A short chicken feed rant

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Still in research phase I ran across an illustration/article today that made me sigh. It was about how to make chickens lay and initially it addressed food.

Sometimes I want to think commercial chicken food AND laying pellets is over the top. I mean, geesh, what did chickens eat, say two hundred yeas ago before capitalism and commercialism? Not saying I w o n ' t feed my chickens commercial food, but initially I had thought of raising them for economical reasons.


So, my flock will get mealworms (going to do my own worm farm); free range ALL DAY long, and some chicken food. Why do I then need pellets ON TOP of all that? We are preparing to try and live as debt free as possible with forecasted economic conditions on the very near horizon.

 

[Isadora]

What do you mean by chicken food if you don't mean pellets?

Most chickens today are not the same as their ancestors. They've been heavily bred to produce many more eggs and therefore need a lot more nutrition. Sure, they may survive on free ranging and scraps but they will likely develop issues, not lay as many eggs, and not live as long.

And really, raising chickens for meat and eggs isn't cheaper than buying it, at least not at this time. I raise chickens mainly for pest control but it's nice to get some good quality eggs as well. I don't do it because it's any cheaper or economical.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

What do you mean by chicken food if you don't mean pellets?

Most chickens today are not the same as their ancestors. They've been heavily bred to produce many more eggs and therefore need a lot more nutrition. Sure, they may survive on free ranging and scraps but they will likely develop issues, not lay as many eggs, and not live as long.

And really, raising chickens for meat and eggs isn't cheaper than buying it, at least not at this time. I raise chickens mainly for pest control but it's nice to get some good quality eggs as well. I don't do it because it's any cheaper or economical.

The illustration I ran into this morning (was going to right-click and show yaw'll but figured copyright and all) anywho, it showed chicken food, pellets, etc., as stated in my op. I'm just a squarrel trying to get a nut in this game so I am reading all I can get my eyes on and hoping to figure out enough to keep a happy flock.

 

[Faeshka]

I feel the same way. Our ancestors depended more on their animals for food, so a lot of the counter arguments don't make sense. Yes, there are modern hybrids that probably wouldn't do well, but what about heritage breeds?

This is one site I've come across. With the heat and all I haven't been able to make much progress with my research on this. The things I'm looking at are pastured poultry, permaculture, biodynamics and feeding prior to the 1920s. Juliette de Bairacli Levy's Complete Handbook for Farm & Stable is somewhat helpful.

 

[Percheron chick]

Pellets is just the shape of the chicken feed. A 20%layer mash, a 20% layer crumble and a 20% layer pellet from the same manufacturer is the identical feed.
You have selected some very poor feed conversion breeds for your future flock. You are better off selecting small bodied Mediterranean breeds if low feed costs is one of your main priorities.

 

[sdm111]

Pellets is just the shape of the chicken feed. A 20%layer mash, a 20% layer crumble and a 20% layer pellet from the same manufacturer is the identical feed.
You have selected some very poor feed conversion breeds for your future flock. You are better off selecting small bodied Mediterranean breeds if low feed costs is one of your main priorities.

Or none

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

I feel the same way. Our ancestors depended more on their animals for food, so a lot of the counter arguments don't make sense. Yes, there are modern hybrids that probably wouldn't do well, but what about heritage breeds?

This is one site I've come across. With the heat and all I haven't been able to make much progress with my research on this. The things I'm looking at are pastured poultry, permaculture, biodynamics and feeding prior to the 1920s. Juliette de Bairacli Levy's Complete Handbook for Farm & Stable is somewhat helpful.

Uww, excited to check it out. Thank you for chiming up.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Or none

As a newbie here, one admittedly learning; did you find your comment to be helpful? I am working on not putting wrong motives on others.

 

[SourRoses]

I am reading all I can get my eyes on and hoping to figure out enough to keep a happy flock.

The problem is, any random infographic you come across could have been put together by a teenager or random yahoo with too much time on their hands.
First find sources you trust, then read all you can.
How many hens do you really need?
If eggs for the family is the goal then 3-4 should do nicely.
When we had only that many hens we got away with buying one $20 bag of layer crumble and one $15 bag of scratch (an unnecessary treat) each month.
Roosters eat too and only output is swimmers. Will you be hatching chicks?
If your plan is to sell eggs too then your flock numbers make more sense. The egg money should be enough to cover feed costs if you have reliable customers.
Living in the south as we both do, the hens don't take big breaks for winter, just short ones for moulting / and during the very shortest days of the year. In some setups also during heatwaves, but having ours under grandaddy oak trees we haven't experienced that.
It's important to invest up front in an adult feeder that won't let them waste feed or for it to be spoiled from moisture / rodents, that will save you a lot of money long term.
If you don't feed a balanced diet the egg production will suffer and make the whole venture useless. Eggs are a rich food source because of all the nutrients consumed by the hens... nothing comes from nothing.
Even pure heritage birds produce a lot more eggs than they used to because humans kept "improving" them with selective breeding and people consider 1-2 eggs a week to be a flaw.
I hope you don't get discouraged and that you have success with your chickens.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

The problem is, any random infographic you come across could have been put together by a teenager or random yahoo with too much time on their hands.
First find sources you trust, then read all you can.
How many hens do you really need?
If eggs for the family is the goal then 3-4 should do nicely.
When we had only that many hens we got away with buying one $20 bag of layer crumble and one $15 bag of scratch (an unnecessary treat) each month.
Roosters eat too and only output is swimmers. Will you be hatching chicks?
If your plan is to sell eggs too then your flock numbers make more sense. The egg money should be enough to cover feed costs if you have reliable customers.
Living in the south as we both do, the hens don't take big breaks for winter, just short ones for moulting / and during the very shortest days of the year. In some setups also during heatwaves, but having ours under grandaddy oak trees we haven't experienced that.
It's important to invest up front in an adult feeder that won't let them waste feed or for it to be spoiled from moisture / rodents, that will save you a lot of money long term.
If you don't feed a balanced diet the egg production will suffer and make the whole venture useless. Eggs are a rich food source because of all the nutrients consumed by the hens... nothing comes from nothing.
Even pure heritage birds produce a lot more eggs than they used to because humans kept "improving" them with selective breeding and people consider 1-2 eggs a week to be a flaw.
I hope you don't get discouraged and that you have success with your chickens.

thank you for this well thought out, KIND, response. I appreciate it and will take heed.

ETA: "I" wanted about 8 birds. The hubby "Farmer Hip Hillbilly" insisted on 40 citing "You're going to have losses for various reasons that is why I am telling you this number." Well, I have talked him down to 20 (the fight gets exhausting).