Who Really Makes Country Lane Chicken Feed? A Deep Dive Into the Brand Behind Your Flock’s Favorite Food

The Mystery Behind Country Lane Chicken Feed Solved

Ever stood in the feed store staring at bags of chicken feed and wondered who actually makes the stuff your chickens gobble up every day? I’ve been there too! As a backyard chicken keeper for years, I’ve gone through my fair share of feed brands, and Country Lane has always been one that piqued my curiosity.

After some digging around (and trust me, I dug deep!), I discovered something interesting about Country Lane chicken feed that might surprise you too.

Spoiler alert: Bomgaars Supply Inc. is now the manufacturer behind Country Lane chicken feed products.

But there’s more to this story than just knowing who makes it. Let’s scratch beneath the surface to understand the full picture of what’s happening with this popular poultry feed brand.

The Transition: Country Lane to Bomgaars Feeds™

If you’ve been a loyal Country Lane chicken feed customer, you might have noticed some changes recently. According to information from Bomgaars’ website, there’s been a significant transition happening:

“Using Country Lane®? Try using Bomgaars Feeds™”

This statement clearly indicates that Bomgaars has taken over the manufacturing of what was previously known as Country Lane feed products. The company is actively encouraging customers to switch from Country Lane to their own private label – Bomgaars Feeds™.

But why the change? Companies often acquire brands or create their own private labels to

• Gain better control over quality
• Improve profit margins
• Create brand loyalty to their stores
• Offer competitive pricing

What Products Are Available in the Bomgaars Feeds™ Line?

The transition from Country Lane to Bomgaars Feeds™ includes a comprehensive line of poultry and livestock feeds. Here’s what they currently offer in their poultry feed lineup:

• Bomgaars Feeds™ 16% Layer Crumble (40 lb Bag)

  • Specifically designed for laying hens
  • High calcium levels for strong eggshells
  • High-energy ration for productive hens

• Bomgaars Feeds™ 16% Layer Pellet (40 lb. Bag)

  • Same nutritional profile as the crumble, just in pellet form
  • Reduces waste compared to crumbles for some flocks

• Bomgaars Feeds™ Chick Starter Medicated (40 lb. Bag)

  • Formulated for broiler-type birds
  • Balanced nutrients for optimal chick growth
  • Highly palatable for early consumption

• Bomgaars Feeds™ All Flock Poultry Feed (40 lb. Bag)

  • Provides essential nutrients including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals
  • Consistent quality “in every bite”
  • Convenient option for mixed flocks

• Bomgaars Feeds™ Scratch Grains (40 lb. Bag)

  • Energy source for all types of poultry
  • High-test weight grains
  • Cleaned to minimize feed dust

They’ve also expanded beyond just chicken feed to include:

• 10% Sweet Feed
• 10% Sweet Livestock Feed
• 12% Horse Pellet
• Whole Corn
• Whole Oats

Quality Commitment: What Bomgaars Says About Their Feed

According to Bomgaars’ website, their private label feed is “crafted with care and a commitment to quality that you can trust.” They claim to understand the unique nutritional needs of animals and formulate each blend for optimal health and performance.

They state: “With a focus on using premium ingredients, our private label feed exemplifies our dedication to providing farmers and pet owners with reliable, top-notch nutrition for their animals.”

But how does this compare to the original Country Lane formulations? That’s a bit harder to determine without insider information. However, when companies transition brands, they often try to maintain similar quality to retain customers.

How Does Bomgaars Feeds™ Compare to Other Chicken Feed Brands?

When looking at the broader market of chicken feeds, it’s helpful to consider how Bomgaars Feeds™ (formerly Country Lane) stacks up against competitors. The Backyard Chickens forum has an extensive thread dedicated to comparing different feed brands, including some well-known names like:

• Purina
• Nutrena
• Manna Pro
• Scratch and Peck
• DuMOR
• Producer’s Pride

What’s interesting is that Country Lane was listed among these brands in feed comparison discussions, showing it had established itself as a recognized name in the poultry feed market before the transition to Bomgaars Feeds™.

While the comprehensive poultry feed comparison chart on Backyard Chickens doesn’t yet include specific nutritional breakdowns for Bomgaars Feeds™, it’s a resource worth monitoring as more information becomes available about this newer brand name.

Is This Just a Name Change or a Formula Change Too?

This is the million-dollar question many chicken keepers are asking! When brands transition like this, there are several possibilities:

1. Same formula, new packaging – The feed inside could be identical to Country Lane, just with new branding
2. Slightly modified formula – Minor tweaks to ingredients while maintaining similar nutritional profiles
3. Complete reformulation – An entirely new recipe under the Bomgaars name

Without an official statement comparing the old and new formulations, it’s hard to know for sure. However, companies typically try to maintain similar quality when transitioning established products to minimize customer complaints.

