Soybean protien

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
A lot is going to depend on what you can find in your region. Making up your own whole grain feed is a major commitment. Finding an organic feed that has both fish meal and plant protein at a price that is not more than 30% higher than non organic may be a way to go if organic is important to you.

Chris09 is in Ohio too. Chris likes pigeon feeds. I do not think they are organic, but the mixtures of grains seem to stand out as wholesome and high quality blends.

ON

I like pigeon feeds, too, but they are (or at least the one I use is) considerably more expensive than chicken feed, and also contain soy. I recently heard of an organic chicken feed that looks to have really good ingredients. http://www.azurestandard.com/shop/product/1044/ They also have starter and grower formulas. Most of the other organic feeds I have seen look to be predominantly soy and corn, with little else.

Pumpkin seed is very high in protein.

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I like that Oregon feed in the link... Interesting ingredients.... Crab meal. I assume for the calcium with protein as a bonus! (I do like crab meal in the garden, never considered it for chickens though.)


ON

 

[Cindy in PA]

Crab meal is 24% protein, I think. The no-soy local feed I am feeding now has 5% crabmeal in the layer. I am hoping that is enough "animal protein" for the layers. Otherwise I would buy the grower that has fish meal, but that is only 2.5%. The farmer just got a new recipe from Fertrell that has corn, peas, wheat, flax, peanut meal, crab meal,alfalfa meal & Fertrell minerals. My pullets have grown well on the old formula (minus the flax & Peanut meal), so I have to wait & see how they do the next time I get feed. I have read that nut meal is an OK source of protein for layers, but while it is organic, the farmer couldn't tell me where it came from except NY. China comes to mind & I have to get clarification on that. I know Lakeview Organics in NY sells peanut meal, but I think it is only mixed with soybean meal. That's the only problem using no-soy, peas & some other ingredients are not local. As far as pigeon grains, the one I used is all grain, no soy, but it is pricey. 16% protein is $24/50 lbs.

 

[Organics North]

Cindy in PA,
You should be able to find field peas locally.. They grow well in northern climates. Field peas used to be a major feed component prior to soybeans. I know some dairy farmers that plant them and feed as green fodder.

I have started grinding some peanuts for my birds... I add maybe 5% to their dry mix.. The birds really enjoy it.

Thanks for the protein numbers on the crab meal.

(Thawing some old venison to feed to the birds tonight..for their animal protein treat. Since they are locked into their coop and run for a week.. No free ranging for the birds until they get settled into their new location.. I moved the coop, and spent until 10 at night catching birds in the dark when they could not find the coops new location..)

ON