Feeding Program
We feed all of our chickens, goats and dogs natural feeds, free of any hormones and animal by products. For those interested, or just starting out, this is what we currently feed:
Chickens
Our laying chickens get a daily ration of
Purina Layena chicken feed. We supplement this with wholesome natural grains and laying mash from
L.E.Sommer Kidron Inc. located nearby in the heart of Amish country. Occasionally scratch grains are also provided. Fresh water is always available and is heated in the winter time.
Goats
Our adult goats get a ration consisting of
Purina Goat Chow mixed with
Kalmbach Feeds goat feed. The Kalmbach Feeds dealer for my area is Farmer's Exchange in Waynesburg, Ohio. Our baby goats (my they grow up fast!) get a ration consisting of the Purina Goat Chow along with a textured Sheep and Goat feed supplied by L.E. Sommer Kidron Inc. In addition to fresh water, high quality locally grown hay and forages are provides as well as 6 acres of pasture fields. We supplement the feed with an All Range Mineral block and
Milk Plus. We have discovered that even though the Milk Plus is geared towards equine, it can be used for Goats and Poultry as well as other livestock animals, even good for our sheep! The Milk Plus is about half the cost of
Manna Pro's Calf Manna but has a higher protein content than the Calf Manna. In the wintertime, heated water is provided to our goats.
Dogs
Our beagles and Large Guard Dogs (LGD) get fed twice daily a ration of
Loyall Active Adult Dog food. We get this from
Straight A's Ranch Supply. This food was selected because it contians no corn (a common filler used in "normal" dog foods that dogs cannot digest), contains natural sources of glucosamine, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin E. Fresh water ois alaways avialble and for the LGDs, it is heated in the winter time.
Be sure to read the link to an article from the March/April issue of Dairy Goat Journal on Natural Medicine, which can be found under our "links of interest" page. Within this article, an extensive discussion on Apple Cider Vinegar is found to be most intriguing!