What do I feed my Chicks? Pt. 1
Good morning!
Last week we covered most of the basic needs to be considered when purchasing or building a chicken coop for layer hens. I am aware that I really didn’t talk about all the various aspects of chicken tractors, mobile coops and the process of raising a larger number of birds for meat. And the reason for that is, well, we have to crawl before we walk and walk before we run. Raising birds, for meat production, while similar is also very different in cost, infrastructure, time, feed and breed consideration. Because of that I will cover that in a completely different blog down the line.
Today I want to discuss one of the most disputed, argued and important topics amongst those in the small-scale poultry game.
What do we feed them?
Ok I know…. You’re thinking they are birds, so they eat seeds, worms, bugs and berries. LOL True enough however there is much more to this topic if you want a flock of hens that thrive and nutritious eggs and meat for your family.
So probably the most debated topic when it comes to feed. Do I spend the extra on organic? Well, let’s discuss, shall we?
Organic chicken feed is made from non-GMO ingredients that are grown without chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or antibiotics. It's raised and manufactured according to the National Organic Program.
Ok. So, admittedly this is kind of a big deal to me. First, I urge you to do your own research on this topic, but the rebuttal that is most commonly stated is that there are “some” studies that show the residue on fruit, vegetables and grains are at a safe level to consume.
That may be true. If you ingested a little poison, once, every once in a while, you may never have an issue. But what if you ingested a little once a day, every day? What about twice a day? I think you are getting the picture. The poison will begin to accumulate faster than our bodies can figure out what to do with it.
As someone who has processed hundreds of chickens, I can tell you that the liver and kidneys of chickens raised on a natural, close to organic diet, look night and day better than those raised on a commercial ration.
Just something to think about….
Benefits
Poultry that eat organic feed are less likely to have health problems like stunted growth, weakened immunity, and reduced egg production.
Organic feed is free from antibiotics and growth hormones, which can disrupt a chicken's natural development.
Ingredients
Organic chicken feed can include certified organic wheat, barley, peas, flaxseed meal, and soybeans.
It can also include sunflower seeds, peanuts, oat groats, and hulled barley.
Organic feed should not contain animal by-products, genetically engineered grains, chemical preservatives, medications, or hormones.
Cons…… Well, the con is that cost is a significant factor for all of us to consider and if you are going to a big box store like Tractor Supply, Rural King, or Walmart, you could pay over $1 a pound for feed and that is crazy!
But I have a solution. You know how I am always telling you to get to know your neighborhood farmers? Well the local CO-OP or Farm and Feed store is a great place to do that. Not to mention this is where you need to get your feed.
Why? Because they are far more knowledgeable and willing to help you get what you need than the box stores and usually at a much lower cost. I’ll give you an example. I buy my feed from my local feed store and am able to buy it by the pallet if needed (which is a bonus if you have a place to store it.) Not only do I buy it in bulk, but they specially order it just for me (remember I’m the organic minority), from Tucker Milling, right here in Alabama. My feed is organic and very good quality, and the best part is it costs me approximately .27 cents a pound. Folks, that is a savings of about 75%! It will add up.
Next, let’s talk about feed ingredients and how they affect YOU!
What you feed your chickens will affect the nutritional values of your eggs. Look, I know there are studies that say otherwise, and you may discount this as anecdotal, but I have seen this when farmers that I know have paid and had their eggs tested. Joel Salatin being one such farmer. Also, If you, your family or your customers have issues with allergies, I strongly recommend a feed that is free of corn, soybean and peanuts. Because these will also cause reactions when the eggs are consumed.
I have met several people who thought they were allergic to eggs; however, it turns out the were allergic to the feed ingredients that were being fed to commercially raised chickens. Once they were able to source eggs from chickens eating a clean diet, they were able to eat the eggs with little issue.
Well, that is two coffee cups worth of advice to consider when buying a chicken feed so I think that is a good place to put a comma on or conversation today.
Next time we will continue to explore the topic of what should I feed my chickens.
Any questions, comments or concerns? You can reach me at thenolackfarm@outlook.com.
Until next time, Stay strong in your faith, love your family and support your local community farmers!
And remember those who fear God will Lack nothing! Psalm 34:9
Kevin
