Keep in mind though that the ingredients of the feed are likely GMOs, so find out if they offer organic feeds and see if they are affordable. I'd like to feed my animals on the latter, but that's just not an option right now.

It's good you are savvy to GMO poisoning.  What a dilemma!  

GMO feed turns pig stomachs to mush
Shocking photos reveal severe damage caused by GM soy and corn
http://www.naturalnews.com/040727_GMO_feed_severe_inflammation_pig_stomachs.html

(NaturalNews) If you have stomach problems or gastrointestinal problems, a new study led by Dr. Judy Carman may help explain why: pigs fed a diet of genetically engineered soy and corn showed a 267% increase in severe stomach inflammation compared to those fed non-GMO diets. In males, the difference was even more pronounced: a 400% increase. (For the record, most autistic children are males, and nearly all of them have severe intestinal inflammation.)

The study was conducted on 168 young pigs on an authentic farm environment and was carried out over a 23-week period by eight researchers across Australia and the USA. The lead researcher, Dr. Judy Carman, is from the Institute of Health and Environmental Research in Kensington Park, Australia. The study has now been published in the Journal of Organic Systems, a peer-reviewed science journal.

The study is the first to show what appears to be a direct connection between the ingestion of GMO animal feed and measurable damage to the stomachs of those animals. Tests also showed abnormally high uterine weights of animals fed the GMO diets, raising further questions about the possibility of GMOs causing reproductive organ damage.

Proponents of corporate-dominated GMO plant science quickly attacked the study, announcing that in their own minds, there is no such thing as any evidence linking GMOs to biological harm in any animals whatsoever. And they are determined to continue to believe that, even if it means selectively ignoring the increasingly profound and undeniable tidal wave of scientific studies that repeatedly show GMOs to be linked with severe organ damage, cancer tumors and premature death.

"Adverse effects... toxic effects... clear evidence"
The study was jointly announced by GM Watch and Sustainable Pulse.

Lead author of the study Dr. Judy Carman stated, "We found these adverse effects when we fed the animals a mixture of crops containing three GM genes and the GM proteins that these genes produce. Yet no food regulator anywhere in the world requires a safety assessment for the possible toxic effects of mixtures. Our results provide clear evidence that regulators need to safety assess GM crops containing mixtures of GM genes, regardless of whether those genes occur in the one GM plant or in a mixture of GM plants eaten in the same meal, even if regulators have already assessed GM plants containing single GM genes in the mixture."

The following photo shows one of the pig intestines fed a non-GMO diet vs. a pig intestine fed a GMO diet. As you can see from the photo, the pig fed the GMO diet suffered severe inflammation of the stomach:



Yet more evidence that GMOs damage mammals
The study adds to the weight of scientific evidence from others studies which show that rats fed a diet of GMOs grow horrifying cancer tumors and suffer premature death.

A scientific study published last year concluded that eating genetically modified corn (GM corn) and consuming trace levels of Monsanto's Roundup herbicide was linked with rats developing shockingly large tumors, widespread organ damage, and premature death.

That study was also criticized by corporate GMO trolls who argued that scientists should not show pictures of rats with large cancer tumors caused by GMOs because the pictures scare consumers into being afraid of GMOs.

Here are some of the pictures they don't want you to see, taken right from the public announcement of the study:



That study also found that rats fed GM corn suffered severe kidney damage as well as shockingly high rates of premature death.

Why weren't these studies done before GMOs were unleashed into the global food supply?
The GMO biotech industry was able to escape any meaningful regulation of GMOs in the United States by (ridiculously) claiming GMOs were substantially no different from non-genetically engineered crops. "They're all the same!" we were told. And the USDA bought it.

So how did Monsanto patent its GM corn, then? You're not supposed to be able to patent something unless it's uniquely different. Thus, the very fact that Monsanto has acquired patents on its GMO crop varieties is proof that the company itself believes its seeds are different.

And what's different about Monsanto's GM corn? It produces a deadly insecticide grown right into every kernel. That insecticide, of course, is what kills insects that try to eat the crop. And how does it kill those insects? It fatally damages their digestive systems. That same insecticide stays inside the corn even as the crop is turned into animal feed... or corn chip snacks... or flaked corn breakfast cereal.

