Is the Chicken Feed to Blame?

[@NonaMaryGrace1952]

Hello , you are very informative. Thank you. 💕NonnaGrace 🐓

[@DeborahElliott-mh5ru]

SAME THING TO US! Im not crazy for seeing this same thing in yours. THANK GOD, cause I noticed my eggs would make me do that crap too, so I tossed the eggs out, switched the feed, and now I dont have as much numbness in my hands and feet when I eat my eggs. So this is GREAT NEWS! Thank you for sharing! Im sharing this video.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Wow!! Isn't that wild?! Thanks for sharing that. I hope you get to the bottom of the issue soon! Best wishes!

[@DeborahElliott-mh5ru]

@@TheHomemadeHaven Im not alone on what effects it is having on my health. Another couple said they were always using natural organic stuff, and noticed their birds doing what your birds were doing, and now they have trouble with running and exercising. They are tired more often from their jogs, and disoriented, sped up heart beats, etc. Yes, this is scary stuff.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

That is both scary and intriguing! I'll be looking more into this myself. Thank you again for sharing ❤

[@bluebirdhomestead]

8:32 I rather like the sound of rain on a metal roof ❤

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I really enjoy it myself 🥰

[@bluebirdhomestead]

@@TheHomemadeHaven 😊

[@juleswins3]

Watched a video this morning where a man switched to Dumor and his chickens were thriving and laying nearly twice as many eggs. He had been feeding Producers Pride.

[@dylandoyle2287]

Support and algorithms!!!

[@dalepres1]

I love the sound of the rain. We never get rain except major thunderstorms in the middle of the night in Northeast Oklahoma.

[@DonovanWentzel-g4m]

Omg amazing video i just spent an hour looking at all the laying feed and ALMOST GOT DUMOR BUT ACTUALLY ended up getting natures best organic pellets and im so happy you’re showing that they’re good!

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I'm so glad you were able to find something good for your chickens! I can't speak for Dumor or other Tractor Supply brands, since it's been a while since this video.. but I still choose not to feed it to my animals & everyone is doing great here!

[@tonyfrederick4038]

New sub here. Great video and thanks for posting.I just bought chicks so I am new to raising chickens.I have watched hundreds of videos on raising layers in the last few months and I watched a video where the farmer was not satisfied with feeds available to him so he got together with other other local farmers and those small farmers formed a local co op to purchase whole grains to make their own feed blends. Although their savings were not great buying wholesale, they did save a few dollars and now have control of their feeds. Of course this idea is not suitable for everyone but just thought i would mention it here. Good luck to you and The Homemade Haven.

[@karenfrankland7763]

We switched all our feed from producers pride and also the scratch grains in beginning of Jan. Our chickens and ducks just started refusing to eat the feed and spreading it all over. No eggs what so ever since September, Molting was the worst we had ever seen and none of them where feathering out like they should. They all seemed so unhappy and more lethargic. They do get to free range every afternoon, have access to the compost heaps as well as the garden beds during late fall and winter. They also get our kitchen scraps. We bought a local feed mill layer mash and I started fermenting it. Within 2 days of starting the new feed the chickens started feathering in as well as started laying eggs. It's now been almost 3 months on the new food and everyone is so much healthier looking and happy. Things we noticed with the TSC brand feed and scratch. The feed each batch was a different color and the feed had an off smell to it. The scratch grains was more of a powder than whole grains and looked more and more like crushed corn. I also have a customer who asked me if any of our feed had Pyridoxine in it as she can't eat any eggs that have this. All of the TSC big box store feeds have it. Our new feed does not and I now have a very happy customer.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I'm so glad you're seeing positive results! Best of luck!

[@HomesteadOnAPrayer]

Thank you for sharing! I’m glad to hear that your chickens are doing so much better on the new feed!

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Thanks so much for watching! I'm happy they're on a healthier path as well 🥰

[@eddiebarrera-ws8vu]

In my opinion dog food is the best feed for chickens, high in protein,and a big bag goes a long way when you soak it in water for thirty minutes.not saying 100 percent dog food,but at least for the breakfast feed.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Probably not a bad idea! Thanks for watching!

