Re: Livestock feed in Maine (Houlton, Lincoln: to buy, organic, price)

[Submariner]

Feeding livestock in Maine.

I just picked up a tonne of oats. We ran out of sweet feed today, and began shifting over to the oats. We plan to get a tonne of barley and a tonne of corn next week. We were going to mix them in equal portions, for our chickens, goats, and sheep.

Does anyone know if we really have to 'crimp' these grains?

Or can the critters eat them whole?

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Look at the droppings. You will soon be convinced to buy a steel grain slicer. You can also make your own sliced oats for the table.

http://www.cookware.com/asp/show_det...=FR280-BCH1124

http://www.aaoobfoods.com/FGM.htm (broken link)

[Maine Writer]

Yes, crimp them. Otherwise they'll come out exactly as they went in. When we tried whole oats our chickens were getting pooped on. (really, they were) As soon as a horse's tail went up the chickens were running up behind them. It took a while for me to figure out they were loving those oats!

[ottbmommy]

Where do you buy Oats by the ton in Maine? I am looking into trying to find some for my horses. Thanks

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by ottbmommy

Where do you buy Oats by the ton in Maine? I am looking into trying to find some for my horses. Thanks

I get mine from Melvin in Lincoln.

Perdue in Exeter may have some.

Or the Mills in Houlton.

I have bought grain from each of those three.

[patriotchick]

Maxwell Farms sells oats (they are in Lee)
Aroostook Milling in Houlton
Aubochoun(sp) Hardware sells 50lb bags of oats for $10.00 I saw those today, I guess some Aubochouns(sp) are now carrying horse and livestock feed.

[palval1]

For what's it's worth...

I have sheep and have never fed them grain. I give them well-soaked timothy hay cubes and add minerals (Poulin Farms or The Natural Vet in TN). They also graze a lot on an organic pasture and have plenty of hay.

And yes, I agree, crimp dem oats for better digestion indeed. I can attest to that with my horses. You're making a wise choice switching from sweet feed to oats. After all, what wild animal ever saw the likes of a manufactured pellet or sweet feed?

Happy days to you and all of your 4-leggeds!

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by patriotchick

Maxwell Farms sells oats (they are in Lee)
Aroostook Milling in Houlton
Aubochoun(sp) Hardware sells 50lb bags of oats for $10.00 I saw those today, I guess some Aubochouns(sp) are now carrying horse and livestock feed.

Aroostook Milling in Houlton is Blue Seal.

Aubuchon is Purina.

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Aroostook Milling in Houlton is Blue Seal.

When did that happen? My birds liked the mill's own feed better than they like Blue Seal.

[Submariner]

I was there 17October when I bought a tonne of barley. The sign out front is Blue Seal. Inside the lady told me that they have local grains right now and until they run out. Local grain sells for one price list. Once they run out, then they shift to Blue Seal grains from away, at a higher price.

To her knowledge there was nobody in that area that had corn. She had barley and oats. I had already gotten my oats for the season, so I did not ask about her oats. Though the posted price for her oats was more than what I had paid.

I have no idea of when they became a Blue Seal dealership.