Need advice on soy-free, corn-free feed

[altogirl85]

I am looking for advice. One of the main reasons I got a backyard flock was that both my daughter and I have health issues, which include corn and soy allergies, as well as egg sensitivities. Through lots of research I came to the conclusion that the egg issues were probably not really egg issues, but issues with the corn and soy fed to the chickens that are ending up in their eggs. Before you argue, look it up for yourself - there is a lot of research to show that trace amounts of what chickens eat wind up in their eggs. So my goal was to raise a flock of layers on corn-free, soy-free, preferably organic, feed. Because the first ingredient of corn-free, soy-free feeds tends to be wheat, it’s very important to me that it be organic and glyphosate free.
Ok, so regardless of your personal opinions, this is what I need and I cannot find anywhere to get it! Amazon clearly hikes the prices of all their animal feeds drastically, compared to feed stores. But neither Tractor Supply, Rural King or my local feed store carry anything corn and soy free. Every website I’ve found to order it for a decent price, won’t ship to me - I’m in Central Florida. Or they will ship it but it costs more than the feed itself. I’ve asked all my local options if they can order bulk organic grains so I can make my own feed - nope.
I am working on a chicken tractor for them, because right now I cannot let them free range - we have tons of hawks that we see sitting on our fence, staring at our run everyday. They are currently on organic starter feed (they are about 16 weeks old and not laying), and they have free choice oyster shell that I just started last week. They have a large run with lots of room to scratch and dig, so I’m sure they’re getting bugs and grit. I occasionally string up a cabbage for them to peck at, and my daughter feeds them a small handful of soldier fly larvae every few days.
Right now they’re ok, but I know the clock is ticking and they will be laying soon, and I want to have this figured out by then. If anyone knows of someplace online that will ship at a reasonable price, or any other option, I would be so grateful.
By the way, I have a mixed flock of 10 chickens - 2 Buffs, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Barreds, and 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes.

 

[Pullet Press]

Try Azure Standard if they have a drop point in your area. Some of their layer feed is soy and corn free, however, the feed is $0.86 a lb. They also carry just plain grains you can mix to make your own feeds. I've averaged those to about $0.50 a lb, but I didn't figure in any supplements like calcium or kelp meal. I hope you can find some feed that works for you!
(Here's the link to the Azure feed: https://www.azurestandard.com/shop/...soy-and-corn-free-organic/14948?package=GP493)

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I am looking for advice. One of the main reasons I got a backyard flock was that both my daughter and I have health issues, which include corn and soy allergies, as well as egg sensitivities. Through lots of research I came to the conclusion that the egg issues were probably not really egg issues, but issues with the corn and soy fed to the chickens that are ending up in their eggs. Before you argue, look it up for yourself - there is a lot of research to show that trace amounts of what chickens eat wind up in their eggs. So my goal was to raise a flock of layers on corn-free, soy-free, preferably organic, feed. Because the first ingredient of corn-free, soy-free feeds tends to be wheat, it’s very important to me that it be organic and glyphosate free.
Ok, so regardless of your personal opinions, this is what I need and I cannot find anywhere to get it! Amazon clearly hikes the prices of all their animal feeds drastically, compared to feed stores. But neither Tractor Supply, Rural King or my local feed store carry anything corn and soy free. Every website I’ve found to order it for a decent price, won’t ship to me - I’m in Central Florida. Or they will ship it but it costs more than the feed itself. I’ve asked all my local options if they can order bulk organic grains so I can make my own feed - nope.
I am working on a chicken tractor for them, because right now I cannot let them free range - we have tons of hawks that we see sitting on our fence, staring at our run everyday. They are currently on organic starter feed (they are about 16 weeks old and not laying), and they have free choice oyster shell that I just started last week. They have a large run with lots of room to scratch and dig, so I’m sure they’re getting bugs and grit. I occasionally string up a cabbage for them to peck at, and my daughter feeds them a small handful of soldier fly larvae every few days.
Right now they’re ok, but I know the clock is ticking and they will be laying soon, and I want to have this figured out by then. If anyone knows of someplace online that will ship at a reasonable price, or any other option, I would be so grateful.
By the way, I have a mixed flock of 10 chickens - 2 Buffs, 2 Black Australorps, 3 Barreds, and 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes.

While I can cite counter research (not that trace amounts of some things aren't eventually present in eggs - but not other things - which I think everyone of intelligence would grant, but rather that soy isn't the problem often assumed), that's not what you are seemingly interested in. So, I'll humor your desires in an honest effort to help.

