organic scratch & peck vs. purina

[LUVMY5HENS]

Have my girls on purina as supplement to free range, and fresh fruit and veggie scraps. I found out one of my local feed store carries an organic feed that's soy free and made locally. Any opinions on how much difference the organic makes, also as far as nutrition??? Thinking about changing them, but its kind of pricey so I thought I would do a litlle research first. Thanks

 

[Medicine Man]

The difference will be astounding. Like comparing a Mercedes to a Datsun B210 (Purina being the Datsun, that is).

 

[gale65]

I'm curious what soy and corn free feed actually has in it. I think around here, the layer ration they sell (which they mix themselves although maybe I could get pellets too) has both corn and soybean in it.

 

[abejita]

The feed that I got does not have soy, but it does have organic corn. Here are the ingredients

19% Layer Ration:
Roasted Milo, Whole Wheat, Roasted Oats, Alfalfa, Roasted Barley, Organic Corn, Oyster Shells, Whole Flax Seed, Black Oil Sun Flower Seed, White Millet, Fish Meal, Plant Products, Sea Kelp, Brewer's Yeast, Diatomaceous Earth, Pro-biotics, Vitamins, Minerals:

 

[gale65]

Quote:
Thanks. I wonder what "plant products" is. Seems like that could be just about anything. There aren't any places to get organic or any specialty feed here so we'll have to go with Kent brand pellets or the layer mash the elevator/feed store mixes up.

 

[barefootfarmers]

Go no soy and organic, we have to have it shipped for about as much as it costs, and we will pay. Do a test, put a bowl of each out and see what your babies like more. Ours wouldn't touch anything but the soy free!

 

[gale65]

Your chickens refused food? They eat dirt, bugs, etc. You'd think they'd eat any food you put in front of them.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I do not recommend Layena. There were a bunch of us BYCers on a couple different threads all with soft shell egg problems. After much investigation, we discovered we all fed our girls the Layena. Du-mor, which is also made by Purina Mills, had a moderately higher calcium content, which was what I used to feed my girls before trying Layena. Now I avoid all Purina feeds.
abejita, what is the brand you feed your chickens?

 

[abejita]

It is called H and H Old Fashion . I found it at a chicken coop tour that we had here in Dallas a couple months ago. I know they ship, but I was lucky to find it at a semi-local feed store.

 

[abejita]

My dog likes it