Help! Newbie here and chicks are coming today!

[framing fowl]

Is there a particular reason you are wanting to feed them a custom mix? It sounds like you are really not wanting to use commercial chick feed. I've used it for my chicks with no problems. Don't give up though, if you want to do it a particular way, just keep asking questions and googling. You'll eventually find something that works!

 

[Soap Junkie]

Yes it is the commercial feed I want to avoid. I just want away from the GMO's. As natural as possible. Organic is really my prefered but I would at least be happy with GMO free.

I have just researched too much about GMO's and that is why I got chickens, to get my eggs free of it atleast!

 

[framing fowl]

I would think that by the time they are old enough to lay eggs it would be out of their system. For example, if you feed them organic store-bought feed designed for their nutritional needs to get them through the chick stage and then transitioned them as they got to be teenagers. BUT, it's your adventure and you get to do it however you like! Me, I prefer easier sometimes.

 

[Soap Junkie]

Framing Fowl, I kinda preffer easier too! I am just very involved in the natural GMO free way, not only for my chicks but for my family too. As a matter of fact my daughter has organized a rally in Lansing Mi this weekend to support truth in labeling and forcing companies to let us know if there product contains GMO's so WE can decide what we want to eat, not them. I guess its more of a pride thing. I am however determined to do this natural so I will keep moving forward! It sure does help to have other peoples experience though so thank you for your input!

 

[Soap Junkie]

UPDATE:

I found a certified organic farmer about 45 minutes from my house that sells Organic chicken feed, 50 lb bag for $17.00!!! God is good! I have had them on it for about a week or so now and they are doing good. I did end up getting the grain with soy in it, but he roast the soy. I was told that is better but can anyone tell me why? He offers it without soy for
$2.00 more a bag but he said the protein is lacking in it.

Oh happy days! I dont think I could mix my own for that cheap!

 

[HappyHomestead]

Good job, soap junkie! (Do you make soap or are you just super clean? I'm glad your chickens are doing well. 1st time chicken owner as well, and there is SO much to learn! Better to learn about chick feed next round, I think

 

[rhoda_bruce]

If unprepared, I would say to get a commercial non-medicated, but if you have solved your problem, good.
Personally, I find it costs too much to raise chicks until they sell, lay or to slaughtering age on commercial feed, so I simply grind up the grains I am able to obtain from the elevators near the river. Currently I have corn, milo, wheat, rice and a little soy. DH likes to add a scoop of rabbit pellets (so its not always completely self done), but heck, sometimes I get wild and put in dogfood too. But its mainly grain.
We also dry crawfish and crab peelings for a day or 2 and grind those up to the mix.
I didn't spend much on the mill. Its just a little handcrank job I found online for 20something dollars, but it does the job.
It doesn't take too long before they running around the brooder trying to catch bugs that were attracted to the light and when they start loosing some of their cuteness, they would attack grass, if its chopped small enough for them to get it down.
Don't get me wrong; its not all about saving money. I'm all for the natural thing too. It is good when someone comes here and is worried about what my chickens eat (mainly chemotherapy patients), if I have answers that please them. But it seems a lot of people are coming here because they want to get closer to their food sources.