Any info on growing your own feed?

[DottieMarie]

I would think there is already a thread on this subject but I could use some help finding it. We would like to start growing our own feed but we don't know what would be the ideal crops. I know I've seen a thread on mixing your own feed which I'll need to find as well but to start with I'd like to know what to plant.
We just had 19 meat birds processed and our feed cost was astronomical (sp?) so we'd like to try something else.
Any ideas will be appreciated!

 

[Wifezilla]

Clover is one thing they can eat that is easy to grow. Field peas?

 

[becky3086]

I guess it would depend on what type of meat bird you are raising. If it is cornish x's I would imagine you would have a hard time adding in enough protein. Otherwise, if I had to guess on what you would grow to make chicken feed, I would say corn, oats maybe millet?

 

[Kezzie]

When I first started, I looked into that as well as it means we could be truly self-sufficient. I quickly realized that it is a near-impossible task as most feeds are complex in their composition and it is difficult to get enough protein into their diet. We have chosen to make do with supplanting about 40% of their diet with homegrown clover, sunflower seeds, and duckweed.

 

[DottieMarie]

Thanks for the replies. We just had our birds processed and reviewed our expenses, wow, we're paying way too much for feed. We knew it was going to be high, that's why we were thinking about growing some food.
Based on the replies we got, we'll stick to the commercial feed buy maybe use clover and sun flowers as additives. More importantly, we'll be buying our feed in bulk and not from our local "high priced" feed store.

 

[edb]

DottieMarie,
Growing feed is a great Idea, Wifezilla is correct about clover. Some clover types have over 30% Protein and grows almost anywhere. Clover and peas are easy to grow and are great sources of protein and fat. Wheat is also a idea, It grow pretty fast and not being a legume like the others it will greatly benefit from the chickens waste material. I would suggest looking at food plot mixes used for wild Quail(http://www.qu.org/), turkey(

) or even deer(http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/). You will get ideas that most non-hunters seldom see like Chufa for options. I personally have a lot of wooded area and have been putting things like sheets of old paper and cardboard under the ground cover to encourage insects to grow. I hope this helps

 

[Chicky~Buddy]

we have been looking at maybe for protein boost growing our own worms ~ esp the 'Redworms' they are a great compost worm and pretty healthy feed from what I have read thus far. I also saw somewhere about raising snails for protein? (cant recall where I read that for poultry feed ideas)

not sure if that was feed you were thinking of....but figured add that in the talk about growing your own food for our poultry.

I dont think we would try to rely on 100% our own feed but figured a few yummies at low cost everyday and healthy for the birds cant go wrong with those.

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I would love to try this

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Chickens+and+Worms.html

If you google
worms greenhouse chickens
there are many discussions.

I even know where I'd like to put the greenhouse.

However, I think I should give the DH a break from wife's hairbrained projects for a while. So this is on the back-burner for next year.

 

[trueblueshowgirl]

How do you all feed clover?

I take a few moments to hand pick clover, burdock leaf, and dandelion for our egg layers while making my way to the coop twice a day for feeding and egg gathering. I've noticed they devour these greens eagerly and even seem excited about them while I'm picking. We "tractor" our meat birds over clover and weekds- they definitely clean it up daily as they move along.

But when you all suggest growing clover as feed- do you mean haying it to process for storage? Just curious. Thanks for explaining a little more.

 

[Wifezilla]

I just planted some clover seed last night. (Found some in the sprout section at the local hippy-infested health food store.) If it grows, I will just let it get to a good size and then trim some off.

I may try drying some if I have enough and giving them the dry clover in a separate container along with their feed over winter.

Last winter I took dried alfalfa cubes and soaked them in warm water for a hot breakfast treat. The ducks loved that.

My babies are a tad spoiled