Whole Grain Feed ?

[momma-hen]

I think the Vitamix would have been fine if it weren't for the whole corn. I've since gone to cracked corn. I do have a grain mill, but it grinds everything to a powder. Fine for the first week or so, but when you try to get to just a crumble style stage, and then a cracked grain, it still comes out powder---the chicks wouldn't ever learn to eat the whole grain and I don't want to risk spoiling them and have me grinding grain for the rest of their days

There may of course, be better grain grinders out there than I have. It was a cheap one, maybe others are better? Anyway, before the next batch of chicks, I'm investing in a commercial vitamix. That should have more cahones. Although, I must admit, this one did last almost 10 years with only one repair.

 

[4myHennyPenny]

So by the time they are on layer feed, is that going to be in a crumble version? Or will that be the cracked grain you mentioned?

I'm just a bit unclear still: You have to take all of the ingredients and put them through a mill (or similar) even for laying pullets/adult hens, right?

And it sounds like buying cracked corn as opposed to whole would certainly take a lot less effort and take less of a toll on a mill, correct?

I guess I'll find out more about what their feed looks like if/when I end up having to buy some layer feed. Just new to this whole thing. Thanks for your help in the meantime!

 

[momma-hen]

No, by the time they are layers (around 5-6 months) they are on whole grain , except for the corn, which I now buy cracked. As day olds, they start with what is for all purposes, dust, it's ground so fine. By week two, I make "dust" and mix in little chips(just barely identifiable as grain), then all chips, then crumbly(about 1/3 of a normal kernal of grain), then cracked (just about half the size of a normal grain kernal) and finally they eat just whole grain. When they start eating anything but the "dust", they also get starter grit. At the next stage, I add grower grit. By the time they get to the whole grains, they are free ranging and can find their own grit.

 

[4myHennyPenny]

Quote:
Whoa! Thank you so much for replying back. I had absolutely no idea that they'd be able to do the full grain (except cracked corn) by the time they were layers. This definitely simplifies things!

For those of you who are making your own feed, where are you finding the ingredients? Local co-op, feedmill, online site? If there is an online store you're using that you'd recommend, would you mind posting the address for us as well as what you purchase from them and the cost?

Thanks again!

 

[momto7]

Quote:
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT BEWERS YEAST IN THE FEED IS FOR?THANKS