free feed, what would you do?
 

we are receiving barrels of commercial chicken feed, for free. This feed is coming out of delivery trucks that are broke down that have to be emptied before they can be worked on.
We have no clue as to what type of feed, ie. broiler, layer, whatever.
My concern is the fact that most likely this feed is medicated, am I correct in that assumption?
I don't give it to my milk cow. We did start our broiler chicks on it but have now switched to store bought unmedicated feed to finish them.
I've always been very conscious regarding chemicals and medications, especially antibiotics in my meat. We'd like to get some pigs and to feed up to a couple weeks from finish and I do feed it to my laying hens ducks and geese who also free range.
Am I being silly about this? I hate to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I hate to go against my long held principals also. How long does it take to get these medications out of the meat prior to butcher?
As always, thanks for your advise and opinions

you gotta read up on it and decide what's right for you.

personally, I would take it, even if I only just resold it on craigslist. but, I'd consider how I could use it. the big thing for me is that I'm always trying to be more organic and such for our family too. but, I don't have unlimited funds to make it all happen. sometimes, making use of something that isn't ideal is actually a stepping stone to get further on the path you want to be on.

couple of examples.

we didn't have the extra money to pay for processing our goats for meat and didn't have the time to do it ourselves to start off. so, one summer I found a ton of clearance meats after labor day that were obviously not organic. I went ahead and bought a whole bunch. with the savings afterwards on meat for several months I was able to save up enough to be the ball rolling on butchering goats. then, the savings of having that meat translated into the savings I could put away to do it again.

another time, I really wanted to replace a lot of our soaps and cleaning products and outdoor chemicals with organic options. I also wanted a whole house water filter. well, we kept going with some of the soaps, etc that I didn't like because I ended up getting some really good deals and those savings allowed me to get the water filter paid off.

you might be able to use the $$ you could make selling this or trading or just the $$ you'll save this winter on feed to get the ball rolling on another project that you've had it in your mind to start on. figure out how much money you'll save or can make first and figure out if that would allow you to get something else accomplished.

at this time of year the $$ you save could even pay for xmas or jumpstart you on a gift box where you can put aside bday gifts for the coming year.

for what it's worth as far as questioning the safety of medicated feed...I have used organic and non-medicated feeds when I can. but, not all the time. I have to get and use what I can find and we can afford. ideally it would be great to be 100% chem/med free. but, I know that even when I don't do things all "mother earth" perfect, I am still very likely doing things better than the store bought alternative. food safety is not just about what they're fed. the way they are housed, bred, processed and delivered are also very relevant of consideration.

congrats on the free feed opportunity. I know I'd find some way to make use of it. we got some free field corn this year. I know it's probably all gmo, chemical sprayed stuff. but, I put it up and will find a way to make use of it. hubby already has talked with me about expanding our gardening in spring, and I know the savings on winter feed with the field corn will help free up some family funds for the garden :)

Thank them and ask what kind of feed - then research it yourself for chemicals. No need to go into too many details as you don't want to look ungracious. You can always pass it on in whatever manner you wish.

Who knows, in the future, you may end up getting something you really, really want. Don't offend a gift horse.

Free feed..heck yea. I'd feed it to some hogs.

That works well. Trust me I do it too.....

thanks for all that. Gibbsgirl, I never thought about what you said, great idea.
There really is no way to find out exactly what type of feed. JB Hunt contracts the trucks out to various poultry and feed companies, Tyson, Simmons, etc. They work on the trucks when they break down and must empty them before they can work on them. I have family working for JB Hunt...
This current batch is really nice pellets. Previously it was more crumbles. It's got to be medicated.
I really am not comfortable feeding it to my milk cow or the broilers since they are a week or so out from butcher. Some things I just can't bring myself to do.
Now, we just need to find some pigs at a reasonable price. Of course with free feed, maybe we could take up gibbsgirl's thoughts and stomach paying a little higher.

A word of advice is keep the barrels out of the sun. Mine were getting condensation in them and the feed would mold. I lost a few that way. I only keep the ones I'm feeding from out.

I would do much as you have been - use the feed, perhaps mix 50-50 with other feed you get if you want to lower any issues, finsh out the last 2 weeks with my own boughten feed to flush out.

That is me, everyone has their own options and that is cool.

I would want to maybe understand d a little closer if indeed a critter specific medication is actually being used, some things don't cross well from a poultry to a swine to a goat sort of deal, so I would want a casual understanding of what exactly I am getting. A person should be able to ask and find out about that is a pleasant way. Even something like copper levels maybe don't always fit one critter to the next, if it is an exotic blend of feed - that is where my 50-50 deal would help keep things balanced...... I'd not be totally alarmed about these things, but I'd look into it a bit.

Paul

Most poultry commercials advertise their poultry as being antibiotic and hormone free.

Sure. After the legal withdrawal time they can claim it is free, and depending on the substance and it's half life that could be practically true. That doesn't mean they were lifetime antibiotic and hormone free.

I would not compromise my food world-view for a price. My personal food world-view, however, would have no issues feeding the mentioned food to my animals.

It could just be amprolium medicated too, which is nothing to worry about. Honestly, if you're getting that much of it, just raise some animals on it and sell them all, cheaper than what you normally would if that makes your conscience feel better. I wouldn't run from free feed, EVER.

Is there anyway that you can put some of us . . .
 

