Started on new non-gmo food!

[sunnyllama]

Okay, I have a question, dont judge me! I have been looking into Hiland Naturals feed. Does anyone have a good review of it? I have only seen one on this thread. Anyone tried it? Loved it or hated it? Have suggestions for other soy-free feeds (yes, I am a "foodie"). I dont want to be eating gm-anything and I dont want my animals eating it either. Can someone recommend a good layer feed brand?

 

[sunnyllama]

Also, for those of you using a soy free, what have you noticed with egg production?

 

[theFowlFamily]

Hiland Feed is going gang-busters around central Ok! I know of several larger farmers who used to mix their own feed but now have started using Hiland and are SOOO excited about it! I started using it this past week and I really love it! It looks yummy and the fowl love it! Another huge plus is that it's AFFORDABLE! It's family run and the people are SO helpful! They also have an awesome High Omega 3 feed for layers that we will be starting our layers on soon!

 

[Spangled]

Also, for those of you using a soy free, what have you noticed with egg production?

We started switching over in 2008. I can't say that we had enough chickens prior to that to even make a comparison really. But I don't think there was much of a difference in egg production at all. The eggs tasted a lot better was the only thing I noticed. Less bland. They tasted eggier. But conceivably that's because we stopped feeding the poultry by-product meal (or whatever it was) that was also in the feed we used to use. We also started feeding sunflower seeds and kelp, other trace minerals, etc., in there at some point. So, really we can't claim that it was solely removing soy from the diet that made a taste difference or any difference at all.

I know we have a three year old hen (no soy from day 1) that was laying eggs in the dead of winter January that was finishing up her molt. Hens don't usually lay during a molt, so I found that rather a good sign. Many (not all) folks say that hens barely lay past two years so that's the only thing I can compare egg production with. I can't tell about all my hens because they're not segregated by age, but this hen was in a small breeding pen so I knew what she was up to. I was pretty startled to find out that she was laying in January while still in a molt without supplementary heating or lighting (living in the top half of the country). The other two three-year-old hens with her in the breeding pen still had a couple more tail feathers to grow in and they were laying for a couple of days after I put them in the breeding pen and then the move, I presume, stressed them enough to stop laying. Or the rooster stressed them. But again, I can't attribute anything to their lifetime-long soy-less diet because there's just no way of knowing.

Anyone can come along and try to make me look like a fool by setting up straw men or by use of other tactics, fair or foul. Some could come along and try to put words in my mouth or even discredit me by some other manner. However, I already know what I've shared is anecdotal. That alone puts my comments into a certain category ... one of insignificance. I would hope that those of us who happen to not be feeding our chickens soy right now for whatever reason would be given the space to post on this topic without being heckled and/or ridiculed. Please.

 

[Davaroo]

Hey, Spangled.... Want some ridicule? Admit to being unconvinced that genetically modified food products are the devils work. I did and my inbox is still smoking. LOL!
For now, I'm going on researching. I realized I could stand to know more. I'll say no more for now.

It's nice that affordable commercial feed alternatives exist, regardless of the source. Nothing I like more than to see agriculture people making money.

 

[Nambroth]

Also, for those of you using a soy free, what have you noticed with egg production?

I have no comparison, because my hens were raised from day one on soy-free feed (Countryside Organics).

Here are the facts, alone. You and other are welcome to interpret them as you will!
I keep detailed records on who lays what every day. I'm fortunate that I can tell all of my hen's eggs apart.

Facts:
6 hens, one year old as of this week.
Breeds: 2 plymouth barred rocks, 2 faverolles, 1 sex link, 1 australorp (hatchery stock)
Currently laying an average of 33.5 eggs per week, total. That comes out to an average of 5.5 eggs per hen per week.


Beyond the above, the rest is of course anecdotal. I am not a scientist, and this is hardly a study. But if you are curious, read on.

Now, laying rate is very dependent on a number of factors, which include but are not limited to: Age, Breed, Genetics, Photo-period (amount of light in a 24 hour cycle), stress/conditions, and diet of course. Can I attribute my laying rate to soy free alone? Of course not!! Only long term observations on many, many chickens will allow me to get any idea if soy is helping, hindering, or having a neutral impact on laying rate. I will be curious to see if my girls lay for longer than 'average' or (more importantly, to me) if they have longer life spans. Again, though, there are too many factors and variables to pin this relationship to the consumption or lack of consumption of soy. In reality I hope that the lack of GMO soy in my feed is only one of many factors that help them to lead long lives.

I can tell you that in my opinion, my eggs do taste richer and 'stronger' than the ones of family friends that raise chickens on soy-based products (to note: both my chickens and theirs also have access to free range in a weedy countryside setting). It's enough to notice, but it's not a mind-blowing difference in taste. I would hesitantly say that flavor alone is not that much more amazing that I'd be swayed onto soy-free for that reason alone.

I cannot say if I think soy has any impact on egg production, one way or another. There are too many other variables.

 

[Erica]

Hey, Spangled.... Want some ridicule? Admit to being unconvinced that genetically modified food products are the devils work. I did and my inbox is still smoking. LOL!
For now, I'm going on researching. I realized I could stand to know more. I'll say no more for now.
It's nice that affordable commercial feed alternatives exist, regardless of the source. Nothing I like more than to see agriculture people making money.

Perhaps the ridicule was because of your insistent posts on a thread you disagree with altogether. It's great to express an opinion, but clearly your choo-choo is on a different track...

Edit: Oops, that sounded a bit rude -- I didn't mean it that way. I enjoy reading a range of opinions; it's just that when people keep saying the same thing on a thread they disagree with, it can start to bog the thread down.
I suppose I'm doing that myself now... Will stop.

 

[Spangled]

my inbox is still smoking.

There has been no evidence presented to prove this. It won't stand up in court.

(I crack myself up.)

clearly your choo-choo is on a different track...

And with that comment, Erica cracked me up.

Never heard that turn of phrase before.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote: We'll have to take your word for it; so it goes.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:

I suppose I'm doing that myself now... Will stop.

Good point. It can work both ways, eh?
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject". - Winston Churchill

By the way, I do not disagree with the premise that GMS foods may be harmful.
Indeed, they may be. But, it seems appropriate to get to answers that fit all the information, not just the things the choir preaches to itself.
For the record, I tend to side with the naysayers - even as I poke fun at them. But I also see huge potential benefit in GMO's.

I do like that it brings another choice in feed to the market. While I've never actually seen any around here, I'll be on the lookout. Either way, I'm not sure the controversy matters to chickens.