Non GMO food

[Leighb72]

can anyone recommend a non GMO feed and where do you get it?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

That totally depends on the area where you live and what you are feeding.

Layers? Mixed poultry? Chicks?

For brands, I use Nutrena or Country Companion, which I find at Coastal Farm stores.

I've also used Purina feeds, though I find Nutrena, and in particular Country Companion a better price for the quantity.

My least favorite is Albers. It tends to be mostly feed dust.

LofMc

 

[Cindy in PA]

Kalmbach out of Ohio has a Non GMO line. Flock Party by Manna Pro is Non GMO & is sold at my TSC, but only comes in 25 lb. bags, so it's a little more expensive. There are some others that are Non GMO as opposed to organic depending where you are located.

 

[Leighb72]

That totally depends on the area where you live and what you are feeding.

Layers? Mixed poultry? Chicks?

For brands, I use Nutrena or Country Companion, which I find at Coastal Farm stores.

I've also used Purina feeds, though I find Nutrena, and in particular Country Companion a better price for the quantity.

My least favorite is Albers. It tends to be mostly feed dust.

LofMc

So I have a flock of 12, all under two years old. 3 roosters. One is still on the younger side, a Silkie. And the rest are hens all but one egg laying (one is a younger silkie).
I bought some “treat food” today. Sunflower seed, dried blood worms and scratch/corn I believe. I just got them Sunday. Over all they seem pretty healthy. A couple have looser poops and one needs to put on some weight. Unfortunately the previous owner had his kid feed them and put rabbit food in by mistake. I dumped that. Clean everything really well today and started fresh. They got layer food. Not sure of the brand off hand. What about mixing your own food? I hear black oiled sunflower seed, whole oats, corn and diatomaceous earth for sure. Any thoughts on that. Also, oyster is not the same as grit correct? And should I mix grit in with the food or keep it separate?
Thanks for the help

 

[Bantamgirl715]

The formula you quoted is not a complete chicken ration. Chickens are omnivores and have specific Vitamin A/D/B12 requirements.

It is possible to mix your own feed (I do it often) BUT it takes a ton of research, careful measuring, and almost always turns out to be more expensive than buying commercial feed.

 

[Bantamgirl715]

As to non-GMO, for years I have been paying extra for what my feed store told me was non-GMO feed, but I couldn't figure out why there was no mention of it on the bag. Finally I tracked down the ingredient list online (WHY AREN"T THEY REQUIRED TO PUT IT ON THE TAG?) and they guarantee North American grown soy and and grain, but no mention of GMO free.
Whatever you find, verify with the source it is what you are paying for.

 

[paneubert]

I hear black oiled sunflower seed, whole oats, corn and diatomaceous earth for sure. Any thoughts on that. Also, oyster is not the same as grit correct? And should I mix grit in with the food or keep it separate?
Thanks for the help

No. That is not a good recipe for their main feed. That would be ok for "treats" (less than 10% of their daily intake).

Black oil sunflower seed (called BOSS) is high in fat. Like.....high. That is what black oil sunflower seed is bred for. Oil. It is right in the name.

Whole oats can be controversial due to some of their chemical makeup acting as an "anti- nutrient". Google around to see discussions about that.

Corn is fine generally, and a lot of feeds used cracked or ground corn for the main ingredient. But it can be overdone. Corn on its own is not nutritionally balanced and is very carb heavy and vitamin deficient. Chickens can get fat eating just corn.

Diatomaceous earth is not food. Not at all. The only reason diatomaceous earth should be mixed into feed is to control pests and bugs. It is not meant to provide any nutritional benefit to the chickens.

Oyster shell or another calcium source is not the same as grit. You are correct. Grit is "insoluble" which means they don't get any nutrients from it and it is not providing them any carbs, fats, or proteins. Grit is used to manually crush their food internally. Think of grit like teeth inside your body.

Oyster shell or another calcium source IS consumed and broken down in the bird as a source of calcium. So they have strong bones and good egg shells. If they dont have a good source of calcium in their diet, they pull calcium from their bones to make their eggshells. Bad for chickens.

 

[Leighb72]

Wow. Thank you. I watched a You-tube video on how to make chicken feed. I questioned some of what she was saying. She clearly said oyster helped them break down food and explained what the gizzard does. This contradicted other things I had read. Glad I asked. Will chickens eat more oyster or grit then they need?

No. That is not a good recipe for their main feed. That would be ok for "treats" (less than 10% of their daily intake).

Black oil sunflower seed (called BOSS) is high in fat. Like.....high. That is what black oil sunflower seed is bred for. Oil. It is right in the name.

Whole oats can be controversial due to some of their chemical makeup acting as an "anti- nutrient". Google around to see discussions about that.

Corn is fine generally, and a lot of feeds used cracked or ground corn for the main ingredient. But it can be overdone. Corn on its own is not nutritionally balanced and is very carb heavy and vitamin deficient. Chickens can get fat eating just corn.

Diatomaceous earth is not food. Not at all. The only reason diatomaceous earth should be mixed into feed is to control pests and bugs. It is not meant to provide any nutritional benefit to the chickens.

Oyster shell or another calcium source is not the same as grit. You are correct. Grit is "insoluble" which means they don't get any nutrients from it and it is not providing them any carbs, fats, or proteins. Grit is used to manually crush their food internally. Think of grit like teeth inside your body.

Oyster shell or another calcium source IS consumed and broken down in the bird as a source of calcium. So they have strong bones and good egg shells. If they dont have a good source of calcium in their diet, they pull calcium from their bones to make their eggshells. Bad for chickens.

 

[Kiki]

If you want to private message me your zip code I'll find a store near you that carries a complete feed with no GMOs for you.

 

[Leighb72]

If you want to private message me your zip code I'll find a store near you that carries a complete feed with no GMOs for you.

of course I can see it here. Go figure.