how to get hens to eat ground soy?

[Al Gerhart]

no, in fact I conducted tests in different pens a couple of years ago with lot of different mixes etc. even fermented and sprouted feeds. yes the pellets from the mil have a better performance (partly because the hens cant just leave the soy!). however, its currently at nearly a grand a ton for organic pellet where I am. whereas, I can grow my own organic scratch grains, and add the organic soy, a mix like that works out at 100 a ton, with ≈85% performance of the pellets.
EDIT: you realise that you are on the part of this forum where this exact topic is discussed? what did you expect? hundreds of posts just saying "buy pellets. buy pellets."?

Fair enough, you are giving up the 15% performance for a cheaper ration. Glad to see that you are measuring the results but what about the things you aren't likely to be able to measure? What minerals and micro nutrients are missing and what harm will that do to your flock?

Get past that and I'd say find a Chinese pelleting machine and make your own pellets. Smart move if you can make a better pellet or an as good pellet for less.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

If they won't eat it maybe they know it's not good for them?

 

[rockethoe]

Fair enough, you are giving up the 15% performance for a cheaper ration. Glad to see that you are measuring the results but what about the things you aren't likely to be able to measure? What minerals and micro nutrients are missing and what harm will that do to your flock?

Get past that and I'd say find a Chinese pelleting machine and make your own pellets. Smart move if you can make a better pellet or an as good pellet for less.

I used seaweed meal in the mix for trace nutrients and free fed oyster shell for calcium. all you really missing at that point is the enzymes that are in the pellets. I have considered a pelleted, but was hoping the mids here might have a low tech/ low effort solution.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry, left out word "maybe." Fixing it.

 

[rockethoe]

If they won't eat it they know it's not good for them?

nothing wrong with organic soy, I would think, in limited amounts. it is difficult to get them to eat enough field beans or peas to get them to the that high of a protein count. It would have to be 60% peas and beans! I used this calculator https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_I0NetU3RH-OwtnqhUXjfPajg9Zr0brt-FXm6X5Z0x0/edit?usp=sharing

 

[Jeff_Stone]

Soy can be great for energy and protein. But just be careful of some things, if I may say.

Raw soybeans contain antinutrients: raw or improperly processed soy contains trypsin inhibitors, which can interfere with protein digestion and reduce nutrient absorption.

Goitrogens (Thyroid Suppressants): soy contains compounds that can interfere with iodine absorption and thyroid function, which may be a concern with long-term use.

Excess estrogen compounds: soy contains phytoestrogens, which, in high amounts, could potentially affect hormone balance in poultry.

Be careful of highly processed commercial feeds: many commercial soy products are genetically modified (GMOs) and heavily processed with chemical solvents.

Best Ways to Feed Soy to Hens:

Use Roasted or Fermented Soy. Using heat-treated or fermented soybeans remove the harmful antinutrients and improves digestibility.

Mix with Other Protein Sources. Combine soy with animal-based protein (like fish meal, mealworms, or even some people use dairy) for a more balanced diet.

Limit Overreliance on Soy. If possible, rotate other protein sources (peas, sunflower meal, flaxseed) to prevent long-term dependency on soy.

 

[Penpal]

Can you restructure your feed to omit the soy? Ameranth,
something we have in N America and you may not. Worms and insects?

 

[rockethoe]

Can you restructure your feed to omit the soy? Ameranth,
something we have in N America and you may not. Worms and insects?

I don't think we have that available here, but from quick google search it appears to be only 14% protein. we can't feed farmed animals (including black soldier fly/ other insects) to farmed animals here, unfortunately. probably would get away with it handy enough on a home scale, but not as an operating farm.

 

[Barnette]

I don't think we have that available here, but from quick google search it appears to be only 14% protein. we can't feed farmed animals (including black soldier fly/ other insects) to farmed animals here, unfortunately. probably would get away with it handy enough on a home scale, but not as an operating farm.

Wait you can't even give your chickens fly larvae?