Frequently Asked Questions:
Chicken and Feed Terms Glossary & Definitions
Q. Do you have to pay fees to be part of this Wholesale Group?
A. No. There is no membership or fees, or order minimums. You can just sign up for the email reminders, so you don't miss the deadlines for the upcoming orders. We do NOT share emails with anyone.
Q. How often does the Organic Wholesale Club order?
A. Every two months.
Q. How do I prevent doves and sparrows from eating my chicken's feed?
A. Get a treadle feeder to prevent doves, sparrows or other pests
Q. Why do you have to prepay?
A. Phoenix Organic Feed is a co-op, meaning we couldn't do it without each other. Since there is not one person who funds the entire amount of orders it needs to be pre-payed. By prepaying this reduces the risk of the co-op in case people order and never pay & pick up.
Q. Since the feed pickup is on a Saturday, what happens if I cannot pickup my feed on that day?
A. The feed remains covered by tarps at the pickup location for a couple of days. If a you haven't picked up your feed by the following Wednesday, it is moved to a location in Gilbert. There it is covered and protected until you are available to pick it up.
Q. Where does the fish meal in the soy free feeds come from? Why isn't the fishmeal ingredient labelled organic?
A. The fish meal in our feeds is WILD CAUGHT sardines, caught out of the Gulf of California. It isn't possible to certify organic a product that is wild caught. However wild caught products can be used in organic rations as we do in our non soy feeds. Click here for the 1 minute audio response from our ration formulator regarding regular fishmeal testing for radiation etc.
Q. Where are the pickup points in Arizona?
A. Yes. There are two pickup points. One in Phoenix, Mesa, Tucson, Show Low and Flagstaff
PHOENIX:
Berridge Nurseries
4647 E. Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phoenix map
MESA:
Treeland Nurseries
2900 S Country Club Dr,
Mesa, AZ 85210
Mesa map
LITCHFIELD PARK:
Blue Sky Organic Farms
4762 N 189th Ave,
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
TUCSON:
1861 W Grant Rd #105
Tucson, AZ 85745
Tucson map
SHOW LOW:
Various dates and places coordinated by a local in the White Mountains
FLAGSTAFF:
Various locations and varied dates, due to lower volume, but still operating
If the drive is too far, some are teaming up with other backyard chicken farmers to share in the gas expense of driving to Phoenix.
Q. Can you have the truck stop in Prescott, or other areas?
A. Yes, but there are two elements which must be in place.
A1. Volume for an additional stop must be 2500lbs of total feed.
A2. There must be a forklift and/or pallet jack where the truck unloads the pallet[s] of feed.
If these two elements can be accomplished, you can have a pallet dropped off at a place of your choosing.
Q. Do you carry pellets or crumble?
A. No. Our current supplier does not have a feed pellet machine. However, we do have alfalfa pellets (small rabbit sized, although many feed these smaller pellets to their horses too).
Q. What is the difference between Pellet feeds and Mash feeds.
A. There are 2 answer to this question; practical answer & scientific answer.
A1. Practical - People generally prefer pellet because there is less feed dust, which is perceived as waste. However, there is a simple solution to this purported mash feed dust problem. Click here for 1 minute video instruction on how to get your birds to eat the fine powder in all feeds.
A2. Scientific - Pelletization of mash feed is an extra process which reforms the mashed feed into small pellets. Research has shown that pellets of the exact same mash feed cause chickens (broilers) to gain weight more quickly than the same amount in mash form. However, the risk of chickens developing ascites increase by 50% with the pellets. Read Abstract of Study
Q. How are your prices so much lower than other organic feeds available?
A. The Organic Feed Club has low overhead and is not driven by profit. The goal is to allows backyard chicken farmers to eliminate GMOs in our eggs and meat by feeding organic feed and improve the health of the community. Although organic feeds cost more, there are benefits. Multiple group members report:
1. Increase in egg production (especially when switching from conventional feed)
2. Yolks turn brighter, almost orange.
3. One report of 5 year old bird, who quit laying 2 years earlier, started laying again after switching to the soy free feed.
4. Chickens are happier...............perceived by owners subjectively.
Q. What type of chickens are the best?
A. It depends on your goals, but here is a brief video which reviews chicken breed dynamics one may consider.
Q. Can I Feed my chicken's their own eggshells?
A. Most say you should not. The reason is because once a chicken gets a taste of eating their own eggs, they usually never stop. Eggshells look like eggs and cause your birds to associate eggshell with food. However, here is video which shows a few steps one can take to transform your eggshells, so your birds can eat them and avoids the risk of cannibalism.
Q. Sparrows and finches are eating my chicken's feed. How can I prevent that?
A. There are treadle feeders, which prevent little neighborhood birds from eating feed you put out for your chickens. It does take 3-7 days for your birds to learn how to use it. This can save you more than 50% of your feed cost because there are endless numbers of flying birds which can come by and sift a little off the top. Just click here to learn if you can build your own treadle feeder. Or here is the best one I've found for sale.
Q. What is the different between Hard Red Winter Whole Wheat and Soft White Spring Whole Wheat?
A. Spring Wheat is planted in the spring and matures in August. Winter Wheat is planted in the fall for partial growth then goes dormant for winter and resumes growth in the spring. Winter wheat harvest is in June or July. Winter Wheats are considered more hardy and best for sprouting probably because they can withstand a winter cold and then keep growing. Click here for further baking and flavor comparison's in breads.
Q. How can I transport my chickens?
A. My favorite way to transport chickens is to use this dog cage, because it is sturdy, inexpensive and easy to clean. However this cage is not good for day old chicks.
Q. How do I get my chickens to lay eggs in the same spot? They keep laying their eggs all over the yard & coop?
A. When a chicken returns to their nest to find you've taken all their eggs, they may begin to lay in a new place. Faux eggs are inexpensive and work great! When you leave faux eggs in the nesting boxes when you take their real brood for breakfast, the chickens see faux eggs as their own, so they continue to lay in that spot.
Q. What is the best chicken treat, that is good for chickens?
A. Live crickets and bugs are the best, but if you want more of a stable supply. Mealworms seems to be the next best treat available, because they can be stored in a bag and they are relatively clean. Here is a link to the best priced 5lb bag of mealworms I've found. 1 and 2 lbs bags are available also.
Q. I want to grow my chickens from eggs. What do I need?
A. Here is a link to several egg incubators, so you sprout you chicks in just 21 days.
Q. How can I keep my chickens' egg production high during the cold winter months?
A. There are two major factors which contribute to getting your chickens to lay more eggs, Light and Temperature. Chickens eat less in the winter because they go to sleep when the sun goes down. So if you set a light to turn on in the morning during winter months at 5am. The chickens will wake up with a simple light and begin eating a couple of hours earlier and your egg yields will go up. Here is a simple light with inexpensive timer, that I use in the winter months. 2. The second factor is warmth. Add a heater to the coop, so your chickens sleep soundly and stay warm. Here is one of the best inexpensive chicken coop heater. Light and temperature are the main variables effecting you egg production during the winter months.