*****************
onto such a great deal?:nanner::nanner::nanner:

Are there any truckers that would know if a bill-of-lading would include the information about the type of feed. Like, what type of animal feed it is, the name of the feed, and/or the medication in the feed?
I'd think that if you knew what company it came from and got the truck number, you might be able to find out by calling the company. Afterall, the company doesn't want you to lose animals because there was/was not copper or anything else in it...someone might get sued.

It's chicken feed. That's all I know.

I maybe wrong but I was thinking the only medicated chicken feed was chick starter...I've never run across scratch or laying that was medicated.

Isnt there some sort of label on it?

No label, it's bulk. It's for commercial chickens, whether layers or broilers. I can't believe they're not medicating, and how are they raising broilers in 6 weeks without some sort of something? I can't. Takes 8 weeks for Cornish cross and I don't know of anything faster than that.

I would use it, the only time you need to worry if you are selling as an organic eggs. I can guarantee you , you are getting a gmo product or they would have sent another tuck to come and recover it as it's not cheep and most insurers will not pay for it if your not willing to recover the product.

What you have is not poison but not certified as to anything. Feed it , it's not going to kill them .

Plus if it is pelleted then it surely would not be chick starter.

Yes but as ive been told this is bulk commercial feed ,it probably is a custom blend So there is a possibility it would have both hormones and medications added.

You gotta ask yourself: if a JB Hunt truck breaks down, and it has to unload the barrels onto another truck, then maybe deliver it to you or to a warehouse, why don't they just go on ahead and deliver it to Tyson?

Could it be there's a time limit or a temperature limit on the product? What's in the product that Tyson wouldn't want? Bacteria? Rendered fat? Ground up feathers? Dead chickens and entrails? Do they take back the barrels, and what will you do with a few truckloads of empty barrels?

Just my suspicious mindset working overtime again. :) There is no such thing as a free lunch.

geo

The feed isn't in barrels in the trucks. These are tank trucks delivering to chicken houses. The barrels are ours. We get a couple at a time and the frequency varies. The augers on these trucks break is my understanding of the situation.

Okay.... It's because of biosecurity for Avain Influenza Virus.. Commercial systems are usually regulated by state and federal guidelines to control the process from field to house.... In this case, the auger truck must be sealed at the mill, the wheels and underbody disinfected on arrival to the growing house(which is sealed from outdoor contact), and then even the truck driver is supposed to suit up in "biosecure" and disinfected clothing. If that truck breaks down en route and the feed has to be "unsealed" to service it, there isn't any way to guarantee that the feed has not become infected once it is exposed to outdoor conditions--or it is just too costly. So, you get free feed, but it would be helpful to know just what's in it....or it may have been mixed in analysis of protein, supplements, etc.

http://posc.tamu.edu/files/2012/08/l-51821.pdf

geo

I'd look on it as a blessing, and do whatever I could, to make sure the source never dried up.... we rarely eat any of our birds, though.

My brother grew for Foster Farms for years and I still have friends and family in the business. Take the feed. It's not medicated. The reason they can raise those broilers in 6 weeks (7 is more common), is that they are bred to grow. They are not the same as the Cornish Cross you buy to raise.

there are no hormones in chicken feed, it is illegal to feed them hormones.

Mine is about the same situation except mine comes from the mill. If there is a break down every thing in the augers is going ito a dumpster /landfill..

A buddy parks his truck under where the dumpster would be . He brings it to me and I pay him $120 a ton. His boss is fine with it because it saves on landfill fees.

The pigs eat it , the chickens lay eggs , the turkeys grow. If I didnt trust it I wouldnt be feeding it to 3 replacement heifers and a new January bull I paid 2 grand for. Keep getting it........:D

Just be careful what you ask for, because it's just as easy to kill your goose that lays those golden eggs - the company can just demand that all feed in the truck be thrown away - no ands, ifs, or buts about it.

I wouldn't be too concerned with using it. But if it's something you get on a regular basis - meaning you have a steady supply of it, I could see a potential of getting lots of female egg laying chicks in the Spring and start selling them when you can. Ready to lay - or just starting to lay hens will bring top dollar!

I also wouldn't hesitate to use a little bit each day to add in with your cow feed - just to stretch your feed you are buying.

Pigs would certainly make a good source to eat up that feed. Raise some extra pigs - more than you normally would - and about 2 months before butchering, feed the food YOUR okay with. Sell the extra pigs.

I could also see possibly buying some male calves in the Spring and letting them raise themselves on pasture in the Spring, Summer, and Fall and supplementing their diet with this food. In the Fall before winter sets in, take them to the local auction barn.

Where are you located at? I'd buy some off of you!

You know, there are folks who think they are allergic to eggs but it turns out to be a soy allergy. Other than reading about it, I know of one family personally who thought their son was allergic to eggs but eats our soy-free eggs without any reaction. Go figure.

I'd take it, too. Take it and sell it in a hot minute. Or maybe even in a pinch I'd throw some out - if the birds were free ranging. That way they can balance it out (hopefully) and still get good for you bugs and grubs and other tasty nibbles they scratch to the surface. I wouldn't feel comfortable feeding caged birds the feed as 100% of their diet unless I was only raising them as pets.

Nice score!

don't forget about barter and trade. If there is enough, I'd look for trades like winter feed for firewood. feed for (fill in the blank).

depending on how much more you could get beyond your actually usage needs.

Free organic matter is always a good thing. If you don't feel good about using it as feed, mix with manure and compost it.

I know nothing about broiler feed. Layers generally are not fed medicated feed.