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