We live in an area where there's no local mill, so no chance to custom-order a mix. I have had to mix and match from what's available at our local feed store. I had been feeding some whole grains all along, but then we lost a bunch of birds to the horrible heat early this summer, and those that were left were getting opportunistic viruses and mold infections because they were so weak. I thought we might lose the entire flock, including 100 growing babies.
I gave myself a crash course on stress feeding and how to build up birds, and threw out ALL actual "chicken" feed. Went looking for better ingredients and denser nutrition. We're now six weeks into this feed program and I credit this food 100% for getting them back to health. I've never seen the chickens so thrilled. We can pan-feed with zero waste; anything they scratch out is cleaned up by the next morning. We do not have to keep the pans filled; they get two or three meals a day and they empty their pans down to the bare rubber. And, hallelujah, the weight came back on, their energy and strength came back, and lungs cleared up within a week or so. I now have a fat and happy group and the babies are on track and looking fantastic.
Everything from newborns to laying hens and ducks gets this mix, with mineral feeders always filled with kelp, a mix of bone meal and oyster shell, and grit available at all times. Eggs are hard, fertility is great.
Here it is:
50 lb Purgrain European Supreme with popcorn (16% protein pigeon food - has four kinds of peas, kafir and milo, safflower, millet, canary seed, millet, rice, buckwheat, vetch)
50 lb Purgrain Pigeon Candy (16% protein; high fat content for feathers and growth - mainly millet, rapeseed, safflower)
50 lb game bird crumbles (Blue Seal, 22% protein - this is so there's always some soft food in the mix for babies who might need it, or for chickens who want it - I've noticed that if they're feeling peaky they will go for this over the grains for a day or two)
50 lb alfalfa pellets (16% protein - this is what I think is helping their immune systems come back)
25 lb game fish chow (32% protein)
YOU MUST soak this food before putting it in the pans, so the alfalfa pellets and fish chow can soften and start to mix in with the rest. The smaller and younger birds will avoid the whole peas at first, but then as the peas soak up water I'll see them grab a pea, peck it in half, and eat it. By the next meal time there's absolutely nothing left.
We pay about $100 for the above mix of 225 pounds. The pigeon food is very expensive. However, we were paying $18/bag for Poulin before this - so around $80 for the same amount - and the birds were wasting vast amounts of it.
I've heard the old saying that soft-feathered birds can't have whole grain, but I think it's an old wives' tale. All of ours are soft-feathered, and when you feel their crops it's like a bag of marbles in there from all the whole seeds. And the proof is in the weight and feathering, which are wonderful now.
I gave myself a crash course on stress feeding and how to build up birds, and threw out ALL actual "chicken" feed. Went looking for better ingredients and denser nutrition. We're now six weeks into this feed program and I credit this food 100% for getting them back to health. I've never seen the chickens so thrilled. We can pan-feed with zero waste; anything they scratch out is cleaned up by the next morning. We do not have to keep the pans filled; they get two or three meals a day and they empty their pans down to the bare rubber. And, hallelujah, the weight came back on, their energy and strength came back, and lungs cleared up within a week or so. I now have a fat and happy group and the babies are on track and looking fantastic.
Everything from newborns to laying hens and ducks gets this mix, with mineral feeders always filled with kelp, a mix of bone meal and oyster shell, and grit available at all times. Eggs are hard, fertility is great.
Here it is:
50 lb Purgrain European Supreme with popcorn (16% protein pigeon food - has four kinds of peas, kafir and milo, safflower, millet, canary seed, millet, rice, buckwheat, vetch)
50 lb Purgrain Pigeon Candy (16% protein; high fat content for feathers and growth - mainly millet, rapeseed, safflower)
50 lb game bird crumbles (Blue Seal, 22% protein - this is so there's always some soft food in the mix for babies who might need it, or for chickens who want it - I've noticed that if they're feeling peaky they will go for this over the grains for a day or two)
50 lb alfalfa pellets (16% protein - this is what I think is helping their immune systems come back)
25 lb game fish chow (32% protein)
YOU MUST soak this food before putting it in the pans, so the alfalfa pellets and fish chow can soften and start to mix in with the rest. The smaller and younger birds will avoid the whole peas at first, but then as the peas soak up water I'll see them grab a pea, peck it in half, and eat it. By the next meal time there's absolutely nothing left.
We pay about $100 for the above mix of 225 pounds. The pigeon food is very expensive. However, we were paying $18/bag for Poulin before this - so around $80 for the same amount - and the birds were wasting vast amounts of it.
I've heard the old saying that soft-feathered birds can't have whole grain, but I think it's an old wives' tale. All of ours are soft-feathered, and when you feel their crops it's like a bag of marbles in there from all the whole seeds. And the proof is in the weight and feathering, which are wonderful now.
