Question about feeding CRACKED CORN?

[fowler_chick]

ok spoke the guy at the co-op today who made a phone call (don't know who it is) but when ever i have a question the guy seems to call this guy all the time....and yes cracked corn has the same nutriation as whole....

 

[spotman47]

I mix mine 60% layer mix 35%cracked corn and a little grit ( oster shell/1/4 lime dust and there happy as h--l plus various greens from the property and they smile so much there teeth show!
Pretty easy to mix got a pail thats about 10 gallons put all that in there and twrill the pail for a couple minutes back and forth and mixes up pretty good pour it in a hanging 35 lb feeder and there good for 10-14 days on that amount.

 

[Horseryder]

I don't know about corn but I do know wheat once cracked looses nutritional value with in hrs! We grind our own to make bread. My sister who does not tolerate store bought bread can eat my bread with no digestional problems. Wheat on store shelf is usuall rancid. Google it, you will be surprised! Also American wheat is very high in gluten then mcomercial bakers add more gluten to get the texture Americans seem to like, no wonder people are gluten intolerant!

 

[speckledhen]

Either way, it's the same low protein, about 8%. If you feed too much corn, period, it lowers the overall daily protein content of their feed. Layers need at least 16% and preferably 18-22% protein for optimal health. Chicks need minimum 18%-24%. Any corn they eat must be averaged into their daily protein. If you fed 1/2 corn and 1/2 layer feed that is 16%, you'd get an average protein level of only 12%; that is, if they ate exactly the same amount of each. Mine would eat most all corn if I gave it to them in their feeder so they don't get even my better-than-plain-corn 13 way scratch mix in there, only the layer pellets.

The exception would be if I had adult roosters with no hens, which has happened in the past. They can eat that 13-grain mix, which also contains its own grit and is 16% by itself. And there are differences in birds who have free range over rich pasture as opposed to those penned 24/7.