Organic feed or not?

[HopeSprings]

My 17 chicks are 5 1/2 weeks old and have started in on their second bag of organic chick starter/grower. Later they'll be free-ranging and dining on my vegetable garden scraps.
Just wondering how you all feel about keeping organic or not ....

 

[Simplyrla]

The main reason I started with chickens was an effort to know exactly what I was eating and to give the hens that give me eggs a better life than the industry gives them. If you have the ability to keep it organic I would definitely continue. Better for them and better for you...in my opinion.

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

For us, we chose to feed conventional (flock raiser) because we can find it fresh at TSC - typically milled 2-3wks prior to purchase. Organic feeds at stores around us, when I checked last year, were very old - as in 4-6 months old. So we prioritized freshness.

 

[ellenscoop]

I don't think it matters, as long as you don't feed the cheapest feed. Poultry feed tends to be poor quality, especially the cheap brands.

 

[Molpet]

The main reason I started with chickens was an effort to know exactly what I was eating and to give the hens that give me eggs a better life than the industry gives them. If you have the ability to keep it organic I would definitely continue. Better for them and better for you...in my opinion.

X2
I am trying to limit the amount of pesticides and have a better chance with organic... or in my case I know a farmer that mills feed he gets from his aunt that is non gmo and while not certified, they use organic practices

 

[~KH~]

The main reason I started with chickens was an effort to know exactly what I was eating and to give the hens that give me eggs a better life than the industry gives them. If you have the ability to keep it organic I would definitely continue. Better for them and better for you...in my opinion.

I agree. I've always used organic feed with my chickens.

 

[Folly's place]

It depends on several things. How fresh is the feed at your feed stores? I also feed Flock Raiser, because it's available fresh where I shop.
Do you eat exclusively organic food yourselves? Will any extra goodies the birds get also be organic?
Is your ground managed organically? No herbicides or pesticides, except allowable ones, for the right number of years?
Have a plan for managing birds who may need treatment for illness or injuries that aren't possible to treat with organic methods.
I'm not up to 'totally organic' standards here, and am therefore happy to spend a bit less on a very good but not certified diet for my birds.
Longwinded, sorry.
Mary