An
alarming number of recent scientific studies have shown that soy is not the
wonder-food so many once thought. (Click
here for more information.) Still,
soy is widely used by the vast majority of food manufacturers as a cheap source
of protein for people and farm animals alike. As awareness of the potential health risks associated with soy increases, its use in products is
sometimes intentionally disguised as simply
“vegetable protein.”
But even savvy reading of labels isn’t enough. Did you know that nearly all animal feed is soy-based? That means the meat, eggs, and dairy products we purchase and consume are virtually all tainted – INCLUDING ORGANIC MEATS, EGGS, AND DAIRY because commercially manufactured organic feed is still a soy-based product. And more and more of that "certified organic" soybean meal and other "certified organic" grains are actually imported from China where regulation standards are questionable at best. That’s why at Wild Sage Urban Farm we have our feed custom mixed at a local mill where we decide what goes into the recipe, and thereby into our hens, and ultimately into our very special eggs.
We would like to take the opportunity to share that recipe with you. (NOW YOU CAN ORDER OUR CUSTOM FEED!)
Wheat, oats, barley, field peas, fishmeal, alfalfa, flax seed, kelp, live yeast culture (brewers’ yeast), natural amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
The addition of flax seed increases omega-3 in our egg yolks. (Click here for more information.) Brewer’s yeast provides a number of essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin B that are good for our hens, and good for our customers. Fishmeal is an excellent source of protein, and also increases omega-3 in our egg yolks. Kelp is a very good source of minerals. And natural amino acids are important to the health of our birds, as well as useful in reducing nitrogen excretion into our environment.
We supplement our feed rations with oyster shell calcium for strong eggshell development, and food grade diatomaceous earth (algae) for the digestive health of our flock. Of course our girls also get outside daily where they scratch and gobble up yummy bugs and worms, graze on lots of healthy greens, and get wonderful fresh air and sunshine (Northwest weather permitting), which makes for those delicious, dark orange yolks you find in a fresh and wholesome Wild Sage Urban Farm egg!
