Organic feed at Costco

[Rooster Sunrise]

While I agree the Costco Cargill organic chicken feed is not as bad as conventional feed and may be good for a farmer who is transitioning from conventional to optimal, this particular feed REALLY waters down the organic standards.

I pay a pretty penny for Scratch & Peck Layer Feed which is an intact, whole grain, non-extruded, soy free, no heat, no synthetics chicken feed. My birds LOVE it.

There are other quality sources of protein besides soy, or fish and meat meal. Field Peas and Linseed boost the protein ratio also. There are no fungicides or any other cides in Scratch & Peck. I pay $30 for 40 lbs. While I keep my eyes open for less expensive options, I simply can't lower my standards. My family eats the eggs our hens produce for us. Quality chicken feed is our health insurance. We are, what our animals eat. I sacrifice in other ways, to free up money to feed our livestock well, because we eat them, or their by-products.

Now, I understand that there are families who are happy to use products like this Cargill 'organic' feed. We all have limitations and boundaries we must live within. I don't fault them one bit.

My problem lies in the fact that feed like this lowers the standards across the board. It makes the term "organic" useless.

Obviously, as evidenced by truly organic chicken feed producing companies, wholesome, intact, whole grain chicken feed does not need heat, forced extrusion, synthetics, cides or preservatives for birds to flourish, thrive and produce lots of eggs. It can be done. It is being done.

 

[matt44644]

While I agree the Costco Cargill organic chicken feed is not as bad as conventional feed and may be good for a farmer who is transitioning from conventional to optimal, this particular feed REALLY waters down the organic standards.

I pay a pretty penny for Scratch & Peck Layer Feed which is an intact, whole grain, non-extruded, soy free, no heat, no synthetics chicken feed. My birds LOVE it.

There are other quality sources of protein besides soy, or fish and meat meal. Field Peas and Linseed boost the protein ratio also. There are no fungicides or any other cides in Scratch & Peck. I pay $30 for 40 lbs. While I keep my eyes open for less expensive options, I simply can't lower my standards. My family eats the eggs our hens produce for us. Quality chicken feed is our health insurance. We are, what our animals eat. I sacrifice in other ways, to free up money to feed our livestock well, because we eat them, or their by-products.

Now, I understand that there are families who are happy to use products like this Cargill 'organic' feed. We all have limitations and boundaries we must live within. I don't fault them one bit.

My problem lies in the fact that feed like this lowers the standards across the board. It makes the term "organic" useless.

Obviously, as evidenced by truly organic chicken feed producing companies, wholesome, intact, whole grain chicken feed does not need heat, forced extrusion, synthetics, cides or preservatives for birds to flourish, thrive and produce lots of eggs. It can be done. It is being done.

What are the fungicides and cides in the ingredients that you are referring to?

 

[Rooster Sunrise]

Costco/Cargill NatureSmart 16% Layer Feed
Ingredients:
Organic Ground Wheat, Organic Wheat Middlings, Organic Soybean Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Ground Corn, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Salt, Penicillium funiculosum*,DL- Methionine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Choline Chloride, Manganous Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A
Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, ingredients-cont Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin.

Guaranteed-analysis Crude
Protein Min. 16%, Lysine Min. 0.75%, Methionine Min. 0.26%, Crude Fat Min. 2%, Crude Fiber Max. 4%, Calcium Min. 3.2%...Max. 3.3%, Phosphorus Min. 0.6%, Salt min. 2.8%...Max. 0.38%, Sodium Min. 0.19%...Max. 0.21%, *
The above guaranteed analysis may vary by manufacturing location, please refer to tag for specific information.
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Here's one, Matt. You can look up the other ingredients.

Ethylenediamine (EDA) (1,2-diaminoethane) is commonly used in the manufacture of fuel additives, bleach activators, chelating agents and corrosion inhibitors, among other applications. It is the lowest molecular weight (60.10) member of the ethyleneamines family. It contains two primary amine groups and forms a maximum boiling azeotrope with water.

