Need good recipe for gluten/soy free feed

[Guppy7]

And if you want more reading - particularly if you go the "free choice variety" route, I suggest you start here, also here, and here.

I'd offer more, but my computer blew up late last year (ok, blew up is facetious, "melt down" is far more accurate) and I lost my feed calculator [which I'd been meaning to rebuild anyways] and my entire library of feed studies, and free resources on feeding poultry when the overheating system took out one of my drives, too.

Nor do I have the time right now to rebuild that library.

Thank you so much for the info! I hope you get your computer rebuilt without too much cost and all your hard work and knowledge replaced!!

 

[Guppy7]

Welcome to BYC. Big Proponents of doing your own research and deciding for yourself. Perris the same, and offered good sources above. @saysfaa has a thread on old (mid last century) feed recipes, which just so happen to output results close to what modern science suggests are reasonable nutritional targets. I don't recall any as gluten free, but hey, take learning where you can, then adapt for your needs, right? Makes for an educated bunch of posters, Usually someone can point you in the right direction when you have a question.

Thank you. I will definitely check this out!! Sounds very interesting to me.

 

[FrostRanger]

Let us know what you find out as well, we're always up for learning more and your experience may help someone else with the same issue as you

 

[Guppy7]

Let us know what you find out as well, we're always up for learning more and your experience may help someone else with the same issue as you

Definitely!

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Hilo! I am anaphylactic. I carry 2 epi-pens. last March I gave an old friend a hug not knowing her hairspray had wheat protein in it and I took an ambulance ride to the er even with using my pen.
New Country Organics cant guarantee it doesn’t come in contact with wheat but so far i’ve been ok using it. I really am going to take time and come up with a recipe this summer God willing.

Sorry about affliction, have you considered switching to a different hobby?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thanks. Computer replaced. Much smaller, much faster. Lost a lot of data though, nothing critical/irreplaceable, just internet links, a bunch of spreadsheets/word documents, and some games I need to eventually reload.

 

[Guppy7]

Sorry about affliction, have you considered switching to a different hobby?

I have been this way for 20 years. Have learned alot about allergies. I used to be a baker and thats where i became allergic to wheat/gluten. My chickens are pets so I kinda like them

 

[saysfaa]

How many chickens do you have? I have a new (hm, different) old textbook. 1951. It explains more than my other one. Between them, I might be able to help if you want to make your own. I don't know about commercial options for your situation.

 

[Guppy7]

How many chickens do you have? I have a new (hm, different) old textbook. 1951. It explains more than my other one. Between them, I might be able to help if you want to make your own. I don't know about commercial options for your situation.

Oh my goodness, thank you! I have 9 chickens.

 

[saysfaa]

Since the nutrient value of feeds varies so much and testing isn't very practical for the volumes needed here, you might consider a cafeteria-style feeding system. That is where each feedstuff is offered separately from the others - more or less at least. Some aren't very practical to offer separately and it depends on how much risk one is willing to take.

Chickens will balance their own rations if they are given choices that allow them to do so and there are other factors don't override too much. Other factors include grinding things together so they can't pick different feedstuffs out. Other factors also include calling them over for treats (verbally or just by scattering meal worms or grains); that makes it a social occasion that can override whatever it is that tells them how much of what to eat. Other factors also include providing novelty. There are others. These "other factors" aren't necessarily bad. Each can be very good in some situations.

A downside to the cafeteria system is that it takes either a LOT of feeders or a lot of feeders combined with a lot of management. Crocks (like for feeding rabbits) work well as feeders. Unless you are willing to feed on the ground; that has pros and cons. And now I'm far enough down that rabbit trail for now.

What to put in the feeders will be in a different post.