All around feed??

[barnyardfun]

Since this was a question about several animals I thought here would be the best to ask it.....if not please feel free to move to the appropriate place.

Let me give you the list of what I have......
Turkeys
Geese
Chickens
Pig to butcher
Steer to butcher
1 cow fixing to freshen

Is there such a thing as a feed that I can feed all of them??? It is crazy in my barn with having 4-5 different feeds!! I would like to find one thing that I can feed all of them so I can buy it in bulk and get it cheaper. Any ideas?? Or am I just wishful dreaming??

[Maura]

I'd put the pig, cow, and steer on pasture. You can supplement them with oats and little corn, but they should mainly eat pasture.

I free range my birds and leave out some corn and wheat for them. In the winter they get corn, oats, wheat, sunflower seeds, and whatever they pick from the compost.

All of them will eat corn. They will probably all eat oats and wheat. If you are only feeding them grain, you will need to mix and match according to each of their needs. If they are in the fresh air on pasture, you are only supplementing and you just have to make sure the cows and pig don't get too much grain, especially corn.

[savinggrace]

I think you can certainly have something mixed up that will work for everyone!

I would go with a 16% protein mix. They will all do well on a general 16% mix but you would probably like to supplement them specifically. That is what I plan to do when I place my next order and I have just about the same menagerie as you do!

[cowgirlone]

We use a universal feed for our animals. We use a mixture of cracked corn, soybean meal and oats.
This feeds our chickens, guineas, ducks, geese, pigs, horses, sheep and cattle.
We have it mixed by the ton. All animals also get any extras they need, minerals and salt blocks for the horses, garden scraps for the pigs, etc..
Your county ag agent should be able to tell you what grows well in your area to keep your costs down.

[wilderness1989]

Oats, they'll all eat oats and they are easy to grow.

[james dilley]

I know the Feed Stoe I deal with has whats called All Stock . feed. Its for just about All critters. Or you might try Horse and Mule. I used to feed it years ago to the birds and the horses too.

[barnyardfun]

I looked into All Stock but what my store carried was only 10%. I found a goat and sheep feed that was 18% and bought a bag to see if anyone likes it. The lady at the store said she ordered it in for one man and he feeds it to all of his animals (has many like me! ) I will keep researching to see what I can come up with. Thank you!!

[travlnusa]

If you go with an all around feed, remember that each will have it's own mineral needs.

[Cara]

This has always sounded good to me, but what about the size of the pieces for the chickens? If you use say, COB, do you grind it up for does everyone just pick out what they can eat?

[trappmountain]

Originally Posted by travlnusa

If you go with an all around feed, remember that each will have it's own mineral needs.

That was always my worry. Chickens goats Pigs(that's what I have), Have different needs. How can one food provide everything in the proper amounts for all my animals different needs.

Also mine are pets only the chickens eggs are used. I would assume their are different needs for them as apposed to animalsbeing used for milk and meat production.

[rambler]

Like others say, you can use a basic feed for all. Typically (here anyhow) it will be corn-based, with some protien added, and basic minerals perhaps.

From there, you will need to add a little to each species, to give them their exact needs. But that would only be a mineral block perhaps for the cattle, or extra protien for the chickens, or allowing some access to grass pasture, or some such combination.

Be careful of specific mineral needs - sheep, horses, goats, & the like are pretty touchy on _needing_ some things, and _not_ being around other things. Your basic feed shouldn't be 'wrong' for any of the critters on your list.

Cattle are pretty good at sorting it for themselves out if you give them enough protien, a lot of roughage, and a mineral block. Milkers will want more protien, so less roughage.

--->Paul