I’m going to call it Weather related!!