Non-GMO feed cheap! MD/PA/WV

[Cycomiko]

Maryland and Eastern Panhandle WV, and south central Pennsylvanianers! I’ve found good, non-gmo, feed straight from an honest farmer. For nearly a year I was paying $33/40lb bag of Natures Best Organic, and all this time there was a source 25 miles from me for $20 less, 10 pounds more. The only difference is it’s mash, not pellets. Here’s the prices...

I’ve bought their later, starter, and scratch. My Chickens Love it. I normal wet the layer feed, which they have always preferred. But the recent temps have put an end to that. I have always put a layer of mealworms from Www.mealwormsbythepound.com on it to boost the protein, but sooner I’m switching my flock to the grower feed and oyster shells or egg shells for calcium.
Here are the tags from the scratch, layer and grower.

I am in no way associated with them, but would like to keep this source available to me and my flock.
They were featured in my favorite MPT (PBS Maryland) show, if you take the time, they are the first story. http://video.mpt.tv/video/2365894932/
Check them out at Www.ernstgrainandlivestock.com
They also distribute to eastern and western Maryland

 

[chickenmasta]

Maryland and Eastern Panhandle WV, and south central Pennsylvanianers! I’ve found good, 100% organic, feed straight from an honest farmer. For nearly a year I was paying $33/40lb bag of Natures Best Organic, and all this time there was a source 25 miles from me for $20 less, 10 pounds more. The only difference is it’s mash, not pellets. Here’s the prices...
View attachment 1220783
I’ve bought their later, starter, and scratch. My Chickens Love it. I normal wet the layer feed, which they have always preferred. But the recent temps have put an end to that. I have always put a layer of mealworms from Www.mealwormsbythepound.com on it to boost the protein, but sooner I’m switching my flock to the grower feed and oyster shells or egg shells for calcium.
Here are the tags from the scratch, layer and grower. View attachment 1220787View attachment 1220788 View attachment 1220789
I am in no way associated with them, but would like to keep this source available to me and my flock.
They were featured in my favorite MPT (PBS Maryland) show, if you take the time, they are the first story. http://video.mpt.tv/video/2365894932/
If there is anything in the ingredients that don’t sound right, please speak up. 100% organic, for real, is my #1 need. My Chicky Mama has health issues that demand it. Check them out at Www.ernstgrainandlivestock.com
They also distribute to eastern and western Maryland

Sorry it’s not organic, that is why it’s cheaper. If it had organic ingredients it would list organic corn, organic wheat, etc. as required by feed labeling laws. It’s just “plain” non-gmo Corn no other ingredients have GMO versions. Since it’s not organic the organic rules don’t need to apply. So it would still get the same fertilizers or sprays as non gmo/ gmo Corn. Here in PA we only get a 5-10 cent per bushel (56 lbs) “premium” for non gmo grains. The “premium” doesn’t cover the extra growing expenses, so few people grow non gmo. Plus the feed mills don’t ask if it’s gmo or non gmo because it doesn’t matter to farmers. There are a few of these non gmo grain mills (higher priced) for the hobby/micro farms. Organic grain has always been doubled the price since it’s harder to grow in volume.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Not organic, but a nice alternative to regular soy feed at a decent price. I have a local farmer that does do organic no soy & that would be about $20/50lbs. He sells in 80 lb bags for $32.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Wish I could find grain that cheap in E TN. Especially non-GMO.

 

[tigger19687]

Wish I could find anything even close to that in MASS/NH, shoot I would even be willing to drive further to get that

 

[Cycomiko]

Sorry it’s not organic, that is why it’s cheaper. If it had organic ingredients it would list organic corn, organic wheat, etc. as required by feed labeling laws. It’s just “plain” non-gmo Corn no other ingredients have GMO versions. Since it’s not organic the organic rules don’t need to apply. So it would still get the same fertilizers or sprays as non gmo/ gmo Corn. Here in PA we only get a 5-10 cent per bushel (56 lbs) “premium” for non gmo grains. The “premium” doesn’t cover the extra growing expenses, so few people grow non gmo. Plus the feed mills don’t ask if it’s gmo or non gmo because it doesn’t matter to farmers. There are a few of these non gmo grain mills (higher priced) for the hobby/micro farms. Organic grain has always been doubled the price since it’s harder to grow in volume.

Wow, In my excitement, I missed that. I emailed them and got a quick response,

Got me seriously considering a fodder system and mealworm operation now.

 

[Cycomiko]

Not organic, but a nice alternative to regular soy feed at a decent price. I have a local farmer that does do organic no soy & that would be about $20/50lbs. He sells in 80 lb bags for $32.

I got caught up in the non-gmo part. Thanks. I corrected that.

