🐓 This Could Kill Your Chickens

Currently Happening on the Farm
Things have slowed down on the farm this season. We are getting ready to rip some stuff out of the garden, add fresh soil, and reset it for the fall. I might even make a whole newsletter about our garden soon, so I will keep you posted on that.

The chickens are doing well, with a lot of pretty birds that have grown up nicely. The donkeys have also settled in. Some of you remember from last week that I sold the Dexters so I could move toward Red Angus. That left our donkey, Clarice, alone. What I did not realize at first is that donkeys do not do well alone. A friend told me they can actually stop eating when they get depressed, and in some cases, it can kill them. That is a tip worth passing along. If you are ever selling goats, cows, or even donkeys, do not leave just one by itself.

So I went ahead and sped up the process and picked up a male donkey over the weekend. His name is Theodore. Now we have Clarice and Theodore, and they are getting along great. He made the transition from his old farm to ours without dropping any weight, and he looks right at home with his new girlfriend.

It has been an interesting process, and I have learned a lot about donkeys over the past few months. Hopefully, this sheds a little light for those of you who might be thinking about donkeys yourself. Besides that, not much else has gone on. It has been a chill season of mowing pastures and cleaning up for fall.

Feed Is the Foundation
We have been raising chickens for over 16 years, and one thing that has not changed is the importance of feed. Chickens are what they eat, just like us. What you put in front of them shapes their health, their eggs, their meat, and in the end, it shapes what you eat too.

Why All PUFAs Are a Problem
PUFAs, or polyunsaturated fatty acids, are in nearly every grain. Corn, soy, wheat, barley, oats, they all contain them. Here is the problem:

• At the microscopic level, PUFAs are unstable. They oxidize quickly and start reacting with oxygen.

• When they oxidize, they grab hydrogen from healthy cells. This sets off chain reactions that damage tissues.

• The body reacts with inflammation. Over time that weakens the immune system, slows growth, and stresses the bird.

• The same happens in people. If your chickens eat it, you eat it. Meat and eggs from birds fed high PUFA diets carry more of that fat, and it carries the same problems into your body.

This is why feed quality matters so much. A bag that says “non GMO” or “soy free” does not mean it is low in PUFAs. It just means you have avoided some of the worst sources.

What We Chose on Our Farm
More than ten years ago, there were hardly any clean feed options. We went with Texas Natural Feeds because it was non GMO and soy free. It was not perfect, but it was better than most of what was out there, and we have stuck with it. The results were better feathers, stronger legs, and steadier laying.

I made a video last week that explains more about why we have used Texas Natural Feeds for over a decade. You can watch it here:

Low PUFA Feed Recipe
You cannot make a feed that is truly PUFA free if it has grains, but you can reduce the load and balance it better. Here is a simple mix that works well.

Yields about 25 pounds of feed

• 6 lb whole oats

• 4 lb field peas (split)

• 3 lb lentils (dry)

• 4 lb barley

• 1 lb sunflower seeds (hulled, just a little)

• ½ lb ground flax seed (adds omega 3, but keep it small and fresh)

• Mineral and vitamin premix (follow feed store instructions)

• Oyster shell or crushed eggshell offered free choice for calcium

Mix well, store it cool and dry, and transition slowly over one to two weeks. Pair it with pasture, bugs, and greens when you can. That balances fats naturally and gives you stronger yolks and healthier birds.

Fun Fact
The deep orange yolk that looks like a sunset is almost entirely diet driven. Pasture and balanced feed give you that color. Pale feed gives pale yolks.

Tool I Recommend
If you want to make the most of your feed, use a feeder that keeps it clean and reduces waste. Here is one that has worked well:
Hanging Chicken Feeder
It saves money, keeps feed dry, and cuts down on chores. Buying through this link is the best way to support this newsletter if you find it useful.

Closing Thoughts
Feed is not just calories in a bag. At the smallest level, the wrong fats can create damage that builds up in your flock and in you. Choosing better feed, balancing it with pasture, and keeping PUFAs in check makes all the difference in the world.

-Tim Parker
Start My Homestead