Grains, Corn and Scratch

[CaliRooster]

Quote:
Being able to free range all day will make a difference. Especially around here--lots of good stuff for them year-round. Looks like you're just across the Valley from me

I live in fresno, not far from you!

 

[DianeB]

Quote:
I feed my chickens a grain/seed mixture based on a recipe from Greener Pastures http://www.greenerpasturesfarm.com/ChickenFeedRecipe.html. I leave out the peas and barley (the chickens don't eat these) and include quinoa and triticale. They also free range for bugs, supplemented with bunches of greens and frozen fruit. They also have access to oyster shell and grit. This year, I am growing buckwheat, alfalfa, clover, greens, barley, oats and wheat grass for them to graze on. Here is thread about pasture hens https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=293840.

There is nothing wrong with feeding chickens a grain/seed mixture instead of formulated feed. Most feed is really milling and agricultural by-products with a good supplement added for extra insurance. (Read the back label) I don't see how it can be an advantage over a diverse diet of seeds, grains, greens, fruits and insects.

 

[DianeB]

Here are more sites. The Moderns Homstead and Lionsgrip sites have several articles from formulating your own feed to planting your own pature for chickens.

http://www.lionsgrip.com/recipes.html

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Growing-Poultry-Feeds-1.html

http://www.small-farm-permaculture-and-sustainable-living.com/what_do_chickens_eat.html

http://ahualoa.net/chickens/

There are several more sites and books dedicated to this topic, far too numerous to post here.

P.S. You are not alone. Many people choose to feed their poultry other than just with commercial feed. There is also several threads on BYC about this topic. Search under homemade feed, pasture raising, etc.

 

[DianeB]

http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/feeding.html One more you may find helpful.

 

[tammyd57]

Quote:
Great links Diane. I have used some of them for research before, but the lionsgrip one I hadn't seen. Good resource. Thanks!

 

[DianeB]

Lionsgrip is a pretty neat site. There are so many poultry ration recipes for all stages. You have to play around with the links within the pages to get all the info on the site. Not all of the article quicklinks are available on the sidebar.

 

[Bookworm chick]

Quote:
While reading this, for some reason, the line "chicken in the bread pan" flashed through my mind. Can't remember the rest of it and it's going to drive me crazy today.

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
The Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down To Georgia Lyrics


The devil went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a soul to steal
He was in a bind
'Cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal

When he came upon this young man
Sawin' on a fiddle and playin' it hot
And the devil jumped
Up on a hickory stump
And said boy let me tell you what

I guess you didn't know it
but I'm a fiddle player too
And if you care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you

Now you play a pretty good fiddle, boy
But give the devil his due
I'll bet a fiddle of gold
Against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you

The boy said my name's Johnny
And it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet
And you're gonna regret
'Cause I'm the best there's ever been

Johnny rosin up your bow and play your fiddle hard
Cause hell's broke loose in Georgia and the devil deals the cards
And if you win you get this shiny fiddle made of gold
But if you lose the devil gets your soul.

The devil opened up his case
And he said I'll start this show
And fire flew from his fingertips
As he rosined up his bow

Then he pulled the bow across the strings
And it made a [sic] evil hiss
And a band of demons joined in
And it sounded something like this

[Instrumental]

When the devil finished
Johnny said well you're pretty good old son
Just sit right in that chair right there
And let me show you how it's done

He played Fire on the Mountain
Run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan picken' out dough
Granny does your dog bite
No child, no

[Instrumental]

The devil bowed his head
Because he knew that he'd been beat
And he laid that golden fiddle
On the ground at Johnny's feet

Johnny said, Devil just come on back
If you ever wanna try again
I done told you once you son of a grump
I'm the best there's ever been

And he played Fire on the Mountain
Run boys, run
The devil's in the House of the Rising Sun
Chicken in a bread pan picken' out dough
Granny does your dog bite
No child, no

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Charlie Daniels was referencing an old mountain song called "Granny Does Your Dog Bite".

There are many variations to it:

Chicken in the bread pan
Scratching out dough,
Granny, will your dog bite?
No, child, no.
Granny, will your hen peck?
No, child, no.
Pappy cut her bill off
A long time ago.

 

[BriteChicken]

Thanks Diane! I am allergic to wheat, rye, and barley... and I was just going to tough it out and sneeze and feel miserable whenever I had to refill their feeder but you've gotten me thinking about blending my own well rounded feed for my chickens now I'm going to read all the articles you put up and see if I can't come up with something but I think I'll still stick with medicated starter while their chicks...

P.s. I'm gonna keep watching this thread