The Old Folks Home

[Arielle]

@ozexpat You inspired me to start putting together a spreadsheet of the nutrient content in what we feed the chickens. I've been instinctively cutting down on the feeds I consider to be high in protein, and just did a rough calculation on what we're feeding them for the first time. This is a bit difficult though, since the info available on different feeds seems to be in slightly different forms, and for some stuff I have very basic info. I'm going to add the vitamins etc. later (which will be a pain to get good data on), but I'd say the mix I just made this morning seems to be pretty well balanced proteinwise.

Ingredient
Hold'em Close Mix Wheat Oat Rapeseed pellet Pea Linseed crush Total
Parts

15​

30​

30​

10​

10​

5​

Coefficient

0.15​

0.3​

0.3​

0.1​

0.1​

0.05​

Contents Contents
Crude Protein

0.115​

0.126​

0.11​

0.295​

0.239​

0.314​

Crude Protein

0.15715​

Oil/Fat

0.13​

0.227​

0.139​

Oil/Fat

0.04915​

Fibre

0.09​

0.026​

0.139​

0.133​

0.06​

0.119​

Fibre

0.08825​

Ash

0.025​

0.018​

0.03​

0.0054​

0.035​

0.053​

Ash

0.02484​

Starch

0.691​

0.406​

0.513​

Starch

0.3804​

You're probably a bit more familiar with feedipedia than I am, don't they measure fat in any way in their tables? I still need to make time for getting more familiar with their tables.

What we're trying to accomplish with mixing the feed ourselves, is to mainly feed them domestically grown stuff. Out of the ingredients in this mix everything except for the Hold'em seed mix is grown in Finland, and the wheat, oats, peas and canola is grown about 40km from us.

The Hold'em mix is imported from Britain, so it's traveled a bit, but the birds seem to go crazy for the stuff. It has a bit of aniseed oil in it which makes the feed smell pretty nice, and I think it's giving our eggs a slight flavor addition too. The flavor isn't anise-like, it just improves and enriches the egg taste. It's made up of all kinds of goodies that would be hard to find, so I think it's nutritional value when it comes to vitamins and such is pretty ok too. Or at least that's what I tell myself.

EE or ether Extract is the fats and oils.

Long ago I used to put together feed rations--- as a student.

 

[vehve]

Arielle, yeah I should have figured that out by myself. Thank you. I haven't gotten around to continuing with my spreadsheet yet.

 

[LindaB220]

Quote:
Looking around because this is of utmost importance to me, I found this Q & A. I though it was interesting Mary AdamsReport this comment as inappropriateFeb 6, 2010 @ 10:22 pm My son has been having bad leg cramps when he plays a lot of basketball. We feel he is drinking plenty of electrolyte enhanced fluids and eating well (protein bars and drinks a banana, peanut butter and jelly on wheat bread, gels) and a vitamin as well. I read this on the internet. Is this true and will this help him? Pickle juice As with mustard coaches have given pickle juice to their athletes with leg cramps. Cramps are sometimes caused by a deficiency in acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that stimulates your muscles to work. Pickle juice has acetic acid, which helps the body make more acetylcholine. Take a few ounces of pickle juice. Read more: http://www.chemistryexplained.com/A-Ar/Acetylcholine.html#ixzz3QzW3jF2n

 

[Arielle]

Arielle, yeah I should have figured that out by myself. Thank you. I haven't gotten around to continuing with my spreadsheet yet.

Are peas heat treated, or not?? Just curious.

TOday spread sheets are a big help to set up a basic ration. Long ago we used paper and pencil.

ANother detail can be to look at the amino acid profile. Having enough of each one is also really important.

 

[Sswanee48]

I don't mind bacon a little chewy. If by chewy you mean crispy then I don't. I love my bacon cooked but limp. I hate any meat overcooked. Now I'm hungry for bacon.

 

[Sswanee48]

To whoever posted about pickle juice being good for leg cramps, thanks! My BF is always getting leg cramps. I will have to try that.

 

[ronott1]

Are peas heat treated, or not?? Just curious.

TOday spread sheets are a big help to set up a basic ration. Long ago we used paper and pencil.

ANother detail can be to look at the amino acid profile. Having enough of each one is also really important.

Peas are not usually heated. They would get warm with grinding but they would still have the toxin in them. Peas and other legumes need to be restricted to the safe percentage for feed.

 

[Beer can]

To whoever posted about pickle juice being good for leg cramps, thanks! My BF is always getting leg cramps. I will have to try that.

I used to get a lot of leg cramps working tons of overtime 16hr shifts in a hot room. Keeping hydrated and bananas worked best for me.

 

[Arielle]

Quote:
Ron is there a place to find that safe percentage??

 

[Beer can]

I never had collards until I tried them at Cracker Barrel restaurant. I've always loved swiss chard. Just recently tried kale and it's super good for you. The wife thought I was weird at Cracker Barrel when I ordered fried chicken livers, seasoned pinto beans, and collard greens, were from the north and people around here usually don't eat those. Eating the same things all the time is boring. I thought they were pretty good.