Anyone Have Chickens?

[MaryJones2]

So, last week we got 3 dozen baby chicks. They are awesome and doing quite well. Problem is I can't find chicken starter/feed that doesn't contain some kind of gluten grain and was hoping someone had a solution. I have had an all too familar knot in my stomach that appeared shortly after their arrival and I haven't left my house or changed my diet so I am certain their feed is what is causing it. The fine flour-like dust from the feed coats everything and I'm just not comfortable having it around my house or on my animals. Does anyone know of a brand of feed that is gluten-free? I wouldn't mind making my own as long as it's nutritionally balanced.

[ptkds]

Here's one: Open Original Shared Link

Unfortunately, it looks like their others contain gluten. But the starter looks safe.

When they are older, you can feed them scraps from your kitchen and let them free range (if possible).

That is alot of chicks to start with! We have 6 chicks that are about 2.5 months old. I feed them regular stuff from the feed store, but we keep it outside. And I wash my hands when I am done feeding them. I usually scoop it out so there is no dust flying around.

[MaryJones2]

Yeah we have a lot of chickens! We eat a lot of eggs so we wanted to make sure we had enough and then several family members wanted eggs (we do a lot of bartering in my extended family) so when we added it up 36 seemed to be the golden number. My grandparents and neighbors always kept chickens so I'm pretty familar with the adult birds but the chicks are so tiny and fragile!

Thanks for the link. That should keep me going for a bit.

Here's one: Open Original Shared Link

Unfortunately, it looks like their others contain gluten. But the starter looks safe.

When they are older, you can feed them scraps from your kitchen and let them free range (if possible).

That is alot of chicks to start with! We have 6 chicks that are about 2.5 months old. I feed them regular stuff from the feed store, but we keep it outside. And I wash my hands when I am done feeding them. I usually scoop it out so there is no dust flying around.

[cruelshoes]

We have 11 chickens ranging in age from 2 weeks to 1.5 years. We haven't used any special food, simply because it is not available near us. We just use Purina chick starter and Deyoung for layer pellets. The chicken food is kept outside, and I either rope my husband into doing the feeding, or I sterilize myself after I do it. What kind of bedding are you using in your brooder? Most of the dust they make is from feathers/dander and their bedding. We just moved our last set outside, and I am so happy to have the stinky little buggers out of the laundry room! The 2 happiest days of having chicks are when you bring them home, and when you move them out of the house.

My husband runs a chicken forum (linked in my profile). You should stop by if you are so inclined. Plenty of people there that understand the addiction.

[sickchick]

I used to feed my pullets cracked corn and leftover food from whatever we had for dinner.

They also loved fruit... esp grapes and melons and apples.

[MaryJones2]

LOL! Right now ours are in our basement garage. We started out using paper towels in the brooder and now have them on wood shavings which has added to the dust. They are adorable but I'll be very happy to see them move out to the coop. I too rope my husband into feeding all of the animals and know he would take care of it but I am just not comfortable having ground gluten grains floating around my house.

Thanks for the tip on the forum. I'll check it out.

We have 11 chickens ranging in age from 2 weeks to 1.5 years. We haven't used any special food, simply because it is not available near us. We just use Purina chick starter and Deyoung for layer pellets. The chicken food is kept outside, and I either rope my husband into doing the feeding, or I sterilize myself after I do it. What kind of bedding are you using in your brooder? Most of the dust they make is from feathers/dander and their bedding. We just moved our last set outside, and I am so happy to have the stinky little buggers out of the laundry room! The 2 happiest days of having chicks are when you bring them home, and when you move them out of the house.

My husband runs a chicken forum (linked in my profile). You should stop by if you are so inclined. Plenty of people there that understand the addiction.

[rmducote]

So, last week we got 3 dozen baby chicks. They are awesome and doing quite well. Problem is I can't find chicken starter/feed that doesn't contain some kind of gluten grain and was hoping someone had a solution. I have had an all too familar knot in my stomach that appeared shortly after their arrival and I haven't left my house or changed my diet so I am certain their feed is what is causing it. The fine flour-like dust from the feed coats everything and I'm just not comfortable having it around my house or on my animals. Does anyone know of a brand of feed that is gluten-free? I wouldn't mind making my own as long as it's nutritionally balanced.

Have you looked into raising them free range? my dad has an organic farm and raises free range chickens. could be an option