Growing chickenfeed?

[sawyer]

Cabbage is quite easy to grow and stores well hanging in a root cellar as do many other root crops and winter squash type plants. Corn has to be dried to grind, air dried in a crib works but attracts mice rats etc.

These grain mills can be motorized or bicycle hooked up, will do lots of different grains even heavy enough for animals. I have a small hand crank grain mill for making wheat bread, about 200 turns per cup of flour, way too much work to feed any livestock.

This one is a bit pricy, something like $850. out of my league. Available from Lehmans.

Sawyer

 

[carolinacooper]

Wow 850!!!That is similar to the one I saw.Thanks for the picture.I tried cabbage this year.The chickens like to nibble on it, and I was able to stagger my plantings back in November so I am still getting it fresh.( I am in NC)

 

[CHICKENHEAD]

I am trying to find an old cast iron grinder that has a pully on it to attach a small motor.

 

[nightshade]

Quote:
OMG so I am not the only one that does that. lol Wait til I tell hubby. I picked up nearly a pickup load this year and last. took me two days to gather it all. I will cry if they ever get a new cron picker that actually does it's job the right way.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
OMG so I am not the only one that does that. lol Wait til I tell hubby. I picked up nearly a pickup load this year and last. took me two days to gather it all. I will cry if they ever get a new cron picker that actually does it's job the right way.

That is so funny! I thought our combine did a better job this year than last....I had to look harder for ears this year!!

It's something I do when I'm waiting for the grain truck to get filled....I walk around and make these little piles of ears and then I go back later and pick them up with the pick-up.

 

[chickenannie]

I just read about "naked oats" which is an old-time oat that didn't need machine harvesting or hulling. Not sure if chickens eat it or not, but it sounded like a great crop to grow.

 

[nightshade]

lol thats what I do when the get done picking I go out that afternoon and walk around with two 5 gal buckets and make piles every 50yards or better then go back and pick it up with the truck. I can be a heck of alot of walking though

 

[Katy]

Quote:
great minds think alike!!

 

[hooligan]

ChickenAnnie, have you seen: http://www.wrtc.com/gartseed/nakedoats.htm

I also wanted to add Broom Corn tot he eating list. And of course it can be pretty too. And can create a nice shady cover too.

Mixed Colors Broom Corn:

 

[Meesh]

We got a load of spelt that was cut into hay one year, and the stuff volunteered for years afterward. It was a very nice, easy to grow, beardless type of grain (and yummy). I may try some of that. A handfull of seed from the natural food store planted this year would prolly make enough seed to do the whole garden next year!

With the impending economic crisis, I am feeling like I need to know how to grow more of my own food & be less dependent on gasoline. It's odd, we make enough to get by just fine... But it just feels like a cold (economic) wind is blowing.

Cheers,
Michelle