Tragedy related to nutrition?

[stcroixusvi]

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I found both to be interesting. I am clipping part of the first link:
FIELD PEAS

Field peas (Pisum sativum) contain 20-29% crude protein and are a potential protein-energy source for poultry diets. Research has reported that replacing a large portion of the soybean meal with field peas can result in reduced performance of growing chickens and laying hens. The presence of alpha-galactosides is proposed as the cause of the poor growth in broiler chickens but the cause of reduced performance of laying hens is not known. Research suggests that broiler chickens can tolerate up to 20% field peas in their diets. Up to 40% can be used if the diets are supplemented with the enzyme pectinase and the diets formulated to 15% higher than NRC recommendations.

Countryside has less than 20% TOTAL protein in the layer feed which includes field peas and fish meal. And out of 18 hens (6 RIR, 6 BPR, 4 EE, 2 Polish) I get at least a dozen eggs a day even at this time of year. Considering that the Polish hens lay 1 egg every third day between the two of them, that's not bad - and would suggest that the field peas are not inhibiting their egg production at this point. I am not a scientist, so don't know whether or not fish meal is crude. I would also add that I would love to read the research, and, more importantly, make sure it's not supported by the soy bean folks!

I copied these article links because they were from Universities, which, in my mind, gave it some truth, rather than a layman's article. I like the fishmeal. I think chicken feed should have some animal/fish ingredient. My chickens ran out of bugs last year, LOL

I did note their source, but also know that major companies often fund research at Universities. Not that I am accusing Universities of bending their data

 

[Clay Mudd]

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As someone who used to do research at a university, I want to pretend to be offended by that.

 

[seminolewind]

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As someone who used to do research at a university, I want to pretend to be offended by that.

I wonder if they're other sources available that can explain what ingredients do what in chickens. Or am I asking for 2much!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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stcroixsvi, have you bought the country side scratch grains? I am going to Asheville on Friday to buy Countryside organics for the first time and was wondering what you thought of the scratch grain. Thanks

Yes, I buy the scratch grains from Countryside as well. The peeps love it. I will add that our eggs taste great! If you are going to Eagledove, be sure they are open. They've cut back their hours quite a bit. I go through 50 lbs of feed a little less than every two weeks and have to stock up so that I don't run out - also we are on a mountain, and do not want to get snowed in without food for the chickens!

According to their webpage their open Thurs thur Sunday, thats why I'm going on Friday. and I know what you mean about being sure i have plenty we're out in Burnsville and it can get bad quick here too. I'll probably get 100 lbs to start with. thanks for the info. I haven't fed my chickens layer in a long time have been feeding Purina Flock Raiser, but they usually don't eat much of it and since I'm almost through with this batch wanted to start them fresh with the Countryside. I am looking forward to going to Eagledove looks like an interesting place, I can't believe I saw it one day when i was in Asheville and didn't know they sold Countryside. Thanks again for the quick reply.

 

[Clay Mudd]

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As someone who used to do research at a university, I want to pretend to be offended by that.

I wonder if they're other sources available that can explain what ingredients do what in chickens. Or am I asking for 2much!

Seriously, the university papers are pretty useful, at least in my opinion. Don't take any one as gospel, but kind of average them out. (Pretty much have to do that with everything, anyway.)

From some of the things you've said, I'll bet a good textbook on poultry nutrition would be useful.

"Feeding Poultry: The Classic Guide to Poultry Nutrition for Chickens, Turkeys, Ducks, Geese, Gamebirds, and Pigeons
, by G.F. Heuser is the only one I'm really familiar with, but I've seen others recommended:

http://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Poultry-Nutrition-Chickens-Gamebirds/dp/0972177027

The Heuser book is a bit dated, but I'd say that not entirely bad.

Another one I like (and I've recommended this one so often I almost feel like a shill) Is Harvey Ussery's The Small-Scale Poultry Flock. If words like "sustainable" and "natural" get your attention, you'll like that book. Many of the author's articles are available for free on that site, so you can get an idea if the book is your cup of tea.


Or, you could just buy bags of feed like normal people do, but that seems boring to me.

 

[stcroixusvi]

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As someone who used to do research at a university, I want to pretend to be offended by that.

I also used to do research at a university

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

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Do you know what the first ingredient in Purina Dog Chow is? Whole grain corn followed by poultry by product meal, the ever vague animal fat, corn gluten meal etc. Sounds yummy doesnt it?

I didn't care for Iams or Eukanuba either

Solid Gold and Canidae are the only foods I will use to supplement my dogs raw diet. And he has no special diet requirements I just want to feed him the best food possible.

 

[stcroixusvi]

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I love the store/greenhouse. When I get some extra dough, I want to buy one of their lovely handpainted chicken signs. I also love the free range chickens in the back. Nothing like buying feed from a feed store that has hens running around.

 

[Chris09]

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I didn't care for Iams or Eukanuba either

Solid Gold and Canidea are the only foods I will use to supplement my dogs raw diet. And he has no special diet requirements I just want to feed him the best food possible.

I've used Bil·Jac as far back as I can remember. I use both Bil·Jac Frozen and Bil·Jac Select and to me there is no better dog food.
I also use the Bil·Jac Frozen as a supplement for my breeding fowl.

Bil·Jac Frozen
Beef, Meat By-Products, Cereal Food Fines, Poultry, Poultry Meal, Animal Liver, Fish Meal, Eggs, Cane Molasses, Dried Beet Pulp, Wheat Germ Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Phosphoric Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Salt, Niacin, Biotin, Choline Chloride, Folic Acid, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), DL-Methionine, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganous Oxide, Inositol, Ascorbic Acid, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Cobalt Carbonate, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Selenite.[/i]

Bil·Jac Select
Chicken, Chicken By-Products (organs only, source of arginine), Corn Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Oatmeal and Flaxseed.

Chris

 

[seminolewind]

So, alot of reading. I think it might be easier just to add what I want to a feed to make it more nutritious with higher quality ingredients.



1. Pearl Millet. Seems like this is becoming more and more acceptable in replacing corn to a degree. It's better than corn, less sugar, more protein and Lysine (?). Whole-it gives the gullet more exercise (with grit), as whole grains do. and Omega 3.

2. Alfalfa. Possibly pellets or wetted cubes. Easy to find at feed stores. Has calcium. better than grass, LOL

3. Some kind of bone/fish/blood meal, I have to read more on it.

4. Some whole oats. Not alot.


It may be hard to mix this into crumbles, as the millet is small. But I use horse sweetfeed instead of scratch because it's more nutritious. It is also coated with molasses. So these ingredients may stick to it better.
Then instead of cutting the chicken feed down, I can feed the feed, and give them a bigger amount of scratch, (with the good stuff in it).

Now , how to ratio the goodies.........................