If you’re currently using Country Lane and planning to switch to Bomgaars Feeds™, I’d recommend doing it gradually to allow your chickens’ digestive systems to adjust to any potential differences in the formulation.

Country Lane Farms: Don’t Confuse It With Country Lane Feed

Here’s where things get a bit confusing! There’s also a “Country Lane Farms” that sells chicken products (actual chicken meat, not feed), but they are an entirely different company based in Alberta, Canada.

According to their website, Country Lane Farms has been raising chickens since 1984 and focuses on antibiotic-free, naturally-raised chickens sold directly to consumers. They’re a family farm operation that expanded to include beef, salmon, and seafood products.

This Country Lane Farms has no connection to Country Lane chicken feed or Bomgaars Feeds™ that I could find. They’re simply a farm with a similar name, which can cause some confusion when researching.

Where Can You Buy Bomgaars Feeds™ (formerly Country Lane)?

Bomgaars Supply Inc. operates retail stores across several midwestern states, so the most obvious place to purchase their feeds would be at Bomgaars stores. Their website suggests these products are “Coming Soon to a Bomgaars Near You!” for some of the feed types, indicating a rollout process.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find specific information about whether Bomgaars Feeds™ will be distributed through other farm supply stores or if they’ll remain exclusive to Bomgaars locations. This could be an important consideration if you don’t have a Bomgaars store nearby.

What Chicken Keepers Are Saying About the Change

While researching this transition, I tried to find opinions from other chicken keepers who’ve experienced the switch from Country Lane to Bomgaars Feeds™. The online discussion is still relatively limited, suggesting this might be a fairly recent change.

Some common questions from chicken keepers include:

• “Is the formula the same or different?”
• “Are the protein and calcium levels equivalent?”
• “How are my chickens’ egg production and health after switching?”
• “Is there a price difference between Country Lane and Bomgaars Feeds™?”

If you’re making the switch, it might be worth documenting your own observations about egg production, shell quality, and overall flock health to help others in the community.

Should You Make the Switch from Country Lane to Bomgaars Feeds™?

If you’ve been using Country Lane feeds with good results, you might be wondering if you should follow Bomgaars’ suggestion to switch to their branded version. Here are some considerations:

Reasons to switch:

• If Country Lane products become unavailable, Bomgaars Feeds™ is the intended replacement
• Potentially similar or identical formulation
• Possible improved quality control under Bomgaars’ management
• May be more readily available at Bomgaars locations

Reasons to be cautious:

• Unknown if the formulation is truly identical
• Your flock may be sensitive to even small changes in feed
• Limited user reviews and experiences so far
• Possible distribution limitations if you don’t live near a Bomgaars store

My Personal Experience with Feed Transitions

I’ve gone through feed transitions with my flock before (though not specifically from Country Lane to Bomgaars), and here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Transition slowly – Mix the new feed with the old, gradually increasing the proportion of new feed over 1-2 weeks
2. Watch for changes – Monitor egg production, shell quality, and overall flock health
3. Have backup options – Keep some of your old feed on hand in case the transition doesn’t go well
4. Consider supplements – During transitions, extra calcium or other supplements can help maintain egg quality

The Bottom Line on Who Makes Country Lane Chicken Feed

To wrap this all up: Country Lane chicken feed is now manufactured by Bomgaars Supply Inc. under their Bomgaars Feeds™ private label. The company is actively encouraging customers to transition from Country Lane products to the new Bomgaars branded versions.

While specific details about formulation changes are limited, Bomgaars claims to maintain high quality standards with their feeds, using “premium ingredients” and focusing on animal nutrition.

For loyal Country Lane customers, this transition may require some adjustment and careful observation of your flock as you switch to the new products. The good news is that Bomgaars appears committed to providing a full range of poultry feed options to meet various needs.

What’s Your Experience?

Have you made the switch from Country Lane to Bomgaars Feeds™? I’d love to hear about your experience! How did your chickens respond to the change? Did you notice any differences in egg production or quality? Your insights could be invaluable to other chicken keepers facing the same transition.

Remember, at the end of the day, what matters most is keeping our feathered friends healthy, happy, and productive – regardless of what name is printed on the feed bag!

Country Companion is a registered trademark of Mid-States Distributing, LLC. This means Mid-States Distributing, a company that supplies products to more than 300 agricultural retailers, owns the brand. Therefore, while the feed is produced for Country Companion, it is the products that are supplied by the Mid-States Distributing network and sold in various farm and ranch stores.