The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Well...I'm one that uses either organic or non-gmo feed. I also NEVER feed soy in any form as it is not an item that a chicken would eat if it had a choice. Soy is not useable by - and in fact is dangerous to - chickens unless it is roasted - and even then it is not a healthy alternative for many reasons.

Having said that, there are plenty of folks that feed soy, raise their chickens on a vegetarian regime, and confine to small cages. I can get any of those alternatives from the local grocery.

I've just chosen to aim for the most natural husbandry for their health and mine as a consumer of their eggs and meat.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I think one of the reasons people think vegetarian chicken eggs is better is bc of the mad cow thing a while ago. There were quite a few reports of how livestock were fed animal products (sometimes of the same species) and in general people thought it was a bad idea. After that, labels that said "corn fed" and "vegetarian diet only" kept popping up. I don't know enough about non-veg animal feed to comment otherwise, but I remember that people discussed all livestock raised, not just cows at that time. If I could find soy-free feed locally that wasn't double the price, I would feed it. I can't afford to have it shipped to me, though. I don't go through enough feed to have it justify the expense. I keep asking at my local feed stores, and I'm hoping someday they stock it.

You might check your Azure Standard to see if they have a buying group that is local to you. People in many localities will pool their purchases into a HUGE order and share shipping to make it more affordable and to avoid having to purchase large quantities. If you contact the company they will let you know a local contact for a buying group if there is one.

I think Countryside Organics also has something similar.

I have a local feed mill that still formulates to order so I can get mine fresh-milled to order and share with another gal in my area.

 

[Bulldogma]

Hey everyone -

A while back we were discussing the use of starter/grower feed for a flock of all ages vs. layer feed for a flock of all ages. Of course I can't for the life of me find the conversation, so - -

I want to put together something that represents opinions on all sides of this matter. Please PM me if you're interested in writing about one of the following:

• Why you only feed starter/grower to your flock (plus calcium for your layers)
• Why you only feed layer rations to your flock
• Why you feed starter/grower to chicks younger than 18-ish weeks and layer to older flock members

I want to present all views on this for educational purposes.

Delisha and Stony - weren't you two of the folks who fed just one or the other?? I can't remember who said what or fed what, so please PM me if you can help on this little project.

 

[Mumsy]

I think one of the reasons people think vegetarian chicken eggs is better is bc of the mad cow thing a while ago. There were quite a few reports of how livestock were fed animal products (sometimes of the same species) and in general people thought it was a bad idea. After that, labels that said "corn fed" and "vegetarian diet only" kept popping up. I don't know enough about non-veg animal feed to comment otherwise, but I remember that people discussed all livestock raised, not just cows at that time. If I could find soy-free feed locally that wasn't double the price, I would feed it. I can't afford to have it shipped to me, though. I don't go through enough feed to have it justify the expense. I keep asking at my local feed stores, and I'm hoping someday they stock it.

Awww...Yes! That was a big deal in Washington State for a while. Animal feed was mixed with a lot of animal waste products. My husband used to work in a feed store. He told me cattle feed years back was routinely mixed with chicken feathers, bone, and dried manure. When feed is mixed with enough molasses, cows will eat anything. It made consumers and livestock owners alike much more conscious of what was exactly in the feed bag. Whether for cows or chickens. I had forgotten about that. Thanks off-grid hen. I think that may be it.
When my last bag of all purpose crumble is gone I'm switching to soy and corn free. It's usually sold out. Must be pretty popular here.

 

[Melabella]

Hey stony, ive got a off topic question for ya...has paypal gotten any better to receive payments. How does paypal work now? Never did have any luck with it, was a pain to use. What is the method you guys use to receive payments on business deals....

I personally love PayPal, but I've only used it from a buyers perspective. I recently had a very bizarre encounter with a seller when I tried to buy a jacket for my son. They processed the order, the money left my account, and I never receieved the merchandise. The company I ordered from then sent me an email saying that they needed photo copies of my drivers license and front and back of my credit card, so as to "protect their small company" Do they think I was born yesterday? I then contacted Paypal who listened to the facts, and I received my refund back within 24 hours.

I like using Paypal as any where I order from never sees my credit card information, and gets the money from PayPal. The less you have to give out that information the better in my opinion.

MB

 

[ocap]

I found "Food Grade" corn in a co-op in east Tennessee, off the cob but not cracked, was not much difference in price from "livestock" corn to "food grade"
I tried feeding whole kernal corn to chickens, I think mine prefered cracked

 

[Melabella]

You might check your Azure Standard to see if they have a buying group that is local to you. People in many localities will pool their purchases into a HUGE order and share shipping to make it more affordable and to avoid having to purchase large quantities. If you contact the company they will let you know a local contact for a buying group if there is one.

I think Countryside Organics also has something similar.

I have a local feed mill that still formulates to order so I can get mine fresh-milled to order and share with another gal in my area.

Does Azure Standard do poultry food? I just went there, and I only saw Human consumption things on their website. I struck out with Courntryside Organics, as there was no group in my area.

I was happy to find a good Agway product with no soy, and where as not organic, it's made with "natural" ingredients, For any one in an area where they can get Agway products, it was an affordable alternative for me.

here is a cut and paste from a post in another thread that I was talking about feed in. He told me about a company named King that has a similar food. I went to their website, and the products seem wonderful for anyone out on the left coast.

"What is the name of the feed in California you speak of?

I feed my flock a locally manufactured Agway non soy feed as I couldn't get Countryside delivered here without the cost of one of my arms, and one of my legs.


It is King Feed: http://king-brand.com/new/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=82&Itemid=6

This is the layer pellet ingredient label:

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Azure Standard does sell poultry feed- I haven't ordered from them but saw it.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I do not add water..IF and I mean IF the air cells at day 18 are not correct I will add damp paper towels in the shot glasses. Right now my humidity in my house is 50%. I do not need water, my humidity is perfect and the air cells are doing great! To much humidity and you don't have enough room for the chicks, they fill up the egg and can't turn. They need to loose moisture. Usually the chicks as they pip are doing so to grow lung capasity and to dry out. Adding too much humidity and you end up with unabsorbed yolks and herniated hard to close belly buttons. So my answer to you is...depends on your house humidity. If you have several chicks in the incubator they add to the humidity as they pip too. It really goes up if one hatches.

What day are you on?
Did you take notes?

 

[delisha]

Quote:
Well...I'm one that uses either organic or non-gmo feed. I also NEVER feed soy in any form as it is not an item that a chicken would eat if it had a choice. Soy is not useable by - and in fact is dangerous to - chickens unless it is roasted - and even then it is not a healthy alternative for many reasons.

Having said that, there are plenty of folks that feed soy, raise their chickens on a vegetarian regime, and confine to small cages. I can get any of those alternatives from the local grocery.

I've just chosen to aim for the most natural husbandry for their health and mine as a consumer of their eggs and meat.
Excelent post!!
x2