Cost of Feed and a way to get some for nearly FREE

[buc]

I live in a farm rich area of Kansas and as you all know we grow a fair share of corn. Every year at this time I walk the fields of some of the farmer I know and pick up missed corn still on the cobs. This is a great way to get whole corn that my chickens like and my Turkeys just love to eat.

If anyone is interested in this idea let me know and I will post a few tips on how to do this.

 

[QuailHollow]

I am interested!

 

[Mrs.Puff]

We do this also. Whole corn kernels really keeps my girls warm in the winter. You can also scoop up corn that has been spilled out of the combine when they load them up in the fields.

 

[txchickie]

Oh yeah. We live near a huge grain elevator and I go on the weekends with buckets and scoop up the wheat, rye, cottonseed, etc...that falls out of the augers while they're loading trucks. Free is good

It just sucks when it rains (which is rare LOL) and then I can't get any freebies b.c they get nasty.

 

[buc]

Quote:
ok, here goes, this project starts in the summer after the crops are in the field and you see what the farmer has planned, normally they rotate from beans to corn and then back to beans. Then introduce yourself and let them know what you are looking to do after the combine the field.

One ole boy that lets me walk his fields like eggs, but really does not care to raise the chickens, so about one a month if I am by his place I drop off a dozen eggs. That is called building good will.

I have another field that I got thru the above guy telling this other farmer about my willingness to do the work to get the nearly free grain for the wintering of my flock.

Tip, when walking the field spend the most time at the "pin row" area of the field, that is where I find the most corn and look for the areas that the stalks are still standing that is a sure bet on finding large fully formed ears.

I take my son with me it is a little like an easter egg hunt

 

[Apehuntress]

Wow, I didn't think anybody else was as crazy as me. Yesterday I spent an hour or so in 0 degree weather doing this for my horses. They eat the stalk, cob and all. Next year when I have chickens I'd like to do this more. How much corn can you feed? Do you need to crush it first or can you just leave it on the cob??

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Duh! She says as she looks out the window at the corn field across the road now covered in snow...

 

[Sylvie]

Quote:
ok, here goes, this project starts in the summer after the crops are in the field and you see what the farmer has planned, normally they rotate from beans to corn and then back to beans. Then introduce yourself and let them know what you are looking to do after the combine the field.

One ole boy that lets me walk his fields like eggs, but really does not care to raise the chickens, so about one a month if I am by his place I drop off a dozen eggs. That is called building good will.

I have another field that I got thru the above guy telling this other farmer about my willingness to do the work to get the nearly free grain for the wintering of my flock.

Tip, when walking the field spend the most time at the "pin row" area of the field, that is where I find the most corn and look for the areas that the stalks are still standing that is a sure bet on finding large fully formed ears.

I take my son with me it is a little like an easter egg hunt

Pin row? No idea what that is.

Lotsa corn grown around here but they alternate with hay, never beans. They manure the fields heavily. Will keep this in mind for next year!

 

[rooster-red]

Sounds like a neat idea, but one question:

Don't they use pesticides on the corn in those fields?

How do you keep from feeding these pesticides to your chickens?

 

[scgamecock]

It's probably ok to use.The feed I buy is ground fresh by my feed store and it's all locally grown corn and oats with the needed supplements.It's 11.00 per 50lbs and you just return your empty sacks and pick up full one's.It's all natural and locally grown ingredients.