Don't forget about split peas, going for about 50 cents a pound here and 24.5% protein. They don't need to be cooked for poultry. Lentils have more anti-nutrients in them than split peas (tannins) and thus I'd limit them personally. They will eat the split peas if mixed into the feed and not too many of them. Same with flax (they don't like a lot of them).Found a local health food store here (Mama Jeans) has the ingredients for making my own organic whole grain corn/soy free feed if I wish. Comes to $1.70 a pound even with the spendy trendy stuff like the chia or black sesame. That's not bad for the few chickens I have, and worth it to me. Here's what I think I'll use, adapted slightly from Garden Betty website, and very similar to other recipes I've seen:
5 pounds oat groats, 4 pounds of BOSS, 4 pounds of hard red wheat berries, 2 pounds white wheat, 2 pounds millet, 2 pounds kamut, 1 pound green lentils, 1 pound flax seeds, 1/2 pound white sesame, 1/4 pound chia or black sesame, 1/4 pound of kelp granules.
I can lessen the oats and increase the wheat if the yolks seem a little light colored, or tinker as I need to I guess. Any suggestions about what I should drop or add and why are always welcome. It paid to go local this time, rather than trying to buy in such a huge bulk that I'd take forever to use it up. Small time operation here. Just 12 now, and will be down to 6 when my neighbor gets his coop built and can take his girls off my hands.
There is one lady on BYC who feeds lentils uncooked. I have read that it is fine but that the tannin content is a bit higher than with the peas, is all. You should be OK in moderation.