It is VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE to get a high quality, complete feed for chickiens (organic particularly) without including Soy. Why? Because in the plant world, soy is one of the few sources of nearly complete proteins in the ratio of amino acids needed by animals like chickens, and ourselves. Wheat - particularly hard winter wheat - is a great place to start in building a chicken feed, but no combination of grains and seeds will lead to the levels of methionine and lysine - the two most critical amino acids in chicken development - needed to support optimum chicken growth. Further, those needs are highest (and virtually impossible to hit with purely plant sources) when they are hatchlings, juveniles, and adolescents - the needs reduce as the chickens age and they shift from growth to maintenance.

Needs are so great for Methionine, in fact, that the US allows a (small) amount of synthetic Methionine (appears as DL-Methionine) and synthetic Lysine (L-Lysine) to be added to certified "Organic" chicken feeds. Moreover, they are so great that studies on various poultry diets noted no benefit (but no deficit) in various levels of no-soy feed until they reached 100% organic, and found the allowed levels of even additional methionine addition resulted in a decrease in body weight and bird condition over the course of the study, compared with all other diets.

If, for dietary, religious, or "just because" reasons (all are valid for you, they aren't my birds, I'm not judging because I don't care) you insist on a non-Soy feed, you need to look for the presence of another legume (such as Alfalfa Meal) as well as the addition of DL-Methionine and L-Lysine as individual ingredients, or "Fertrell's Poultry Nutribalancer" which is a common, certified organic, addition used by many mills to convert (largely) local grains into a complete poultry feed. Its basically the only hope you have of reaching a level of methione that meets the minimum optimum recommendations for an adult layer, and likely falls short of any developing bird's wants.

Alternatively, you can do very well by including non-plant sources of protein. Menhaden Fish Meal, Porcine Blood Meal, Shrimp Meal, Crab Meal are all high protein sources of complete amino acids in ratios very close to optimum for animal and fowl. Many of those sources are available non-GMO and/or Organic.

Fertrell, for instance, provides a number of them - often able to be purchased locally (but not at Tractor Supply, Rural King, or the like). Your local Ag Extension office may help you to locate some - I'm unfamiliar with the mills in Central FL. You could also try to make your own, using Justin Rhodes's recipe (requires fish meal), an Amazon Prime account, and heavy purchasing of Anthony's and Palouse Brands (both of which I have used with good success), and a burr mill. Whatever you do, PLEASE don't use "Garden Betty's" [stuff].

Finally, you can search for a supplier of Tucker Milling's feed, out of Guntersville, AL. I haven't had great results compared with alternative feeds (though there were a number of other changes, so the feed can't be solely responsible), but they do have soy-free, non GMO options whose nutritional analysis I find to be acceptable, if less than optimal - and decent pricing. Lake Butler, unfortunately, appears to be their most southern dealer (Westside Feed). Have you checked with Palmer Feed Store and BackyardFeedCo?

 

[AgnesGray]

We buy organic soy and corn free feed from newcountryorganics.com

We have enough birds that it makes sense to buy in bulk and the price/lb goes down significantly. They also have wheat free. But I believe that one has corn in it.

Most of my egg customers have food sensitivities as well but are able to eat either my chickens' eggs. If still sensitive to my chickens' eggs, they end up being allergic to chicken eggs, but can eat my ducks' eggs.

 

[Solanacae]

While I can cite counter research (not that trace amounts of some things aren't eventually present in eggs - but not other things - which I think everyone of intelligence would grant, but rather that soy isn't the problem often assumed), that's not what you are seemingly interested in. So, I'll humor your desires in an honest effort to help.

It is VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE to get a high quality, complete feed for chickiens (organic particularly) without including Soy. Why? Because in the plant world, soy is one of the few sources of nearly complete proteins in the ratio of amino acids needed by animals like chickens, and ourselves. Wheat - particularly hard winter wheat - is a great place to start in building a chicken feed, but no combination of grains and seeds will lead to the levels of methionine and lysine - the two most critical amino acids in chicken development - needed to support optimum chicken growth. Further, those needs are highest (and virtually impossible to hit with purely plant sources) when they are hatchlings, juveniles, and adolescents - the needs reduce as the chickens age and they shift from growth to maintenance.

Needs are so great for Methionine, in fact, that the US allows a (small) amount of synthetic Methionine (appears as DL-Methionine) and synthetic Lysine (L-Lysine) to be added to certified "Organic" chicken feeds. Moreover, they are so great that studies on various poultry diets noted no benefit (but no deficit) in various levels of no-soy feed until they reached 100% organic, and found the allowed levels of even additional methionine addition resulted in a decrease in body weight and bird condition over the course of the study, compared with all other diets.