 

[Maeschak]

Maryland and Eastern Panhandle WV, and south central Pennsylvanianers! I’ve found good, non-gmo, feed straight from an honest farmer. For nearly a year I was paying $33/40lb bag of Natures Best Organic, and all this time there was a source 25 miles from me for $20 less, 10 pounds more. The only difference is it’s mash, not pellets. Here’s the prices...
View attachment 1220783
I’ve bought their later, starter, and scratch. My Chickens Love it. I normal wet the layer feed, which they have always preferred. But the recent temps have put an end to that. I have always put a layer of mealworms from Www.mealwormsbythepound.com on it to boost the protein, but sooner I’m switching my flock to the grower feed and oyster shells or egg shells for calcium.
Here are the tags from the scratch, layer and grower. View attachment 1220787View attachment 1220788 View attachment 1220789
I am in no way associated with them, but would like to keep this source available to me and my flock.
They were featured in my favorite MPT (PBS Maryland) show, if you take the time, they are the first story. http://video.mpt.tv/video/2365894932/
If there is anything in the ingredients that don’t sound right, please speak up. 100% organic, for real, is my #1 need. My Chicky Mama has health issues that demand it. Check them out at Www.ernstgrainandlivestock.com
They also distribute to eastern and western Maryland

Not organic (as everyone has pointed out), but it is good quality non-gmo feed from real farmers. I have been using their chicken feed exclusively for a few years now (I drive an hour each way) and couldn't be happier. To me, non-go is extremely important as it keeps our farmers more independent (if they wish to be so) and helps to keep large corporations from owning a monopoly on our country's seed stock.
Their prices beat my local stores (gmo or non-go feed) by a long shot including my transportation costs.
Because the grain in their feed is simply ground and not ground then formed into crumble or pellets their feed retains more nutrients and are good for gut/crop health. In order to form the crumbles or pellets the grains have to be heated to a very high temperature which degrades the foods nutritive value.
They also sell lots of extras such as chicken mineral, super cheap oyster shell, scratch (BEST PRICE around!), fish meal, etc.
I sometimes like to purchase a large amount of turkey starter (24% protein) and several bags of scratch. That way, I can use the turkey starter as starter for my chicks and then add scratch to lower the protein as the chicks age. Scratch has 10.5% protein so you can use 1 part turkey starter to 1 part scratch to get a 17.5% protein feed for the adult layers. I usually also add a bit of chicken mineral (they sell by the pound) to complete the feed. It takes a bit more work this way but it is extremely versatile and cost effective.

Anyway, great company, great feed, and phenomenal prices. The feed is also perfect for fermenting.

 

[Cycomiko]

Not organic (as everyone has pointed out), but it is good quality non-gmo feed from real farmers. I have been using their chicken feed exclusively for a few years now (I drive an hour each way) and couldn't be happier. To me, non-go is extremely important as it keeps our farmers more independent (if they wish to be so) and helps to keep large corporations from owning a monopoly on our country's seed stock.
Their prices beat my local stores (gmo or non-go feed) by a long shot including my transportation costs.
Because the grain in their feed is simply ground and not ground then formed into crumble or pellets their feed retains more nutrients and are good for gut/crop health. In order to form the crumbles or pellets the grains have to be heated to a very high temperature which degrades the foods nutritive value.
They also sell lots of extras such as chicken mineral, super cheap oyster shell, scratch (BEST PRICE around!), fish meal, etc.
I sometimes like to purchase a large amount of turkey starter (24% protein) and several bags of scratch. That way, I can use the turkey starter as starter for my chicks and then add scratch to lower the protein as the chicks age. Scratch has 10.5% protein so you can use 1 part turkey starter to 1 part scratch to get a 17.5% protein feed for the adult layers. I usually also add a bit of chicken mineral (they sell by the pound) to complete the feed. It takes a bit more work this way but it is extremely versatile and cost effective.

Anyway, great company, great feed, and phenomenal prices. The feed is also perfect for fermenting.

Well put. I couldn't agree more in dealing with them. It's just a 10 minute detour between my home and work, and I can text Josh on Friday morning when leaving work and he's there when I arrive. I haven't tried their oyster shells. How well are they ground? Just curious if grit gravel size or finer.

 

[Maeschak]

Well put. I couldn't agree more in dealing with them. It's just a 10 minute detour between my home and work, and I can text Josh on Friday morning when leaving work and he's there when I arrive. I haven't tried their oyster shells. How well are they ground? Just curious if grit gravel size or finer.

I also just text Josh to see if anyone will be available and 10 times out of 10 there is! I'm not really sure about the oyster shell size- it looks to me like any other oyster shell I have gotten. I suppose you could say it is larger grit sized bits. None of my chickens has ever had a problem with it- I just leave a very large bowl of it out at all times. They also sell cheap chick and adult grit sizes.

One more interesting tidbit- their scratch is so good that if left out on the ground (as in the chickens didn't eat it all) it will sprout! So you may end up with some perfect chicken forage wherever they leave bits of the scratch.