Feeding Your Chickens

[mmizell]

Just wondering what everyone feeds their chickens due to the high cost of feed. Those of us that have more than 10 chickens feel the "ouch".
Thanks, for the replys.
Melinda

 

[annie3001]

can you also give your chickens left over scraps from your kitchen? thats what we do.
do you also free range them, they can enjoy fresh bugs and grass?

 

[HBuehler]

We are feeding about 200.We feed our baby chicks chick starter,the older grower,the layers layer and the roosters get a basic flock feed.We also feed a high protein scratch full of real good stuff looks like a chicken trail mix(not that corn based stuff most sell).Ours are fed kelp for the natural mineral benefits,natural vitamins and we also feed alfalfa several times a week when the vegetation and garden is thru...we have had several freezes now so pickings will be slimmer outside.
During the spring summer and fall ours have all the garden and fruit(we have all types of fruit growing here) mine also get leftovers when we have them...we also eat only natural foods so we don't have anything our chickens can't eat but with 3 kids and one being 18 leftovers are limited! They do love the rare salmon leftovers

We do buy our feed at our local feed mill....former chicken hatchery!It's cheaper than Purina same quality ingredients and without a doubt fresher since it's made right here frequently.I also like the idea it's keeping our money in our community.Shop around for feed but make sure to read the labels(I'm a major label reader) big commercial brands are not always better...I know in some area's that's not an option.