U.S. drought fallout . . . might it affect all of our ducks?

[Haunted55]

I think we need to get some clarity on this. I have read extension publications that say that spring-sown field peas are okay for poultry, if they do not exceed a certain percentage of the diet.

It has been eye-opening for me to see how dependent I am on other people to be able to feed the ducks. Not just in growing the food, but in knowing what needs to be in the food.

I agree with you 100%. I just remembered reading that part about the beans and peas. If true and Holderread should know, it puts us in a really interesting place. Personaly, I think anything in moderation but I am still looking into the Canadian feeds. If they don't have the high levels of the aflatoxins on their corn or other grains it might be the saving of us. Ask if your suppliers are able to get Surgain feed. I can up here. Not sure how far south it goes. Still no answers from Purina on their accepted levels this year. Me thinks if enough of us contact them they'll get the hint. But then it comes down to what are they going to substitute with? I have the acerage here to grow my own feed but not the time to clear the land and start. Also I noticed this year that the rye grass growing in my yard is cover with the ergot mold/spores/whatever.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I agree with you 100%. I just remembered reading that part about the beans and peas. If true and Holderread should know, it puts us in a really interesting place. Personaly, I think anything in moderation but I am still looking into the Canadian feeds. If they don't have the high levels of the aflatoxins on their corn or other grains it might be the saving of us. Ask if your suppliers are able to get Surgain feed. I can up here. Not sure how far south it goes. Still no answers from Purina on their accepted levels this year. Me thinks if enough of us contact them they'll get the hint. But then it comes down to what are they going to substitute with? I have the acerage here to grow my own feed but not the time to clear the land and start. Also I noticed this year that the rye grass growing in my yard is cover with the ergot mold/spores/whatever.

I'm still waiting on Purina to answer my email. After reading about grains in the link I posted, there is a fine art to making feed for our flock, and not all grains are that good for them, So it's back to more research. What did ole timers do back in the day before feed was available? They kept geese/duck/chickens. Another area to look into.

 

[Amiga]

I have been thinking about the old ways.

Cannot say I have definitive answers, but have made a couple of nonscientific observations.

Less was known about nutrition then, and there were fewer resources for veterinary care, so I suspect many flock keepers were more fatalistic than I tend to be. I want to prevent and treat diseases and injuries. There probably were, though, some number of people who understood plant medicine and had intuitive gifts for caring for animals. Those would be my mentors. But did anyone write anything about what they knew and did?

Many people had backyard animals and knew how to grow and catch food. Animal feed was part of a stream of food obtained by most family members over the age of five, I guess.

Once we set our minds to it, and if we can find others who care and we can work with, I think we can make satisfactory adjustments. But I feel we need to rethink the way we do things and find people who think that way, too. I am thinking for example if a neighbor has a large sunny yard that they are willing to plant to hull-less oats and field peas in exchange for some eggs and fertilizer (and a sense of accomplishment).

Or find someone willing to set up an aquaponics system where fish can be raised. Or learning how to raise black soldier fly larvae or worms.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have been thinking about the old ways.

Cannot say I have definitive answers, but have made a couple of nonscientific observations.

Less was known about nutrition then, and there were fewer resources for veterinary care, so I suspect many flock keepers were more fatalistic than I tend to be. I want to prevent and treat diseases and injuries. There probably were, though, some number of people who understood plant medicine and had intuitive gifts for caring for animals. Those would be my mentors. But did anyone write anything about what they knew and did?

Many people had backyard animals and knew how to grow and catch food. Animal feed was part of a stream of food obtained by most family members over the age of five, I guess.

Once we set our minds to it, and if we can find others who care and we can work with, I think we can make satisfactory adjustments. But I feel we need to rethink the way we do things and find people who think that way, too. I am thinking for example if a neighbor has a large sunny yard that they are willing to plant to hull-less oats and field peas in exchange for some eggs and fertilizer (and a sense of accomplishment).

Or find someone willing to set up an aquaponics system where fish can be raised. Or learning how to raise black soldier fly larvae or worms.

True Amiga most livestock were probably thrown what was left over. So not exactly what I want to do either. I keep hoping we'll hear positive feedback from these companies, after all why would we want to continue to pay prices that go up every week or day and feed our flocks feed that could possibly kill them. Doesn't make sense to me. As far as finding out those who did do it right and cared about their animals I think we'll just have to dig deeper.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

I agree with you 100%. I just remembered reading that part about the beans and peas. If true and Holderread should know, it puts us in a really interesting place. Personaly, I think anything in moderation but I am still looking into the Canadian feeds. If they don't have the high levels of the aflatoxins on their corn or other grains it might be the saving of us. Ask if your suppliers are able to get Surgain feed. I can up here. Not sure how far south it goes. Still no answers from Purina on their accepted levels this year. Me thinks if enough of us contact them they'll get the hint. But then it comes down to what are they going to substitute with? I have the acerage here to grow my own feed but not the time to clear the land and start. Also I noticed this year that the rye grass growing in my yard is cover with the ergot mold/spores/whatever.

Thanks, Haunted55 and Amiga for mentioning the controversy over legumes.

I agree that communicating concerns with Purina and other feed companies could be helpful. Considering that the corn is still being harvested, the feed manufacturers are probably still figuring out what they are going to do. Anyway, we have some time before the corn harvested this year makes it into the bags of feed. I have found that most bagged feeds have a date that indicates when they were packaged.

Another thing I noticed when reading about aflatoxins in the news is the mention of putting so called binders in feed to prevent the toxins from being absorbed into the animal's system. That doesn't exactly put my mind at ease.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks, Haunted55 and Amiga for mentioning the controversy over legumes.

I agree that communicating concerns with Purina and other feed companies could be helpful. Considering that the corn is still being harvested, the feed manufacturers are probably still figuring out what they are going to do. Anyway, we have some time before the corn harvested this year makes it into the bags of feed. I have found that most bagged feeds have a date that indicates when they were packaged.

Another thing I noticed when reading about aflatoxins in the news is the mention of putting so called binders in feed to prevent the toxins from being absorbed into the animal's system. That doesn't exactly put my mind at ease.

Mine either, dd they say what the binders were going to be?

 

[Tivona]

Another thing I noticed when reading about aflatoxins in the news is the mention of putting so called binders in feed to prevent the toxins from being absorbed into the animal's system. That doesn't exactly put my mind at ease.

uhh. That doesn't sound good. I too would love to know what these binders are...

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Mine either, dd they say what the binders were going to be?

No, there were not many details. It is yet another thing that needs to be clarified.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No, there were not many details. It is yet another thing that needs to be clarified.

yep.

 

[Haunted55]

Okay, are you ready for this? I called and spoke with head of operation in Concord, NH for Blue Seal. We spoke at great length today and he told me about an email that has gone out company wide. Kent, who is the parent company for Blue Seal, has made the decision to keep to their old and tried levels of any aflatoxins. The email said that any delivery of grain would be tested at the gate before they even get into the plant. Not the black light test either. This would be a full profile testing and any, ANY aflatoxins will be turned away no matter where it comes from or what the USDA claims is good for us.

Today I purchased my grain from Blue Seal.

I also put in a call to the local supplier of the Surgain grains. I am waiting for a call back on how the Canadian company is going to be handling the issue.

The man from Blue Seal also told me that the only grain in Canada that tested positive for the toxins was grown just north of Michigan. A very small portion of their total crop. To me this sounds positive. Blue Seal uses some Canadian grain and may have to increase their usage of their grain to make sure they can provide a 'clean' product. This certainly is a lot more info than what I got from Purina. I say buyer beware. There is a reason they are stone walling us at Purina.