If, for dietary, religious, or "just because" reasons (all are valid for you, they aren't my birds, I'm not judging because I don't care) you insist on a non-Soy feed, you need to look for the presence of another legume (such as Alfalfa Meal) as well as the addition of DL-Methionine and L-Lysine as individual ingredients, or "Fertrell's Poultry Nutribalancer" which is a common, certified organic, addition used by many mills to convert (largely) local grains into a complete poultry feed. Its basically the only hope you have of reaching a level of methione that meets the minimum optimum recommendations for an adult layer, and likely falls short of any developing bird's wants.

Alternatively, you can do very well by including non-plant sources of protein. Menhaden Fish Meal, Porcine Blood Meal, Shrimp Meal, Crab Meal are all high protein sources of complete amino acids in ratios very close to optimum for animal and fowl. Many of those sources are available non-GMO and/or Organic.

Fertrell, for instance, provides a number of them - often able to be purchased locally (but not at Tractor Supply, Rural King, or the like). Your local Ag Extension office may help you to locate some - I'm unfamiliar with the mills in Central FL. You could also try to make your own, using Justin Rhodes's recipe (requires fish meal), an Amazon Prime account, and heavy purchasing of Anthony's and Palouse Brands (both of which I have used with good success), and a burr mill. Whatever you do, PLEASE don't use "Garden Betty's" [stuff].

Finally, you can search for a supplier of Tucker Milling's feed, out of Guntersville, AL. I haven't had great results compared with alternative feeds (though there were a number of other changes, so the feed can't be solely responsible), but they do have soy-free, non GMO options whose nutritional analysis I find to be acceptable, if less than optimal - and decent pricing. Lake Butler, unfortunately, appears to be their most southern dealer (Westside Feed). Have you checked with Palmer Feed Store and BackyardFeedCo?

You had a pretty straightforward spreadsheet to check nutritional parameters on a given feed, didn’t you, U_Stormcrow?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You had a pretty straightforward spreadsheet to check nutritional parameters on a given feed, didn’t you, U_Stormcrow?

Largely sourced from Feedipedia.org, but yes, I built one. I talk a good game, and someone called me on it after I offered to help a fellow BYCer outside the US. So I stepped up to pay the bill for the check my mouth had written - making the spreadsheet was a necessary intermediate step. Sort of like when I put together plans for a hen house when one of our southern California posters needed a bit more help than my text could offer, after I'd commited to helping her.

/edit I have not yet gone back in to add key vitamin levels, FYI. Its pretty low on the "to do" list, but it is on the list.

 

[Weeg]

I didn't read all of the posts above, but I love Scratch and Peck Organic feeds. I use it for my ducks and chickens, and have been very happy with it. Its Corn and Soy free, which I like because of the pesticides in corn and soy.
Chewy carry's it, but its much more expensive than if you can find it locally. My small, local feed store carry's it, I think its 30ish dollars for a 40lb bag? Definitely more expensive than the 20$ bag of Purina, but much higher quality, and I like that its not pelleted. Its "textured" so I can see all the ingredients in the feed.
Do you have a small local feed store near you that might carry it?
I read the top half of your post and skimmed the rest, but I'm interested to see if your egg sensitivities improve after you get started on your own flock! Good luck!

 

[Weeg]

Grubby feeds are also corn and soy free. I haven't tried that feed but have look into it in the past. It looks very high quality, and I love that both Grubby and Scratch and peck use paper bags. Thats always a plus in my book.
I can't remember what the price is, but here's the link if you want to check them out. You may have already looked into them though, and maybe its to much of a hassle to get it shipped. Thought I'd link it anyway.
https://grubblyfarms.com

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Hurrah for scratch & peck!!

 

[ILChickenTV]

Alternatively, you can do very well by including non-plant sources of protein. Menhaden Fish Meal, Porcine Blood Meal, Shrimp Meal, Crab Meal are all high protein sources of complete amino acids in ratios very close...

I have access to free fish-market waste, that I can theoretically grind up, and brewers spent grain, but they're wet and I'm not sure if I can dry them. Is there a way I could round out a ration based on those components? It seems like they have most of the AAs, fiber, fats, etc. already, if not too much of those things? I know it lacks starch at least.
TYIA, your a huge help.
P.S. If you could point me in the direction of some knowledge on the subject, I would love the learn to make these calculations on my own.