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

[Miss Lydia]

Is it chicken scratch that you are giving or something else?

It's chicken scratch that has millet, sunflower seeds corn and 4 other ingredients in it but I can't remember what. I mix it half and half. I know alot of people say corn isn't a good food source but I have been doing this for going on 9 yrs and have never had a problem now the 7 way is mixed in with whole oats, wheat and split peas.

 

[Haunted55]

It's chicken scratch that has millet, sunflower seeds corn and 4 other ingredients in it but I can't remember what. I mix it half and half. I know alot of people say corn isn't a good food source but I have been doing this for going on 9 yrs and have never had a problem now the 7 way is mixed in with whole oats, wheat and split peas.

Who makes this stuff Miss L? I have never heard of it before, nor have I run across it yet in my searches at the feed stores. Corn isn't an issue for me as I usually have cold, cold weather, well with the aflatoxins....... I am trying to build up a supply of scratch and cracked corn now before this year's corn hits the market.

I really have to look into the peas issue that was raised earlier. I know what I read but so many of you do use the peas and do not have issues. maybe it's only a problem if it's given as only source?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Who makes this stuff Miss L? I have never heard of it before, nor have I run across it yet in my searches at the feed stores. Corn isn't an issue for me as I usually have cold, cold weather, well with the aflatoxins....... I am trying to build up a supply of scratch and cracked corn now before this year's corn hits the market.

I really have to look into the peas issue that was raised earlier. I know what I read but so many of you do use the peas and do not have issues. maybe it's only a problem if it's given as only source?

It's called Homestead 7 way and it is out of Tenn. I will be buying at least 100lbs. this week to have on hand. Since i mix it with wheat, whole oats and split peas it goes a long way.

 

[Amiga]

It's called Homestead 7 way and it is out of Tenn. I will be buying at least 100lbs. this week to have on hand. Since i mix it with wheat, whole oats and split peas it goes a long way.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I tried to find if they have a website but evidently they don't. Hey Amiga!

 

[Haunted55]

Well this is just wonderful....I made my calls today to try and find the wheat, millet and flax seed. No such animals here. I am so frustrated right now!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well this is just wonderful....I made my calls today to try and find the wheat, millet and flax seed. No such animals here. I am so frustrated right now!

TSC has millet to feed wild birds but it's too expensive for me. I buy Bobs Red meal flax seed from Vitacost and use it when I think to get it out of the freezer. it's 1lb bags so won't go far feedimg a large flock. This time of yr it can be added to the grains but in the summer it can get rancid so I usually store in the freezer.

 

[1MrsMagoo]

It's called Homestead 7 way and it is out of Tenn. I will be buying at least 100lbs. this week to have on hand. Since i mix it with wheat, whole oats and split peas it goes a long way.

I buy a product called Fightin Scratch that my feed store gets from a mill in Guntersville, AL. It is loaded with Millet and BOSS and goes light on the corn. It is pricey....the 4-way is 15.20 a bag and the 7-way a bit more, but the birds love it.

I get the 4-way and mix some wheat and crimped oats in with it. The stuff TSC carries appears to be mostly cracked corn and none of my birds care for it at all.

I just picked up some IBC totes (275 gallon white plastic totes in metal cages) and am making some aquaponics systems. I plan on trying to raise fathead minnows in one of them (local fish farm sells them 60/1000). I will release several dozen into each pond every week for the ducks. Plus, I am growing duckweed, mealworms, and got a couple 55 gallon drums to make Black Soldier Fly larvae feeders (plans are here.... http://gardenpool.org/beneficial-insects/black-soldier-fly-composter-automatic-chicken-feeder) since the BSF occur here naturally.

Hopefully, that will help reduce the amount of commercial feed I have to offer the ducks.

 

[blondiebee181]

I buy a product called Fightin Scratch that my feed store gets from a mill in Guntersville, AL. It is loaded with Millet and BOSS and goes light on the corn. It is pricey....the 4-way is 15.20 a bag and the 7-way a bit more, but the birds love it.

I get the 4-way and mix some wheat and crimped oats in with it. The stuff TSC carries appears to be mostly cracked corn and none of my birds care for it at all.

I just picked up some IBC totes (275 gallon white plastic totes in metal cages) and am making some aquaponics systems. I plan on trying to raise fathead minnows in one of them (local fish farm sells them 60/1000). I will release several dozen into each pond every week for the ducks. Plus, I am growing duckweed, mealworms, and got a couple 55 gallon drums to make Black Soldier Fly larvae feeders (plans are here.... http://gardenpool.org/beneficial-insects/black-soldier-fly-composter-automatic-chicken-feeder) since the BSF occur here naturally.

Hopefully, that will help reduce the amount of commercial feed I have to offer the ducks.

Wow, I love all your ideas! I'd love to start a worm or mealworm farm, but the things creep me out and they go for the dried ones like crazy, LOL!

 

[Haunted55]

After my calls this morning, I figured the person I spoke with couldn't have known what they were talking about. Talked to the manager and I can get what I want and need. Flax - $34.87, whole oats - $17.25, whole wheat - $16.98, millet - $27.18. All except the oats are 50# bags. The oats come in a 88# bag. I can have them by next week if all are in the warehouse. Phew! I know Maine is behind the times but I didn't think it could be that much. No clue if these are good prices or not but it's what I have to work with.