[@theladyisabelle]

I avoid conspiracy theories...period. the closest feed store is tractor supply...my egg production dropped and then stopped.9 chickens and 2 to 3 eggs per week. I decided it was the feed when I had to buy different feed and substitute scapes...when I changed it out they started laying. I dumped out the producers pride just yesterday...I found bits of plastic and what looks and feels like black asphalt chunks. They have been on the new feed for barely a week and I have been getting 8 to 10a day.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

So glad your girls are laying better for you now 🙌

[@jeffjones9792]

Hi. Your last comments is the way to go....feed the chickens your own grain. There is enough to worry about without feed problems. Got a batch of free range Rhode Island Reds. Four flag poles with paper kites flying in the shape of hawks. That's Avian Flue sorted, wild birds not to be seen. Got two six foot diameter, one foot high mesh filled with stuff that would normally be put in the compost heap. They rummage and poop making compost. Add sterilised crushed egg shells - they help themselves to calcium. I grow winter wheat and summer fonio for their grain protein intake. Outside electric keeps preditors at bay, two cats keep the field mice off the grain crops. In all, cheap and what they like and need to eat.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I love it.. sounds like you have a good thing going! I hope to be more sustainable for our animals here as well!

[@amandawille8438]

Watching this because my chickens havent been laying. 😢

[@karendunn7110]

Hey, I've just found you today, and watched your "basics" video first. Thank you for your time and sharing your experience, especially in this one about the feed. I've been keeping up with the chickens and feed issue, as I've been hoping to start feeling well enough to have chickens again, and my in-laws have shared their feed concerns as well. They also switched feed from TSC. We're in NC, too - Gaston, Lincoln, and Cleveland counties, and would love to know who and where the farmer is that has supplied you with the better non-gmo feed. On another note, years ago I rescued a crippled baby duck and got a mate for him at the same time (TSC). I used Dumor feed from TSC, and once they were full-grown, the female started having seizures and died maybe a week later. The crippled one didn't have any seizures, and lived a few years, but began to have failure to thrive before he died, despite my attempts to add more natural foods to his diet. Now, I wonder if the Dumor feed was responsible for the issues with both of them.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Very interesting!! I'm curious to see if any other info comes to light. We get our feed from a farm in Buelaville- Grassroots Pork, I believe is their name on FB

[@swezy207]

How do you like the poultry netting around the coop? What brand? Do the chickens ever fly over the top?

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

We really do like it! It's from Premier One. It works great and we like how we can move it exactly where we want it. It's helped us really decide where we want to build permanent fencing 🙂

[@RAMIRELLI-Art]

This is very interesting. If I may, what is the name and brand of the feed that caused the chicken to be sick? and what brand or name of the feed that solved the problem? That would really help a lot of people. I have 2 Rhode Islands left. One is a normal hen who lays eggs consistently, The other, her name is Rocky, this girl stopped laying eggs for months now, and she is sick again. Thank you.

[@craft-fun-tastic5983]

If your chickens are sick due to the feed, how is your health if you are eating their eggs or meat. Hope you are doing well now

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

The sickly chickens were not laying eggs at that time.. but since we have switched feeds, we are all doing great 🥰

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

I use Dumor not any issues at all

[@djanarchy508]

Thabsk for the info you have good knowledge and info will help me as new .. I am so pleased I am getting 7 eggs a day from 7 isa red ..also have a cockreal one day tho I got 8 eggs from 7 isa one layed 2 eggs in 24hours ..

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Best of luck with your chickens!

[@Stayoutofthewater522]

Don’t use plastic watering devices or feeders

[@bjquilts29]

Last year, we switched from Dumor to Kalmback layer pellets. We will never go back. Our hens are thriving.

[@BryanSmith-u8s]

It’s not just dumor feeds I have bought feed from a small company for years and last summer started having the same problem with my feed. I lost a lot of chickens before I finally figured out it was the feed. I have switched over to different feeds and my chickens are now laying fine.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

You're totally right! We tried a local mill here that had the same effect. It wasn't our first choice, but our usual was closed.. and immediately, our chickens stopped laying again and started looking less healthy. The quality of feed definitely matters!

[@georgemurray6845]

Its also the producers pride which is also allegedly made by Purina also. I only use the more expensive organic brand u mentioned and I rarely have any issues. Good luck

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I'm glad yours are doing well! Thanks for watching!

[@LorettaBenge]

I just lost a chicken. I don't know why. Also, out of 9 laying hens on a good day I get 5 - 6 eggs some days only 2. So after watching several videos am going to bump up fresh produce, feed beans and pasta and see what happens. We have lots of predators so they have to stay inside an enclosed area. I clean it very well and am going to add diatam. earth too. I suspect Tractor supply has something but not all to do with the loss of my chicken and lack of eggs.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

There are so many factors that could cause hens to stop or pause laying.. but lack of nutrition would be the first place I started investigating! Best of luck!

