Questions about feed. POLL

[Chicks Galore3]

What do you use as a 'main ingrediant' for homemade feed. what do you use as your main source of protein, in other words.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

It all depends on what you want your protein percentage to be. Oats are 14 to 22%, black sunflower is 16-24% and corn is usually the 'filler' used to fill out the other ingredience to make it more affordable. Corn is 9% protein. Dried soy is pushing 40%, defatted soy meal is over 50%.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

You should get away from the idea of using a "filler" in your feed. Every ingredient should have a specific reason and purpose for being included.

Now if you want suggestions for what grain you should use for providing the bulk of the carbohydrates in your feed then corn is likely going to be what is cheapest locally. But maybe not. You'll need to let your fingers do the walking in calling around your local area for local grain prices.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

A.T. hagan, that's what i meant. I want to try to avoid corn.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Wheat is probably the least problematic alternative to corn. In fact, my chickens generally get slightly more wheat (sprouted) than corn.

When you say "wheat berries", that makes me wonder if you're buying them at a health food store or grocery. If that's the case, look for a local feed store and buy a 50# bag. It's more expensive than corn, but not ruinously so. (in my area, and in my opinion)

How many chickens are you feeding?

 

[Chris09]

It all depends on what you want your protein percentage to be. Oats are 14 to 22%, black sunflower is 16-24% and corn is usually the 'filler' used to fill out the other ingredience to make it more affordable. Corn is 9% protein. Dried soy is pushing 40%, defatted soy meal is over 50%.

Where are you finding Oats that is 22% protein?
Most Whole Oats is 12 to 16% protein and Black Oil Sunflower Seed are from 14 to 16% protein.
24% protein is closer to Striped Sunflower Seed.
As for the Soy Bean,
Soybeans Whole, Extruded - 40% protein
Soybeans Whole, Roasted - 40% protein
Soybean Hulls - 13% protein
Soybean Meal, Solvent Extruded 44% crude protein - 49% protein
Soybean Meal, Solvent Extruded 49% crude protein - 54% protein
Soybean Mill Feed - 15% protein


Chris

 

[Chris09]

So what makes everyone think that Corn is a feed "Filler"?
There is more Total Digestible Nutrition in Corn than Oats and I see no one calling Oats a "Filler".

Chris

 

[Clay Mudd]

I think the OP is the only one calling it filler.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:

I think the OP is the only one calling it filler.

Quote: Form Egghead Jr
Chris

 

[Oregon Blues]

None of those items are fillers. A filler is something like mill byproducts: wheat chaff, oat hulls, that sort of thing..

Corn, wheat, and oats are all good feed grains. Soy is a good protein source. None of those is balanced all by itself.

Go to the feed store and buy "feed wheat" and you will find it is not all that expensive. I buy my feed and it is wheat and soy plus vitamins and minerals. I'm not interested in mixing my own feed, but there is a lot of information on the web if you want to look it up. I suspect you will not save any money.