What feed?

[Mosti]

Since this is my first time properly keeping a few broilers I want to do it by the book. Locally I bought them (1) chick crumbs broiler starter (2) broiler grower pellets which they will be having within 2 days and on the growers bag it says that (3)Finisher feed should be started 5 days prior killing.

Summing up it will be to much costly for a start for just 8 chickens....hence I was thinking of continuing growers up to kill day (or 24hrs before) but am a bit concerned due to it having lots of meds, anti cocci etc.
Will it be bad for human consumption??

 

[chicklips]

Hello,

Everyone tends to do boiler feed a little different. Personally I keep mine on a boiler mix that I get from the mill. Try to find a starter and or grower without meds and giv e them that all the way to 24 hrs before processing. That should keep down the cost and the confusion. Hope this helps.

 

[jaku]

I give mine nothing but mill ground, nonmedicated broiler feed from day one til the end.

 

[Big C]

Quote:
Ditto

 

[Mosti]

Thanks guys, problem is we do not have many feed producers over here.
BTW what's in a mill ground..can it be done at home

 

[dave3877]

heres a few posts i did on how to throw weight on a bird

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/post.php?tid=191408&qid=2289200

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/post.php?tid=196676&qid=2347310

 

[dave3877]

mill ground is ground grain made into a mash or pellet or in some cases loose (scratch) grains. no addatives or preservatives. but if you dont have regular broiler ration or commercial feeds you can use whole grains such as wheat, cracked corn, sorghum(milo, maize). be sure that you give your birds some kind of grit so they can process the grain if they are not free range. basically grain along with table scraps etc can sustan and eventually fatten up a bird but nothing like good all natural chicken feed. oh my recipe for feed mix got me grand prize at the county fair twice 3rd and 9th place out of 100 plus contestants each time

 

[jaku]

Quote:
They usually have a recipe- but they can put whatever you want in it.

 

[dancingbear]

Is the island you're on very big? I don't know much about Malta, so pardon me if that's a dumb question. Is there not much agriculture or livestock on the island? I don't know how far you'd have to go, or how difficult it would be, for you to find a grain mill that does custom grinding, or how much room you have for storage. Folks are always telling me to buy 500 pounds of feed at a time because it's cheaper. But here's my feed storage facility:

Just that little plastic covered alcove on the front of the coop. I have 4 barrels in it, and store feed for chickens and pigs. The one out in front is usually up on the platform, I was re-arranging and mixing feed.

 

[Mosti]

Not big at all
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2547897#p2547897
I know of a mill though, I'lll check it out in acouple of days. I dont bulk buy feed, feed store is just 100mt up the road!