GMOs are unfit for human consumption
This pig stomach inflammation study suddenly provides yet more credible evidence that GMOs are unfit for human consumption and may be causing severe damage to the digestive systems of both humans and mammals.

Naturally, the GMO industry and all its paid online trolls, on-the-take "scientists" and multi-million dollar P.R. machine will try to viciously attack this study from every angle. They absolutely hate real science when that science calls into question their poisonous, deadly seeds and genetic pollution.

That's why you won't read this news anywhere in the mainstream media -- the same media that utterly discredited itself a few weeks ago when it pretended the hugely successful global March Against Monsanto never even took place.

NOTE TO THE SELLOUT CORPORATE MEDIA: You have zero credibility remaining. Virtually no one believes what you print. Everyone knows you have sold out your editorial agenda to Big Pharma, Monsanto, weapons manufacturers and the surveillance state. The reason why alternative media like GM Watch and Natural News is rising while your own numbers keep plummeting is because we print the real news that really matters on liberty, food freedom, farm freedom, health freedom and self-reliance. Maybe if you stopped intentionally lying to your readers on a daily basis while censoring important news on grassroots liberty, you might see some readers return to your publication...



Learn more:
Explanation of the key findings of the Judy Carman study:
http://gmojudycarman.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Clear-English-exp...

Full scientific paper:
http://gmojudycarman.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/The-Full-Paper.pd...

Background on Dr. Judy Carman:
http://www.gmojudycarman.org

GM Watch
www.GMwatch.org

Sustainable Pulse
www.SustainablePulse.com

Summary of the evidence against GMOs:
www.GMOevidence.com

More details on the Seralini study on GMOs and rats:
www.GMOseralini.org

Ive had moderate success with leaving logs & plant pots around their yard & occasionally lifting them to reveal a feast of creepy crawlies. It works well when the soil is moist, so I dump the trough water in these areas.

I've seen chickens plough the soil when in their tractor - they dig almost a foot deep & pull out all the bugs, grubs & worms. They get really excited when they find Jerusalem Artichokes & dig even deeper. When they're done, the soil is loose, moist & well fertilized. My biggest problem is preventing critters from turning my freshly ploughed beds into litter boxes.

Quote from: Catholic Samurai

You definitely want to look into growing plants that are calcium accuмulators for the birds if you find your egg production dropping. That or switch feed brands.

I collect all the egg shells as I use the eggs & toast them in the oven after baking bread or cake. I toast the egg shells so that the hens do not acquire the taste for eggs. I then crush the toasted shell & add to the feed to increase the calcium. Dolomite powder also contains calcium.

I also supplement with as many local herbs like dock, plantain, dandelion leaves, comfrey & discarded kitchen herbs. They enjoy our leftovers & in winter they get a hot mash with oatmeal, and meat scraps if the other farm animals have had enough. I also add dolomite, garlic, apple cider vinegar, kelp, diatomaceous earth, sulfur & medicinal spices like cinnamon, turmeric & coriander as needed. Whenever possible I feed them vegetable scraps. I like to give them separated milk - curds and whey with mash - this contains protein. Not every hen lays perfectly, but when you have dozens & they free-range it doesn't matter a great deal. I also keep cockerels for the table. So far I find I can do well for my own needs and the needs of extended family.

We also keep buckets in the kitchen so we can throw in scraps or the scrapings off plates and pots for the chickens. We try to never waste anything. All food is eaten.

Friends of mine sells eggs commercially. They free-range their hens from dawn to dusk & rotate the portable hen houses every couple of days from one field to another. They also have specially trained dogs who live with the hens and guard them from predators. Because they free-range, the amount of feed being purchased was significantly reduced. The hens ate bugs, worms, grass, herbs & anything they could lay their beaks on. The yolks of their eggs are a deep orange color & the flavor is most pleasing. They cant keep up with the demand, despite the higher price they charge - something like $7 - 10 per dozen. They also have organic certification, but their eggs would be in demand even without that.

What an informative post, boots. Thankyou!

Our chickens, when they lay for long periods of time without a break, pop out eggs with thin shells.

