I live in Suriname, South America, and have a small flock of eight layers in a coop in the side yard. I am currently experimenting with duckweed as a supplemental feed. I do not know the actual numbers, but duckweed is supposedly high in protein. At the present I am feeding the duckweed, and also rice bran (or polishings, from the local rice mills) mixed with laying mash. I plan to slowly phase out the laying mash, if the hens continue to do well with the duckweed and rice bran. This will allow me to feed the flock very economically.
Of course duckweed is not normally thought of as a crop, but in warmer areas of North America it would be possible to grow it at least part of the year. This could be done in an existing pond, or even in a tank or pool of some sort. I have not actually tried growing duckweed myself yet as Suriname is a tropical country, and I have a year-round, unlimited supply from a canal near my home.
I simply harvest the duckweed and place it in a five-gallon bucket hanging in the chicken coop. The bucket has holes in the bottom, which allows the chickens to get to the duckweed. I have found that the holes have to be very large, as the duckweed sticks together and does not fall to the bottom when what is below is pecked out. When I go into the coop to gather eggs or feed the chickens, I give the bucket a few good shakes to force more duckweed to the bottom where the hens can get at it. I would really like to come up with a self-feeder which would have the duckweed available all the time without having to shake it down, but that is something for further experimentation.
I would be interested in hearing of anyone else's experiences with feeding duckweed.
Of course duckweed is not normally thought of as a crop, but in warmer areas of North America it would be possible to grow it at least part of the year. This could be done in an existing pond, or even in a tank or pool of some sort. I have not actually tried growing duckweed myself yet as Suriname is a tropical country, and I have a year-round, unlimited supply from a canal near my home.
I simply harvest the duckweed and place it in a five-gallon bucket hanging in the chicken coop. The bucket has holes in the bottom, which allows the chickens to get to the duckweed. I have found that the holes have to be very large, as the duckweed sticks together and does not fall to the bottom when what is below is pecked out. When I go into the coop to gather eggs or feed the chickens, I give the bucket a few good shakes to force more duckweed to the bottom where the hens can get at it. I would really like to come up with a self-feeder which would have the duckweed available all the time without having to shake it down, but that is something for further experimentation.
I would be interested in hearing of anyone else's experiences with feeding duckweed.