[@eddiebarrera-ws8vu]

Yep went to the feed store and the owner was selling his soul called expensive feed which was 22 dollars for a 40 pound bag,he dropped them to 15 a bag.So I bought two 40 pound bags,a worker there that loaded the bags into my truck said the owner was pushing that feed out cause the chickens don't eat it,got home and when I opened them it looked like the regular feed,but had a funky smell to it.And the chickens would not touch it,they would only pick out the flower seed and leave the rest.Pretty upset cause it was a waste of feed.The funky smell ,smells like some kind of chemical in it.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Yuck.. never a good feeling wasting money, especially on food your animals won't eat!

[@1966MrAlex]

Purina, same with cat food.

[@kingcrossfarms4979]

This was so helpful! I have actually seen the same problems with some of my chickens. I ironically lost a Bresse rooster with the exact same issues, but the other chickens did not catch whatever he had. I thought he had gotten injured, but now I wonder…thank you for this video!

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Very interesting 🤔 So sorry you lost some as well! Have you switched feeds?

[@kingcrossfarms4979]

@@TheHomemadeHaven No but I’m going to this week before I buy more! I also plan to track egg production before we run out and see if I notice a change in that as well.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

Let me know what you notice! I'm interested if you see a big difference as well.

[@kingcrossfarms4979]

@@TheHomemadeHaven I will keep you updated!

[@barbareemoore4247]

I have heard alot about food from tractor supply not good!

[@elithepitbulldog2209]

It’s not the feed so much as is the variety of what you feed them. You can spend a ton of money and get the good feed, but soon they will tire of that and stop laying. Add fruit, table scraps, sunflower seeds (skip soy) and you will see an improvement. TABLE SCRAPS DAILY. Also chickens need a break. Molting, dark cold weather, or anything that upsets them will slow production. If there’s a fix or coyote prowling close by at night, that will upset them. Get a cable dog the chickens trust and let the dog out at night to discourage critters in the area from prowling. Anything that upsets you will up upset the chickens. Be careful with vitamin additives, Too much is bad. Much of the debate on TS producer supply is largely conspiracy. We changed to local non gmo brand and the chickens tired of that and stopped producing.’variety is the key, and KITCHEN SCRAPS. and add bugs, however you can get them

[@deemignogna2759]

Thank you so much for sharing! I’ve been having similar issues with my ducks, the most recent being the balance issue. I feed a mix of purina duck pellets, producers pride scratch grains and brewers yeast. That will be changing starting today.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I'm sorry you've been experiencing issues as well. Let me know how switching their fees works for you! Best wishes!

[@Andrew--S]

It's not a conspiracy if it's true.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

You got that right! Thanks for watching!

[@johnmurray1529]

Good info. I grabbed a bag of feed to start with from TSC. I'm gonna go back and see if its the same. I've also heard the same about producers pride.

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

I'm all for trying things out for yourself.. but we will be buying from a different source 😊 thanks for watching!

[@grlnexdoorable]

Al Gorithym

[@theresaprentice6456]

I’m sorry everybody is having problems with there girls not laying. My girls lay all year and never stop laying even when molting and less sun in winter. Think about it how would you like to eat the same food every day for the rest of your life? I do a lot of canning for myself especially meat. Chickens are meat eaters. They need grit , calcium, grass, sunflower seeds, corn ,oats , wheat, Meal worms, white millet , red millet and chicken feed , get them vitamins also. They love their food yet. Easier to eat and digest. They love fermented food also, better for their health. Also would you like to be in jail in tight quarters on top of 10 other people ? Chickens don’t either . They need space to live. Just like you. To much fighting is stressful for you same with animals. And I have a timer and lights in there coops. Set the time just like summer. So you start doing what I do you’ll have eggs all year. Tip: chicken livers is cheapest meat you can cook as a treat. They’ll fight over m. That will supplement their meat needs, if there’s no bugs in winter.

[@theresaprentice6456]

Plus you need to worm your animals slso

[@TheHomemadeHaven]

You're absolutely right! A varied diet is more natural for them. Ours eat a plethora of things and thankfully ours have laid all winter as well. Not supplementing them with junkie food has helped tremendously! Thanks for the input!