Corn FREE Feed and Soy FREE Feed (STARTER?)

[BrittsBantams]

Hey Everyone!
I may or may not have had an account here about 7 years ago with my last flock, haha but I'm back with my Animal Science degree, some new chicks and some NEW QUESTIONS (and answers....)

So of course, I've learned a lot, and my questions have a little more sense to them.... and I just know that chickens were around a little longer than domestication, so they probably didn't evolve to eat CORN and SOY and GRAIN BY PRODUCTS which is mostly what we feed them (according to the bags I sell at work...). Luckily, we do carry a lovely back of Soy Free Feed, but it isn't Starter Grower, my babies can't eat it, and it still contains corn (which I actually do despise, unless I'm at a picnic.)

SO! Sound off please!!
All your CORN FREE feeds!
All your SOY FREE feeds!
(Both is cool too...)
I'd be really interested to see some feeds with some insect proteins, I know that's up and coming in the feline world....
I am interested in organic feeds, but feeds free of corn, soy and even "grain by products" (which probably contain distillers grain etc) definitely grab my attention more....plus we have about 5 organic feeds that my store carries. I would love to recommend something new to my boss to carry for customers that want products like this, and of course I'm interested for the nutrition of my own flock and for the sake of nutrition itself!

Thanks everyone

-Brittany

PS.... my store carries:
Purina Organic Start and Grow
Purina Organic Layer Crumble/ Layer Pellet
Purina Organic Scratch Grain
Nutrena NatureSmart Organic Starter Grower
Nutrena Naturewise Hearty Hen (SOY FREE)
((And many others that aren't applicable to this thread...)

PPS.... NO PURINA ((Nestle)) For DOGS/CATS is NOT the same company as PURINA MILLS for HORSES/CHICKENS.... (our dog/cat food is no corn/wheat/soy or completely grain free always)

 

[DeYoungs]

We use Texas Natural, non soy & non gmo. The website will give listings of stores around your area.

 

[jenn2350]

I'm brand new to chickens, but I too have been feeding mine the Texas Natural chick starter.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

I'm confused, you say chickens aren't designed to consume corn or soybean meal but feeding other grains is ok?

 

[lazy gardener]

Makes no sense to me. Corn and soy were created in the same time frame as chickens.

 

[BrittsBantams]

Hey everyone, I appreciate your replies. I'm not here to stir up any hostility. I'm simply asking for feed suggestions on brands/suppliers I'm unfamiliar with.

What we feed our pets and our flock is a personal thing. I spent a lot of time at college studying Animal science, so explaining why or how I came to my decision is really a combination of my classes in not only nutrition, but also evolution, paleontology and anthropology. If you do have a question and are genuinely intrigued, I will answer in as short an answer as I can muster, or maybe even send you a nice article. But if you just think I'm crazy and think my view is nonsense, then please just move on, thanks.

 

[BrittsBantams]

Makes no sense to me.  Corn and soy were created in the same time frame as chickens.  

Chickens weren't "created" at a particular point in history, and neither were corn or soy. They both evolved into a particular species that our ancestors happened upon, and were then "domesticated" by means of selection for the features our ancestors most liked or preferred. Like horses, the domestication of chickens is pretty hard to pinpoint because there is no obvious change in their fossil remains upon domestication... whereas (the ancestors of) corn and soy can be found in the remains of humans themselves or in the remains of their settlements.
Of course, at this time, chickens were fed whatever was around. But they also weren't trapped in a coop or pen, and they had free access to TONS of forage and bugs. Sure, some lucky hens may have access to these things today, but it certainly makes up much less of their diet. Instead, the bulk of their diet is made up of left over grains and by products from other industries and fed to them in mass to push them to peak levels of production. Of course, this may not apply to the backyard flock, but those by products, corn and soy is still found in their feed because it's cheap. Oh, and it's all mixed together and shoved into a pretty bag, researched to make sure it meets the requirements for egg production, and then marketed to you as freaking awesome stuff. But I'm interested in more than just eggs. Don't even get me started on GMOs etc.

Mind you, during all this time, the bird's digestive tract hasn't changed much at all. Much like the horse, who proves this to us constantly with its many, many issues it develops over its lifetime (depending on Breed, diet, discipline) ever since the Romans decided to go to war and bring oats along. That's another story for another day... but I'm sure we'd find similar issues in the chicken if they had longer lifespans or we cared more about the well being of their innards. Point is, As a student of nutrition, I'd like to feed my birds what God designed them to eat, not what we've decided to give them because it's easier for us over the course of their short little lives. Who knows? Maybe 5 years is short after all.

PS- yes, I believe in God and science...

 

[BrittsBantams]

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[BrittsBantams]

I'm confused, you say chickens aren't designed to consume corn or soybean meal but feeding other grains is ok?

Please see the above reply if you are curious. If you have further questions, since I didn't really answer yours yet, let me know. I have to go back to work now!

 

[donaldphelps]

I get my feed from a company called scratch and peck. They offer no soy and non corn feed, along with other chicken treats.