EDA is used primarily in the following applications:

Bleach Activator
Chelating Agents
Corrosion Inhibitors
Epoxy Curing Agents
Fuel Additives
Fungicides
Plastic Lubricant
Rubber Processing Additives
Textile Additives
Urethane Chemicals/Foams

 

[matt44644]

 

[matt44644]

 

[matt44644]

Manna Pro Organic
Ingredients:
Organic Corn, Organic Soybean Meal, Organic Barley, Organic Oats, Organic Wheat Midds, Organic Flaxmeal, Organic Cane Molasses, DL Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Monocalcium Phosphate, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxide, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Choline Chloride, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Menadione Dimethylpyrimidinol Bisulfite, Zinc Methionine Complex.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/manna-proreg;-organic-layer-pellets-10-lb

 

[ChickenCanoe]

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Here's one, Matt. You can look up the other ingredients.

Ethylenediamine (EDA) (1,2-diaminoethane) is commonly used in the manufacture of fuel additives, bleach activators, chelating agents and corrosion inhibitors, among other applications. It is the lowest molecular weight (60.10) member of the ethyleneamines family. It contains two primary amine groups and forms a maximum boiling azeotrope with water.

I think that's in animal feed as a source if iodide.

 

[Rooster Sunrise]

I'm sure that since they heat and extrude the feed, they must use cides and preservatives. It looks like all pellets and crumbles have it. I personally offer my birds free choice kelp as a source of iodine and minerals.

Matt, I very much appreciate you posting the Modesto Millings labels and ingredient list.

Thanks!

 

[CATRYNA]

Ha Ha!!!

I moved to a more rural area in So. Cal and I completely flipped my noodle when I saw that they stocked not one but several types of horse feed.

As much as I am for the Costco stocking chicken feed, especially organic (whatever that means these days), I am not looking forward to feed stores closing because of the "big box" effect.

Although I have been to some feed stores that are downright scary!!!
Thankfully I am lucky, my feed store is in between, they have been around since dirt was invented but they keep the place clean, they stock chicks all year round, and they support local 4-H by buying at the fair auction.

Anyway, I have friends who think I am crazy for keeping chickens. I hope their Costco's get chicken feed soon so they will finally realize that this "fad" of keeping backyard chickens isn't going away anytime soon!!!!

May all of your birdies be happy birdies!!!
Mary!

I would rather go to a feed store and have an in and out experience rather than deal with the impossible parking and crowded conditions of any Costco.

 

[CATRYNA]

So I just found the ingredients for the so called organic layer feed from Costco. It's made by Cargill, peer of Monsanto. Here's the ingredients:

Ingredients Organic Ground Wheat, Organic Wheat Middlings, Organic Soybean Meal, Calcium Carbonate, Organic Ground Corn, Dicalcium Phosphate, Monocalcium Phosphate, Salt, Penicillium funiculosum*,DL- Methionine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Choline Chloride, Manganous Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Chloride, Copper Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydroiodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin E Supplement,
ingredients-cont Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Niacin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Thiamine Mononitrate, Biotin.
guaranteed-analysis Crude Protein Min. 16%, Lysine Min. 0.75%, Methionine Min. 0.26%, Crude Fat Min. 2%, Crude Fiber Max. 4%, Calcium Min. 3.2%...Max. 3.3%, Phosphorus Min. 0.6%, Salt min. 2.8%...Max. 0.38%, Sodium Min. 0.19%...Max. 0.21%, * The above guaranteed analysis may vary by manufacturing location, please refer to tag for specific information.

It's an extruded, highly processed at high heat mixture of wheat, wheat, soy, corn and junk. It's like organic cheerios. So, for a $20 bag of 40 lbs, anyone can call their eggs organic and sell them as such.

Very disappointing.
Indeed. When I saw the ingredients I immediately knew this was garbage. Two grains and a bunch of cheap sourced vitamins and minerals.