From:   Jan 
Date:  Mon Oct 6, 2003  12:49 pm
Subject:  Foraging Poultry Feed

This information was thoughtfully furnished by Jackie Dill who has given
permission for us to use it on our website. She is currently putting
together a group called Oklahoma Forage Ahead that is in conjuction with
but not a part of the national Forage Ahead group. Once her website is
up and running she has also given permission for us to put a link to her
website for further info. Now the info:

Foraging for poultry feed as a way to extend your feed, just makes good
sense if you have the time. One of my favorite seeds to add to poultry
feed is dock seed. The dock seed will add vitamins A and C to your
feed. The poultry seem to enjoy having this added to their feed. In
Oklahoma we have an abundance of this seed in mid and late summer
months. Many native wild grass seed such as side oats, rye and even
vetch seed help extend the feed. These grases need to be dried then
hand thrashed. Wild pecan, black walnut and hickory nuts added to your
poultry feed help your birds feathers by providing oil. Black walnut
husks, foraged while green, dried and ground then added to your poultry
feed provide a good natural wormer. Many of the wild fruits dried and
added to the feed will provide added vitamins. all of these wild
foraged additives while extending your feed and providing added vitamins
and more, are not meant to be a substitute for a well balanced poultry
feed. Protein levels in poultry feed is very important. We raise our
level to 16 to 18% during moult to help feather growth. Layers are good
at 16% and those destined for the table we
keep at 8 to 10%.

The following is a list of suggested forage seeds for your poultry with
a website where you can view photos of them.

curley dock-Rurnex Crispus
http://alfalfa.okstate.edu/weeds/windbroad/cury_dock/c-dock-83.html

side oats-Bouteloua curtipendula
http://plands.usda.gov/cgi_bin/plant_profile.cgi/symbol=BOCU

tall dropseed-Sporobolus asper
http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/grasshtml/TallDropseed.html

Canadianrye-Elymus Canadensis
http:www.noble.org/imagegallery/grasshtml/CanadaWildrye.html

winterbarley-Hordeum pusillum
http://www. noble.org/imagegallery/grasshtml/LittleBarley.html

partridgepea-Cassia fasciculata
http://www.noble.org/imagegallery/forbhtml/PartridgePeal.html

big bluestem-Andropogon gerardii
http://www.agr.okstate.edu/forage/images/nativews/bigbluestem/bigbluestem.html

eastern gamagrass-Tripsacum dactyloids L
http://www.agr.okstate.edu/forage/images/nativews/egammagrass.html

Prairie Sand Reed-Calamovilfa longifolia
http://forage.okstate.edu/images/nativews/prsandreed/prairiesandreed.htm