I keep a fairly small flock, and I've been basically been buying Dumor or 'whatever's there' from TSC and Rural King. However, I'd really like to give my chickens something healthier. Not because I'm dissatisfied with their health as it is, or with the quality of my feed (I wouldn't know any better) or because I've had any problems. I want to, simply because I can. I can afford more than $10 50-pound bag of starter/grower or layer. And if I can do something to improve the quality of my chickens' lives; sure, why not? Anyway, does anyone know of a high quality, or simply a better-quality-than-usual feed, that I could find at a feed store or order cheaply online?
This is just my 2 cents worth. I feel once the grain has been cracked/ground (into feed) It will start to loose it's nutrients and the oil's will go rancid. I also like to know what is in the feed I am feeding to my hens especially because I will be (They are 9 wks old) eating their eggs. This is my first flock feeding whole grains. When they were little I had to grind the grains. Wasn't too hard to do, They didn't eat much back then. So I mix my own feed using as much as possible whole "living" (when planted they will grow) grains. I can not afford Organic food for my family or our flock. I really would like too thou. Good luck with your flock.
Sprouts! A great way to bring in natural vitamins (and by the way, not expensive). Corn, wheat and peas sprout really well and provide lots of accessible vitamins. Soak 24 hours in a lot of water, then hang in a bag and rinse daily while feeding them out. I also feed sunflower seeds that have been soaked and are just starting to sprout; the birds enjoy them and have really shiny feathers. The more you replace of the fully formulated diet, the more you have to fully formulate the addition (which can be hard). But since sprouts are so nutritious you can feed them at a fairly high percentage of the diet without harm and I think with some genuine improvements in bird health. cheers Erica
When I bought a commercial feed I would get either Buckeye Nutrition or Kent. There two of the better feeds you can get, Buckeye has been around for over a hundred years and to me the best feed you can get. Unless you have a feed mill (not a feed store, TSC is a feed store) around you I would not recommend trying to mix your own feed just because the cost would be outrageous and you might not be able to all that you need. Chris