As far as feed prices.... I KNOW! It costs an arm and a leg to feed feeder chickens. We did it growing up, and feed wasn't too bad. A few weeks ago my parents bought 50 feeder chickens, processed and everything, and it came out to about $12/chicken. Wow. When we asked them why it was so high they said the feed prices really gouge them.

We have a lot of free range chickens, and we don't feed them anything. They run around on the farm all day eating bugs and produce scraps and are fat and happy as can be.

What an informative post, boots. Thankyou!

Our chickens, when they lay for long periods of time without a break, pop out eggs with thin shells.

As far as feed prices.... I KNOW! It costs an arm and a leg to feed feeder chickens. We did it growing up, and feed wasn't too bad. A few weeks ago my parents bought 50 feeder chickens, processed and everything, and it came out to about $12/chicken. Wow. When we asked them why it was so high they said the feed prices really gouge them.

We have a lot of free range chickens, and we don't feed them anything. They run around on the farm all day eating bugs and produce scraps and are fat and happy as can be.

You're welcome.

I am loathe to throw things out. We have lots of crushed toasted eggshells. I usually examine each egg as I pick it up to put in the basket. Whenever there are thin shells I add extra crushed egg shells to their feed. I do add a small amount nearly every day, so I don't have thin shells anymore.

There are a lot of common weeds you can feed them. Most of the things that grow in the fields & haven't killed/harmed cattle tend to be gobbled by my chickens. I've noticed the hens get the roosters to check out new things. If there's a new potential food dropped into their yard, they get the boys to taste it first. Smart move really.

For those buying grains, if you're in a rural or semi-rural area you might find it more economical to buy in bulk & store in a grain silo. A smaller grain silo might be suitable for a suburban yard. Friends of ours buy cert organic grains for their animals. I think the bulk amount works out to slightly cheaper than store bought conventional grains in 40lb bags.
Then there's the potential of sharing with local friends.

Dog food is too expensive to feed to chickens, but I admit buying something like a meaty loaf, beef liver or fish for them on Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Try asking a local butcher or slaughterhouse for a bucket of scraps. You might get a discarded animal head, for little or nothing, which will keep the chickens busy for most of the day. Gruesome to watch though. Face the head away from the house windows - you don't want to see your beloved girls poking out the eyes as you dip a Scotch cookie in your mug of coffee.

We used to buy the expensive canned pet foods, but found the cheapest brand was more natural - no colors, real fish etc. Even the big name brands have lots of soy/textured vegetable protein/vegetable protein, which is really bad for dogs and cats.

We haven't purchased the dried food for a few years.  The dried cat food had something addictive in it - possibly msg. Our cat ended up with mood swings, eczema & a few other yucky things, so when we got a companion cat, we stopped buying the dried stuff. The second kitty has never had those symptoms. The reason i mention this is because you're obviously going to eat the eggs, right? So, whatever harmful chemicals you feed the hens will probably end up in the eggs and meat & then in your tummy.

I find it delightful that you have a system that works well! Free-ranging, no feed, happy chickens are the way to go!

That is interesting. I can buy chicken cheaper than dry cat food, and my cat meows and meows for dry cat food.  :ready-to-eat:

We cant have any dried cat food in the house or the cat becomes deranged.

Raw or cooked beef liver & other organ meats like brain, kidney, heart are cheap & good food for cats & dogs, but every second day or they may get all grumpy from constipation. Raw egg yolks, with whites if they are adults are also good & cheap. If you know a dairy farm that will sell you raw milk for the animals, that's also a great option. Raw milk is easily digested, but if you give them pasteurized or UHT or even powdered milk, they'll get the runs & then the mess can be unbelievable!

Animal fat gives cats and dogs nice coats.

The commercial pet food doesn't seem to produce resilient animals. When they get raw & cooked organ meats, raw animal fat, raw eggs and raw milk they enjoy good health. It takes more effort, but I don't have to pay vet bills, except for our poor little dried food junkie.
Whole rodents keep them healthy too. I treat them for worms with diatomaceous earth mainly because garlic is very difficult to trick them into eating. Field mice are attracted to the grains we feed our poultry & this provides dinner and a show for the cats.