Hand Mill

[so lucky]

What all do you grind in your Wonder Mill Jr? I just almost ordered the Family Grain Mill from Amazon, because you can get an electric one with a hand crank attachment for in the event the SHTF. Also our power fails a lot. Do you grind wheat to flour consistency? How long does it take to grind a pound of wheat? (I realize this is off subject a little.

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[SteveBaz]

My wife chimed out an whole bean coffee grinder. the top loader kind and hit the switch on top

 

[the-bird-man]

Quote:
it can grind anything from wheat to nuts to boss. you can make peanut butter. it grinds things from a cracked size to a fine flour. it can grind coffee too. it does both the dry stuff and stuff a little wet such as boss. it does not take long at all to grind stuff but with the wet stuff such as boss or peanuts it will take longer. i am sure you could find youtube videos of it in action

 

[IRChicken]

Pearl Millet is almost identical to corn for nutrition, better in some areas.
Studies indicate 20% Pearl Millet unground in a chickens diet had a 99% digestibility.
A grain you don't have to grind.

So far I've found Corn, Wheat, Barley, and Soy to be the grains used by most feeds for poultry.
Wheat and Barley around 10% each because of their high fibre content.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Quote:
You really do not have to grind any grains, chickens can eat them whole. Much less work & less loss of nutrients.

 

[brit57]

I would love to grow and mill my own grain for my chickens! Those hand mills arent cheap if you buy them new I've been lookin for one

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
You really do not have to grind any grains, chickens can eat them whole. Much less work & less loss of nutrients.

I agree with Cindy in PA- you can give wheat berries whole to them. Just provide grit or make sure they can get grit from the soil free ranging. The whole grains keep longer than cracked grains, too. See my BYC page if you are interested in what I feed.

But it IS really nice to have a grain grinder to make nice bread with!!!

Make sure that you cook your soybeans (roasted soybean meal is what is in the chicken feed).