What is the best feed you have had success with?

[TheChickenCameFirst]

What type of feed have you found to be the best/healthiest for your birds?

I'm new to this and I want to make sure I know what things need to be in the feed for the best success.

I don't necessarily mean a brand, but what type with what ingredients are the healthiest/ best for chickens that will be dual purpose birds? I want to make sure I am feeding my birds good stuff... because that's half the reason we want them, so we know what they are eating, and that they are eating better than the birds you'd buy in the store.

We are willing to pay a little more for the good stuff!

Thanks!

 

[zazouse]

I feed Purina Flock Raiser, my birds are very healthy and my dogs like it too.

 

[luvchicks8]

That is ALOT of birds, wow I am showing this to hubby he complains about my 20 birds including the ducks and geese.

 

[TheChickenCameFirst]

Do you use that even through laying age? I looked it up and this is what it said:

A 20%-protein nutrient-rich ration that provides top starting, growing and finishing nutrition for a mixed flock of chickens, ducks and geese from hatch until laying age (18-20 weeks) and for turkeys from 8-10 weeks until laying age of 18-20 weeks.

So should I switch to layer feed after that? Or is it best to feed them that at all times?

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
First off, many feed the 20% flock raiser to laying birds. Of course offering free choice oyster shells all the time. IMO one should do that no matter what they feed to layers.

Another "good" feed you can buy in a bag is pigeon feed.

Me I make my own 80% organic feed. I feel no commercial feed is "best". I serve fresh sprouted grains and a wet mash twice a day. (Just like the old days.) In a northern climate with long winters and no free range it makes a HUGE difference IMO, with egg yolk color and flavor, compared to any commercial bagged feed.

I personally am against GMO's and unfermented soy in any form. So making my own feed gives me complete control of our birds diet and their effect on our families diet!

Here is what I feed.:
6 part Black Oil Sunflower (17%P)
6 part Oats (12%P)
6 parts Red Wheat (17%P)

3 part Field Peas (24%P)
3 part cracked Corn (9%P)
3 part whole Flax (34%P)
3 part Alfalfa (17%P)

.5 part Kelp
.125 Oyster shell
.125 DE
.125 Azomite


Notes:
For daily mash first 3 ingredients are mixed and sprouted. Last 8 ingredients are mixed and wetted for mash prior to mixing in with sprouts.

Proper ratio is as follows for daily serving..: 2 parts sprouts to 1 part mash.

Above mix has ::: PROTIEN= 17% unsprouted

Sup. With meat or fish which is about 25% protein

Sup with ACV, Kombucha, Yogurt or water kefir for probiotic..


ON

 

[Luke13:34]

Do you let your chickens eat the SCOBY? If so, do you cut it in strips?

 

[Chris09]

Well I Feed a Game Bird Feed from day one (as chicks).
When I get there first egg I start to add a "All Grain Pigeon Feed" that has a good mixture of grains and oyster shells.
In the winter when the snow is on the ground I soak Alfalfa Pellets till they fall apart then mix that in there feed also..

My ending mix is right around 18 to 20 percent protein.

Chris

 

[Lotsapaints]

First it should be easy for you and whoever comes over to feed when you are gone...that said I just started sprouting my grains thanks to Organics North posting the "formula" now I can't find kelp and I'm lucky that I live close to 3 feed mills one of those feed mills make a wonderful mix for growing out birds and a great layer mix no pellets he doesn't have the equipment so it is coarsely ground and he is a "chicken man" so not much corn and only a little soybean to bump the protein up. I started sprouting with re cleaned wheat a 50# bag and my chickens mobbed me for it everyday so I've now bought rc barley and oats and they will not be ready for 2 more days...I still have the feed from the mill in my feeders I cannot get a balancer or a mineral mix but I can tell you the size of my eggs has gotten bigger so tomorrow I'm eating some of my new eggs to see if there is a difference in them. My birds seem more satisfied and are not pigging out like they did at first either as for the meat when you butcher and eat your birds (heritage breeds) it will not be like store bought it will taste like chicken and you will need to cook it a little different than store bought but it will be worth it by far....there is no "right way" only the way that works for your life..have fun experiment if you like raising chickens is supposed to be fun enjoy

 

[Organics North]

Luke13:34 :

Do you let your chickens eat the SCOBY? If so, do you cut it in strips?

I cut it into strips.. They attack it as if you threw them a can of tuna..

Lotsapaints,
Keep the reports comin! Kinda fun to spoil the birds a bit..

ON​

 

[seminolewind]

I use Layena. Cuts down the smell of chicken poop as well as good health results. I supplement with free range on grass or pasture, and as a snack I give them horse sweet-feed, the one with the whole oats in the mix. At least this sweet feed is far more healthy than scratch, and I use it like scratch. And this puts a real nice shine on the chickens and real good eggs. I also offer oyster shell.