Umm, I'm not sure whats going on here?!

[swheat]

Quote:
I mix 2 parts oats, 1 part Wheat, 1 part Corn(in cold weather, warm weather I just add a small amount) to 1 part layer pellet. This has worked great for me, and the fertility in my chickens has gone up dramatically. Note: I do not free range as I have too many varieties(chickens), and I have to keep them pure. My geese do free range in very large divided pasture. And get free choice grit & oyster shell. I also go through a lot more grit since I started mixing my feed(for the grain I am sure).

 

[WNCUrbanAgrarian]

Forgive my ignorance, but where do you get the wheat and corn. I think I have seen corn at Tractor supply, but don't think I have ever seen wheat.

 

[swheat]

Quote:
I also have a security light outside, I know my geese stay in the area that is light lit by choice. I am not sure why, maybe to be forewarned of a predator

. So if that is my case(again I am not sure if it is) I, personally would not keep them from the lit area. I got eggs early last year
and none were fertile(they were 9 months old), I also wondered if it was the security light, but I am hope they do not lay early this year.

 

[swheat]

Quote:
I buy it from my local feed store in bulk. I put it in 55 gallon barrels. Wheat is $11.00 per 100 lbs, Corn is $10.00 per 100 lbs, Oats is $15.00 per 100 lbs
I get the following amounts in each barrel : Wheat 350 lbs, Corn 325 lbs, Oats 275 lbs (oats do not compact very well so I can't get as much in the barrel).
Forgot to add: I have to unload these barrels with my front end loader tractor.

 

[WNCUrbanAgrarian]

Ok, I'm going to check around. THANK YOU! I'll be doing smaller batches!

 

[WNCUrbanAgrarian]

Ok, so I found untreated seed wheat, oats and corn in 50 lb bags. Do you feed them greens of any kind? Grass is much less plenitful here in the mountains in the winter. Maybe I can get alfalfa. I'll check on that when I go to the feed store. Thanks again!!! I'm sure I have read all this somewhere before, but I've been stubborn about keeping organic. The budget is saying NO MORE!

 

[swheat]

Yes, they also get greens, such as : Grass clipping, and lots of kudzu leaves. I have a kudzu next to me so I pull lots of leaves(and kudzu I believe has lots of protein).

 

[WNCUrbanAgrarian]

I've heard also that Kudzu is full of vitamins. Plenty of it growing around here!

 

[Soccer Mom]

Okay, I have no artificial lights or anything at my place and mine are almost entirely on free range, only a little supplement at night--and I'm 99% sure that Wheezie is about to lay me an egg. For the last 3 days she has been walking like a toddler with a full diaper and my geese have all been "getting busy" in the pond.

It has been very warm here. We've been nudging close to 80 all week. I guess the poor geese are as confused as I am.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Check the feed stores for other grains, Seed grains usually go for more money than what is sold for animal feed. Black oil sunflower seed goes over big with my ducks and geese, in feed stores it is usually cheaper then pet stores or that sold for bird feeders. Alfalfa comes as hay, cubes, and pellets and meal. Geese will eat the hay (usually they strip and eat the leaves and use the stems. I find it is hard to get here in the Sandhills of central NC) Alfalfa cubes are sold mostly for horse and cattle feed. The geese will tackle it in midwinter when they are hard up for greens. I usually put some cubes to soak overnight and feed those in the morning (because it doesn't usually freeze here in the day time like it does at night) the same for the alfalfa pellets, DO NOT BUY RABBIT PELLETS! They are formulated to be rock hard to help wear down the teeth on rabbits, like most rodents their teeth never stop growing so they either need to be worn down by food or by the mechanical action of their owners.Neither my geese nor ducks like the texture of meal alone but mixed in with grains manage to eat a fair amount. If it makes you feel any better about "ORGANIC",keep in mind that all the things I have mentioned here except corn are likely to have been grown free of any chemicals. good luck!