Anyone grow/make their own chicken food? Tell me about it!

[KRack]

We finally have enough land to have a nice big garden. I'm interested in being as self sufficient as possible, so this is one area I'd like opinions on. I'm pretty ignorant on the topic because I've been more focused on feeding the humans, but I'd like to hear what you do if you grow/make your own feed!

 

[ChicksInOKLA]

I always plant pole beans (vining green beans) along the outside of their run. It creates shade for them in summer. The beans at the bottom are a healthy treat for my girls and the ones above, out of their reach, I harvest for the family.

 

[Weeg]

I think most commonly, its very very hard to make a complete diet. But, this is a thread that might interest you. Its about a women who put her flock on a 100% forage diet. Seems they are healthy and it works well for her. Something to consider is predator load though.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-100-forage-diet-experiment-long-post.1435544/

 

[nuthatched]

It's actually pretty hard to make your own feed with the correct vitamins and protein, expensive too. You need several acres to crow cereal crops on.
This thread has lots of good info.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/making-feed-at-home.1495914/

 

[Weeg]

I think most commonly, its very very hard to make a complete diet. But, this is a thread that might interest you. Its about a women who put her flock on a 100% forage diet. Seems they are healthy and it works well for her. Something to consider is predator load though.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/successful-100-forage-diet-experiment-long-post.1435544/

Something to consider with this is acreage though. I also don't think you'd be able to simply turn adult birds out on pasture and take away their feed. You'd have to start chicks this way from the very beginning. You would also need plenty of room, I'd say 1/2-1 acre per bird? In that amount of space, you'd also have to have forest/foraging area. Turning them out in a mowed field probably wouldn't do it.

 

[KRack]

Something to consider with this is acreage though. I also don't think you'd be able to simply turn adult birds out on pasture and take away their feed. You'd have to start chicks this way from the very beginning. You would also need plenty of room, I'd say 1/2-1 acre per bird? In that amount of space, you'd also have to have forest/foraging area. Turning them out in a mowed field probably wouldn't do it.

Yes, I don't have the acreage to do this, but I LOVE the idea. Maybe down the road if we're able to obtain more land. Thank you for sharing this post, it was a super interesting read!!

 

[Weeg]

Yes, I don't have the acreage to do this, but I LOVE the idea. Maybe down the road if we're able to obtain more land. Thank you for sharing this post, it was a super interesting read!!

Glad I could help! It definitely takes a lot of land and foraging space. If this isn't an option, than I think sticking to a commercial feed is a good idea. Making your own feed can get quite expensive.
You can supplement their diet with herbs and veggies though. This article talks about supplementing poultry diets with veggies and plants. I would skip the grains though.
Herbs such as Oregano are fantastic for chickens, a great plant you can grow for them. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...hop-principle-to-improve-chicken-diets.77197/

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I use pasture forage to bend the curve a bit on my feed costs, and happen to be blessed with one of the better climates for doing so, here in the US (though certainly not the best soil). Rather than engaging in large scale commercial farming type activities (which will likely still be more expensive than buying a locally milled commercial feed), I've planted my acres of weeds with a biodiverse polyculture, which I continue to improve by overseeding each year, and selevctive weeding. I call it my "acre of weeds".

Seasonally dependent, saves between 15% and about 35% against my expected feed bill, for the size of my flock.

You don't say where you are at, but if you have a long, mild growing period, decent soil, and enough of it, then - when mother nature cooperates - *if* you have enough variety, you can set them free to forage with few concerns about major dietary imbalance.

 

[KRack]

I use pasture forage to bend the curve a bit on my feed costs, and happen to be blessed with one of the better climates for doing so, here in the US (though certainly not the best soil). Rather than engaging in large scale commercial farming type activities (which will likely still be more expensive than buying a locally milled commercial feed), I've planted my acres of weeds with a biodiverse polyculture, which I continue to improve by overseeding each year, and selevctive weeding. I call it my "acre of weeds".

Seasonally dependent, saves between 15% and about 35% against my expected feed bill, for the size of my flock.

You don't say where you are at, but if you have a long, mild growing period, decent soil, and enough of it, then - when mother nature cooperates - *if* you have enough variety, you can set them free to forage with few concerns about major dietary imbalance.

This is a really good idea, thank you! I'm in PA so this would likely be doable. I'm going to read through the link you shared...I appreciate your insight!