Feeding chickens efficiently/free?

[ChickenJoe007]

So I currently have moved unto a large acreage property and I’m in the process in trying to “live off the land” type situations. I’m looking at all ways to cut cost and be efficient as possible.

I’m curious to see if anyone has found ways to to feed your chickens cheaply?.

One of the ways I wanted to do so was from veggie scraps/leftovers and veggie scraps from my garden on top of free ranging. I still plan to feed my chickens “feed” every day with other things such as milo, oyster shells and etc but in lower amounts if I can find cheap alternative ways to feed them. My main concern is I still want to make sure my chickens are happy and fed well. Are there things I can grow to feed them?.

Any ideas or thoughts about feeding chickens efficiently and cheaply would be appreciated.

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

Same project happening at my house this year.

Look up Justin Rhodes on YouTube. He has a video on feeding chickens for free, or something similar, but he moves his around a ton of land daily. I don't have enough land for that, so I intend a lot of their nutrients to come from the copious amounts of ticks and veggie scraps with supplemental feed.

My oldest plans on growing a constant supply of fodder for them, also.

 

[Broodygranny]

Look up how to grow meal worms. Just make sure you don't let them escape! I feed them one at a time. The chickens love them.

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

Look up how to grow meal worms. Just make sure you don't let them escape! I feed them one at a time. The chickens love them.

We looked that up, but honestly, I promptly realized I would just buy dried ones. *Gag*

 

[Broodygranny]

My mom raised them when I was a kid, and my grandpa raised them too. I guess they don't bother me!

 

[New2Chicks97]

Mine go through a lot less feed the more they are able to free range. Our girls love anything from the garden especially cherry tomatoes. So if you plant plenty of extra plants they will definitely eat the extras. Ours also like zucchini and squash.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If you have the space, you can grow any number of things to help supplement. You might want to consider something that's high in protein, as veggie scraps and forage may reduce their overall protein intake as a % of their food.

Food scraps from off property are also something worth exploring, especially if you can find someone willing to pay you to take them!

 

[ChickenJoe007]

Look up how to grow meal worms. Just make sure you don't let them escape! I feed them one at a time. The chickens love them.

I’ve considered that. As I have a start up worm farm already. I’ve heard worms can give chickens well um “worms” I’m not sure if meal worms do though as they seemed to be advertised for chickens

 

[KentuckyRooster]

The more they range, the less commercial feed they eat. they like fresh produce like corn and squash but need lots of calcium and proteins too.

In winter ranging will not provide adequate food for even a portion of their diets unless you live in like Florida or California.

 

[HarringtonHomestead]

My mom raised them when I was a kid, and my grandpa raised them too. I guess they don't bother me!

I can handle a lot of things, but wriggling mealworms, maggots or roaches just get me. I can do dried, though.