Soy Feed chick starter

[7kiariders]

I have 21 little chicks about 2-3 weeks old I am currently feeding medicated chick starter I can't remember what brand but I will look when I get home. I am going to switch to Non GMO organic food what are the thoughts about Soy free? We have a local place Called Sunrise Farms in Stuarts Draft VA who make animal feed i would like to get my feed from vs a nation wide store. I am new to this so any thoughts would be appreciated. I am sure this has been discussed so pardon me for that.Thanks!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Many of us would like to not see soy listed among the top 2-3 ingredients in a feed mix, preferring peas, etc., as a protein source. A problem with organic feed is that it can be hard to get higher levels of protein. If you remove soy as a source, it can be more difficult still.

I like the idea of local sourcing - support your local farmers!

Can you take a picture of the nutrition label (% protein, etc.) and then of the ingredients label (something like “Organic corn, organic wheat middlings, organic peas” etc.) and post them here?

Also, a recent post, humorous but very accurate, points out that chickens routinely eat their own poop and possibly others’ poop, worms, dead or living insect larvae, and so on, so does it make sense to pay extra for organic feed, and still possibly have to supplement protein? Something to consider when deciding what to feed your feathered composters.

 

[7kiariders]

Many of us would like to not see soy listed among the top 2-3 ingredients in a feed mix, preferring peas, etc., as a protein source. A problem with organic feed is that it can be hard to get higher levels of protein. If you remove soy as a source, it can be more difficult still.

I like the idea of local sourcing - support your local farmers!

Can you take a picture of the nutrition label (% protein, etc.) and then of the ingredients label (something like “Organic corn, organic wheat middlings, organic peas” etc.) and post them here?

Also, a recent post, humorous but very accurate, points out that chickens routinely eat their own poop and possibly others’ poop, worms, dead or living insect larvae, and so on, so does it make sense to pay extra for organic feed, and still possibly have to supplement protein? Something to consider when deciding what to feed your feathered composters.

I was mistaken it is Non GMO but not organic. But I feel like that is better than the the national brands. I like to support local. I am currently feeding Purina start and grow medicated but 21 chicks will burn through 25 pounds quickly. See attached link for the Soy Free GMO feed for chick
https://sunrisefarm.net/soy-free-chick-starter-feed/

 

[7kiariders]

And the link for the Non GMO layer feed. It is 16% vs 17% protein but I feel like if they are yard ranging and I supplement with worms or another protein source I should be fine?

https://sunrisefarm.net/soy-free-layer-pellets-2/

 

[nuthatched]

And the link for the Non GMO layer feed. It is 16% vs 17% protein but I feel like if they are yard ranging and I supplement with worms or another protein source I should be fine?

https://sunrisefarm.net/soy-free-layer-pellets-2/

Worms are mostly fat so they shouldn't eat that much.
Can you get a soy free chick feed and supplement oyster shells

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I was mistaken it is Non GMO but not organic. But I feel like that is better than the the national brands. I like to support local. I am currently feeding Purina start and grow medicated but 21 chicks will burn through 25 pounds quickly. See attached link for the Soy Free GMO feed for chick
https://sunrisefarm.net/soy-free-chick-starter-feed/

This looks pretty nice! I wish they’d added the methionine and lysine levels, but they’ve got fish meal as fourth ingredient, so that probably covers them, as animal protein. I see that there’s also added methionine on down the list. That plus the fish meal is how you get good protein levels without soy!

 

[7kiariders]

Worms are mostly fat so they shouldn't eat that much.
Can you get a soy free chick feed and supplement oyster shells

That is a good idea the only difference it appears between the soy free chick and layer feed is the protein and calcium the chick starter is 21% protein and less calcium and the layer is 16% protein and more calcium.

 

[nuthatched]

That is a good idea the only difference it appears between the soy free chick and layer feed is the protein and calcium the chick starter is 21% protein and less calcium and the layer is 16% protein and more calcium.

You could do half and half or just Supplement oyster shells for calcium .

 

[Mother of Chaos]

That is a good idea the only difference it appears between the soy free chick and layer feed is the protein and calcium the chick starter is 21% protein and less calcium and the layer is 16% protein and more calcium.

It’s easy to supplement calcium (oyster shells and egg shells.) It’s a bit more trouble to supplement protein (freezing and thawing small chunks of ground beef; serving sardines ; keeping the cat out of whatever you serve, etc.)

Obviously, neither is an ordeal.

 

[NatJ]

That is a good idea the only difference it appears between the soy free chick and layer feed is the protein and calcium the chick starter is 21% protein and less calcium and the layer is 16% protein and more calcium.

The extra protein will not hurt laying hens. Some people feel that the higher protein is actually better for them.

If you provide a separate dish of oyster shell, pullets and hens will usually eat the right amount to take care of their own calcium needs (they need different amounts depending on how frequently they are laying, so one hen may need more than another, but they are usually good at choosing the right amount for themself.)