Does anyone mix their own feed?

[DanIndiana]

It seems like some people act like your hens will drop dead if you don't feed them Layena. Does anyone mix their own, and can it be cheaper?

 

[melody123]

Mine are free range over many acres of pasture and trees, so I know that they are getting plenty of nutrition from the bugs, worm, grass and anything else that they find out there. For the chickens, those cow pies can be the best. Undigested grains and maggots are the best meal ever. I've seen chickens ignore layena feed for weeks on end, to go after those yummy cow pies.

I don't worry too much about their feed, and find local sources of grain for them. I have actually had chickens in the past that I didn't feed except for when it got below freezing in the winter, and they stayed perfectly healthy and happy. But snce I have a bigger flock and am selling the eggs, I actually feed them each day.

But if your birds are caged or penned, then you have to pay better attention. Plus, most people don't have as many acres as I do, or the wonderful cow pies and left over produce that my chickens get to play with.

I haven't bought any layena feed since last summer, and my birds are heathier now then they were when I was feeding them that expensive stuff. They do lay a little less since they don't get all the estrogen like soybeans, but my per egg cost is much cheaper now.

Most people won't agree with me, but let them pay premium prices for low quality eggs.