"Nature Smart" chicken feed...

[LoveOrpingtons]

Oh good! I'm looking at getting some Nature Smart myself. Thanks!

 

[Sseckel]

I use nature smart, we get it in 40# bags for $22. Cargill also makes nature wise in 5lb bags for small flocks and it is 20% I do believe.

 

[TXchickmum]

My feed store to me that Cargill s no longer manufacturing NatureSmart chicken feed. Has anyone else heard this???? I love this feed! We've tried several other brands of organic feed and they are all powdery, dusty, and produce a significant amount of waste. My chickens clean up the NatureSmart crumbles.

 

[Sseckel]

Go to Cargill's website. I was just on there and I remember reading something about this. Don't quote me but I think they said that you can get the same formula under Nutrena. Car gill just came out with Nature wise brand and I love that. I have been using it for almost 18months (so I guess it didn't "just" come out) but my girls love it. Not dusty at all.

 

[TXchickmum]

Thank you! I have not been able to find anything similar to it at all.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Go to Cargill's website. I was just on there and I remember reading something about this. Don't quote me but I think they said that you can get the same formula under Nutrena. Car gill just came out with Nature wise brand and I love that. I have been using it for almost 18months (so I guess it didn't "just" come out) but my girls love it. Not dusty at all.

Naturewise is not new & is not organic unless they have changed it. Cargill probably couldn't compete with other organic feeds. Most feeds are similar ingredients or formulas, but conventional & organic are two different things. "Natural" has no legal meaning whereas certified organic does.

 

[TXchickmum]

I prefer certified organic (non-GMO), but refuse to buy feed that my chickens sift through and waste - or that they scratch out and dust the run with instead of consuming. All other organic brands that I've tried have been messy and a waste of money, IMO. I'm at the point that I'd prefer to switch to conventional feed (if there are no organic feeds that are genuine crumble forms rather than shavings mixed with grains and powder). We grow many of our own fruits and vegetables and purchase certified organic breads, cereals, milk, meat, and remaining produce. -not going to be paranoid about the trace amount of something that would come through the eggs via a conventional feed. -just my personal opinion.

 

[CrazyTalk]

"Natural" has no legal meaning whereas certified organic does.

Certified Organic has very little meaning either, other than that the company has paid to have themselves inspected.

It doesn't mean no pesticides. It doesn't mean no herbicides. It doesn't mean healthier. It doesn't mean safe. In fact, in a lot of cases, the organic product contains much higher pesticide levels than the 'convetional' one - they're just pesticides derived from plants - which doesn't make them safe.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Certified Organic has very little meaning either, other than that the company has paid to have themselves inspected.

It doesn't mean no pesticides. It doesn't mean no herbicides. It doesn't mean healthier. It doesn't mean safe. In fact, in a lot of cases, the organic product contains much higher pesticide levels than the 'convetional' one - they're just pesticides derived from plants - which doesn't make them safe.

Your opinion, but read the laws. I never said it was pesticide free. You of course have to know your organic supplier. I believe it is healthier & that is MY opinion. There are laws as to what can be labeled certified organic. There are no such laws with all the stuff labeled "natural" & that was my point. If you don't like organic fine, but you don't have to spout half truths as if you are being attacked. It's your choice & I respect that!

 

[CrazyTalk]

I haven't spouted any "half truths".

Organic is regulated, but it's not regulated in the ways people seem to think it is. What is chosen for inclusion is almost completely arbitrary - the decisions aren't made on what's healthy, or what is hazardous. Organic food is a multi-billion dollar market in the US - it's big business, and there are very few independents who don't end up as the property of Coca Cola, or Hines, or Nestle,etc , and as such they lobby for what's best for them.

Even the USDA organic council, the governing body on organic foods, states that organic foods aren't healthier, so you can believe whatever you want, but your belief isn't backed up by any data.