What's the most amount of corn and wheat I can supplement with?

[ChelC]

I'm wondering this because my husband works in the grain industry and he can bring home the floor sweepings. I've been offering a mix of wheat and corn which I make into sort of a mush because it's hard to crack that feed corn. I usually cook it partially to soften it and then put it in the food processor. Sometimes I'll add a little cooked scrambled egg into the mix. They love it. Since it's free food and I have hundreds of pounds in metal garbage cans I'd like to max out on using it, but I don't want to have sick or really fat birds. What's a reasonable amount to offer? What can I add to it to balance it out more?

Thanks,
Chelsea

 

[ChelC]

By the way, if you have a grain elevator or mill nearby it wouldn't hurt to call them. They usually throw away whatever ends up on the floor.

 

[dani2]

We feed cracked corn free choice I fill up big feed pans when it is empty I just refill, our chickens are free range so they get a very balanced diet from everything else they eat but atleast during the summer they eat very little of there actual expensive layer feed. I know with mine atleast they really prefer the corn over the wheat/oats/barley type grains. Even if I feed COB once in a while they eat out the big pieces of corn and leave the rest.

 

[nccountrygirl]

If you live in a warm climate it's not good to feed them corn as it raises there body heat. Corn should only be fed in cold winter months.

 

[silkiechicken]

I don't know what a good mix is, but often too much corn can make fat hens, and fat hens are more prone to health problems.

 

[Eggseronious]

Go to your local feed store and tell them that U need a high protein supplement to balance your corn and wheat screenings. It will be in the 40%+ range. They should fix U up, and tell you how much to feed. like a 4 to 1, 3 to 1 or something in that order.

 

[ChelC]

Thank you. I hadn't thought about that. I'll have to ask the feed store.

Also, how warm is warm? I live in Utah so we have a couple months that are hot, several warm and several cold. Should I lay off on the corn all summer, or just July and August when it's scorching?

 

[Eggseronious]

Quote:
Corn or corn byproducts are 50% of most rations to start with. No you dont have to lay off the corn, just get the supplement I mentioned in my post, and feed it with the corn wheat screenings in a ratio that the feed store gives U.