When it comes to chicken feed, there are plenty of choices available. Some are soy-free, while others are corn-free and organic.
Selecting the ideal chicken feed is essential for your flock’s wellbeing. Make sure that the brand meets all their nutritional requirements.
Contents
Ingredients
Chicken feed contains a range of components, such as cereal grains and other byproducts, fats, oils, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Protein is one of the most prevalent components in poultry food; not only does it provide energy to chickens but it can also boost their immune system.
Poultry feed is composed of grains that have been compacted together using steam to form pellets or solid spheres according to a recipe. After being packaged and sold in bags, this feed can then be distributed around the world.
Guntersville’s Tucker Milling is a rapidly expanding company that produces bagged feed for local “mom and pop” feed stores in eight southeastern states. On Wednesday afternoon, approximately 70 people attended their facility as part of the annual Farm City Tour organized by Guntersville County Extension Office.
The company’s operations consist of a barge terminal to receive raw materials and milling plant that transforms those components into pellets within 12 hours. Around 80 to 85 employees are employed at this location – mostly from Guntersville area).
Nutrition
Tucker Milling has developed a line of poultry feeds using scientific research methods that meet the nutritional needs of growing birds and protect them from disease. Their top-notch nutritional products include high protein layer ration, two grain scratch that may be an interesting treat and an innovative product incorporating synergistic essential oil blend for improved performance.
Tucker boasts an impressive fleet of 19 trucks that deliver quality poultry feed to customers across eight Southeastern states, guaranteeing a steady supply. Their most technologically advanced feature is their PLC (programmable logic control) system which has enabled them to achieve near real time production rates of about 40,000 fifty pound bags per week, according to company president and chief operating officer Brian Kelley.
On Wednesday afternoon, Guntersville County Extension office sponsored a Farm City Tour that featured an educational tour of a mill and its facilities. Around two dozen agriculture students from Guntersville High and Brindlee Mountain High got the inside scoop on what it takes to be successful in today’s agricultural world.
Feeding Instructions
Tucker Milling, located in Guntersville, Alabama, manufactures bagged feed that is distributed to “mom and pop” feed stores throughout 8 Southeastern states. With 80-85 employees onboard and an operation at its barge terminal where raw components are sent by rail or truck, this company thrives. Brian McGoon, co-founder and president, believes the star of the show is a 25,000 ton conveyor belt capable of turning raw materials into full loads of feed in under 24 hours. The company takes great pleasure in being part of a growing number of southern family farms dedicated to offering healthier and more humane poultry products for consumers. Their top-of-the-line tucker milling line of poultry feed boasts several top quality options that are sure to please even the most discriminating bird enthusiasts.
Storage
Maintaining chicken feed in a cool and dry location is essential. Humidity can promote the growth of fungi, break down pelleted feed, and ultimately ruin it.
Storage containers are an often-used way to store feed. Drums and trash cans work well, but be aware that feed can react with metal. If using a steel barrel, make sure it has either a non-reactive liner such as porcelain or food-safe paint.
Another issue with storing chicken feed in metal containers is that it can be chewed up by rodents. Not only will this cause your feed to spoil quickly, but it’s difficult to clean up any messes made. Furthermore, metal containers absorb any water accumulated due to rain or condensation. For best results, store your feed inside a plastic or “Polly” barrel; not only will this keep it sanitary but save money too by eliminating expensive storage space requirements.
