AZ Trekker
12-31-2009, 05:50 PM
CHICKEN FEED
By AZ Trekker
Raising chickens can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. Adults and children alike can benefit from having a backyard flock. Chickens really just need water, food, protection and a warm, dry place to sleep. You can even raise them in many cities where permissible.
<o></o>
Some people think that chickens are strange, dirty and smelly. While a group of chickens may certainly be eclectic or offbeat, chickens are not inherently dirty and smelly. If they are not raised under the proper circumstances, their surroundings can appear dirty and smelly, but don’t mistake this with the actual bird.
<o></o>
The reasons for having your own hens are numerous. Commercially raised hens will probably lay more eggs over a certain period of time than your backyard flock. However, their living conditions are at times less than desirable. If you have visited a location where chickens are tightly confined you leaved with a downright terrible feeling. The backyard flock raiser will find a somewhat less productive chicken, but a much happier one! During a typical day, a group of chickens will scratch for food, search for bugs or grubs, bath in the dirt, take a nap, run and stretch their wings, peck at green plants, get after each other, and if they are hens, lay eggs. Contrast this to a cage raised chicken that eats, sleeps and lay eggs. What a dreadful life!
<o></o>
The reasons our family raises chickens are fairly simple:
<o>
</o>
I love raising chickens! Always have…….always will. In fact, my wife calls the hens my girls or my girlfriends!
Fresh eggs are just better. Period. Crack open an egg that came from the store and one from the backyard flock and look at the yolk. The store bought egg has a bright yellow yolk that easily runs. The backyard chicken egg has a strong yolk that is dark yellow.
Raising chickens can be easy to raise and enjoyable to be around. Children typically gravitate to chickens. (While chickens on the other hand typically run from children!)
You gain a certain level of self sufficiency by being able to raise your own food. You also appreciate the time and effort to help in the process.
You know where your food comes from. Do you know anything about where your store bought eggs come from and how the chickens live? Raise your own!
<o></o>
Like with most things in life, knowledge and experience are everything. Also, paying attention to your chickens is of utmost importance. There have been periods of time where in my life I have tried hard to avoid commercially purchases layer rations. For personal reasons I don’t trust the commercial food products industry in general; even less the animal food products industry. Furthermore, I have personal concerns about soy, fish meal and animal (meat) meal. In regards to soy, it must be toasted or processed in some fashion to make it safe for consumption for chickens. Also, many nutritionalists have serious concerns about soy and its supposed health benefits. It also appears that most commercial soy has been genetically modified in some form. In regards to fish meal and meat meal I don’t fundamentally have a problem with it, but it is difficult to find certified organic. If you can find these products certified organic, then feel free to use them.
<o></o>
These are feed mixes that have worked for us and others. We have tried to get a layer ration in the 15-16% protein content range. I didn’t use exact science, so I may be off. Like with most things in life, there are not guarantees here. You can study out your own feed rations just as well as anyone. You may use these rations as presented, but then again you may find your own mix that works better for your situation. Best wishes and good luck with your backyard flock.
<o>
</o>
Basic Layer Ration (Good Protein Content)<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Ration.<o></o>
2 Parts Split Peas (Green or Yellow)
2 Parts Whole Lentils (Green or Red)
2 Parts Oat Groats
1 Part Whole Grain Red Wheat or Spelt
1 Part Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
1 Part Whole Grain Hulled Barley
Supplements: Grit / Oyster Shells / Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth / <st1:city w:st=" border=" 0="" alt="">Redmond </st1:city>Real Salt / Kelp Granules / Flax Seed
<o></o>
Complete Layer Ration (Good Protein Content and Excellent Balance)<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Ration.<o></o>
3 Parts Split Peas (Green or Yellow)
3 Parts Whole Lentils (Green or Red)
3 Parts Oat Groats
3 Parts Whole Grain Spelt
3 Parts Whole Grain Red Wheat
3 Parts Whole Grain White Wheat (Hard or Soft)
2 Parts Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
2 Part Whole Grain Hulled Barley<st1></st1>
2 Part Sunflower Seeds
2 Part Sesame Seeds
2 Part Whole Grain Sorghum (Milo)<st1></st1>
2 Part Whole Grain Kamut
1 Part Whole Grain Amaranth
1 Part Whole Grain Millet
1 Part Whole Grain Quinoa
1 Part Flax Seeds
1 Part Kelp Granules
1 Part Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
1 Part Redmond <st1></st1>Real Salt
2 Parts Oyster Shells
<o></o>
Basic Scratch Feed (Low in Protein Content)<o></o>
This feed is best scattered about where you want the chickens to work the ground or scrath in and around their shavings.<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Scratch Feed.<o></o>
2 Parts Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
1 Part Whole Grain Red Wheat
1 Part Whole Grain Sorghum (Milo)<st1></st1>
By AZ Trekker
Raising chickens can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. Adults and children alike can benefit from having a backyard flock. Chickens really just need water, food, protection and a warm, dry place to sleep. You can even raise them in many cities where permissible.
