freemotion
Food Guru
I've been feeding my flock on whole grains for a few years now and am soy-free. I sprout the smaller grains to increase the protein value and to deal with the anti-nutrient issue. I use no vitamins or supplements. I supplement with free-ranging and in the winter with "lawn hay" that the hens can handle. They share scraps with everyone else, and they get any meat or fat scraps.
As long as you take three weeks to switch them over, they'll do fine. Studies have shown that they will lay fewer eggs, but those eggs will be larger, so the production is essentially the same. Meat chickens will do well, too, and in all the chickens, there will be far fewer incidence of disease, especially coccidia.
Whole grains can be stored for longer without rancidity or nutrient loss. And you can plant them and sprout them. And grind them into flour for your own use.
My goats get whole grains as well, but only the lactating does, selected pregnant does (according to need) and on occasion, an older kid that needs a boost....like Plum right now, who could use some help with her growth spurt so she can be bred in another month or so. Otherwise, she wouldn't be getting sprouted grain. I boosted Ginger last year with bundles of leafy branches and she grew great on that, but she was an earlier baby than Plum so I had more time.
I learned all this from Harvey Ussery's articles and from researching some studies online, especially from other countries. The ag colleges in this country are funded to support the corn and soy industries, so they are not going to get funding to study ways to get your animals off commercial feeds and soy. They are gonna tell you that you are too stupid, without a degree, to balance your animal's diet yourself. Harrumph!
As long as you take three weeks to switch them over, they'll do fine. Studies have shown that they will lay fewer eggs, but those eggs will be larger, so the production is essentially the same. Meat chickens will do well, too, and in all the chickens, there will be far fewer incidence of disease, especially coccidia.
Whole grains can be stored for longer without rancidity or nutrient loss. And you can plant them and sprout them. And grind them into flour for your own use.
My goats get whole grains as well, but only the lactating does, selected pregnant does (according to need) and on occasion, an older kid that needs a boost....like Plum right now, who could use some help with her growth spurt so she can be bred in another month or so. Otherwise, she wouldn't be getting sprouted grain. I boosted Ginger last year with bundles of leafy branches and she grew great on that, but she was an earlier baby than Plum so I had more time.
I learned all this from Harvey Ussery's articles and from researching some studies online, especially from other countries. The ag colleges in this country are funded to support the corn and soy industries, so they are not going to get funding to study ways to get your animals off commercial feeds and soy. They are gonna tell you that you are too stupid, without a degree, to balance your animal's diet yourself. Harrumph!