<o></o>
Some people think that chickens are strange, dirty and smelly. While a group of chickens may certainly be eclectic or offbeat, chickens are not inherently dirty and smelly. If they are not raised under the proper circumstances, their surroundings can appear dirty and smelly, but don’t mistake this with the actual bird.
<o></o>
The reasons for having your own hens are numerous. Commercially raised hens will probably lay more eggs over a certain period of time than your backyard flock. However, their living conditions are at times less than desirable. If you have visited a location where chickens are tightly confined you leaved with a downright terrible feeling. The backyard flock raiser will find a somewhat less productive chicken, but a much happier one! During a typical day, a group of chickens will scratch for food, search for bugs or grubs, bath in the dirt, take a nap, run and stretch their wings, peck at green plants, get after each other, and if they are hens, lay eggs. Contrast this to a cage raised chicken that eats, sleeps and lay eggs. What a dreadful life!
<o></o>
The reasons our family raises chickens are fairly simple:
<o>
</o>
I love raising chickens! Always have…….always will. In fact, my wife calls the hens my girls or my girlfriends!
Fresh eggs are just better. Period. Crack open an egg that came from the store and one from the backyard flock and look at the yolk. The store bought egg has a bright yellow yolk that easily runs. The backyard chicken egg has a strong yolk that is dark yellow.
Raising chickens can be easy to raise and enjoyable to be around. Children typically gravitate to chickens. (While chickens on the other hand typically run from children!)
You gain a certain level of self sufficiency by being able to raise your own food. You also appreciate the time and effort to help in the process.
You know where your food comes from. Do you know anything about where your store bought eggs come from and how the chickens live? Raise your own!
<o></o>
Like with most things in life, knowledge and experience are everything. Also, paying attention to your chickens is of utmost importance. There have been periods of time where in my life I have tried hard to avoid commercially purchases layer rations. For personal reasons I don’t trust the commercial food products industry in general; even less the animal food products industry. Furthermore, I have personal concerns about soy, fish meal and animal (meat) meal. In regards to soy, it must be toasted or processed in some fashion to make it safe for consumption for chickens. Also, many nutritionalists have serious concerns about soy and its supposed health benefits. It also appears that most commercial soy has been genetically modified in some form. In regards to fish meal and meat meal I don’t fundamentally have a problem with it, but it is difficult to find certified organic. If you can find these products certified organic, then feel free to use them.
<o></o>
These are feed mixes that have worked for us and others. We have tried to get a layer ration in the 15-16% protein content range. I didn’t use exact science, so I may be off. Like with most things in life, there are not guarantees here. You can study out your own feed rations just as well as anyone. You may use these rations as presented, but then again you may find your own mix that works better for your situation. Best wishes and good luck with your backyard flock.
<o>
</o>
Basic Layer Ration (Good Protein Content)<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Ration.<o></o>
2 Parts Split Peas (Green or Yellow)
2 Parts Whole Lentils (Green or Red)
2 Parts Oat Groats
1 Part Whole Grain Red Wheat or Spelt
1 Part Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
1 Part Whole Grain Hulled Barley
Supplements: Grit / Oyster Shells / Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth / <st1:city w:st=" border=" 0="" alt="">Redmond </st1:city>Real Salt / Kelp Granules / Flax Seed
<o></o>
Complete Layer Ration (Good Protein Content and Excellent Balance)<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Ration.<o></o>
3 Parts Split Peas (Green or Yellow)
3 Parts Whole Lentils (Green or Red)
3 Parts Oat Groats
3 Parts Whole Grain Spelt
3 Parts Whole Grain Red Wheat
3 Parts Whole Grain White Wheat (Hard or Soft)
2 Parts Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
2 Part Whole Grain Hulled Barley<st1></st1>
2 Part Sunflower Seeds
2 Part Sesame Seeds
2 Part Whole Grain Sorghum (Milo)<st1></st1>
2 Part Whole Grain Kamut
1 Part Whole Grain Amaranth
1 Part Whole Grain Millet
1 Part Whole Grain Quinoa
1 Part Flax Seeds
1 Part Kelp Granules
1 Part Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth
1 Part Redmond <st1></st1>Real Salt
2 Parts Oyster Shells
<o></o>
Basic Scratch Feed (Low in Protein Content)<o></o>
This feed is best scattered about where you want the chickens to work the ground or scrath in and around their shavings.<o></o>
Use Certified Organic Grains where possible – especially corn. Soy Free Scratch Feed.<o></o>
2 Parts Whole Grain Corn or Popcorn
1 Part Whole Grain Red Wheat
1 Part Whole Grain Sorghum (Milo)<st1></st1>