Home Feeding Ideas and Solutions Discussion Thread

[Congers Coop]

The duckweed has me thinking.... would water hyacinth or water lettuce also be possible food alternatives? My dad throws out so much of it on a daily basis during the summer. I know you can boul the water hyacinth and eat it.

 

[ocap]

when several of you mentioned feeding duckweed is this what you are referring to, "Lemna minor"


http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/common-duckweed/

or is it something else? I tried writing to a company that sells aquatic plants and they never wrote back.

 

[Lacy Blues]

The duckweed has me thinking.... would water hyacinth or water lettuce also be possible food alternatives? My dad throws out so much of it on a daily basis during the summer. I know you can boul the water hyacinth and eat it.

If you can eat the boiled water hyacinth, it's my understanding that it would be safe for chickens as well.

when several of you mentioned feeding duckweed is this what you are referring to, "Lemna minor"


http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/plant-identification/alphabetical-index/common-duckweed/

or is it something else? I tried writing to a company that sells aquatic plants and they never wrote back.

Correct.

 

[fowlsessed]

I

I don't buy any commercial food for my chickens.

They live off kitchen scraps, and unshelled dry rice.  They free range all day and roost in the trees or under baskets.

I feed the chicks the same as the adults and I also add hard boiled egg mashed up with the shells.

They are all fat, healthy and lay lots of eggs.

My climate is sub tropical, so they can find food all year round.

. It's great to hear of such simple methods being used successfully.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Where does one go about finding unshelled rice?

 

[jak2002003]

Where does one go about finding unshelled rice?

I am not sure about in America. I am in Thailand and all the rice shops sell it - many people use it as animal food.
You could use normal rice - but I would use the more natural type - like brown rice etc.

 

[nok13]

our chickens are spoiled; they get sticky rice (uncooked) to eat out of hubby's hand; what a waste of food.in my opinion.. he hand feeds all 21 baby gai shon that are now living INSIDE our house... in two different bedrooms... they are also getting bananas, and left over food including chili peppers (which the dogs also eat)...

besides, your chickens are free range in a country that has tons of creeping and crawling protein and un eaten food is normally thrown out of the house to the chickens and dogs... or thru the floor slats of the houses on stilts...

 

[HooDoo Mtn Farm]

Cool setup! If it was me, I might reverse the order of the buckets, so the oldest is on the bottom and the newest on the top. That way, the "freshest" water starts at the top of the stack ... if you know what I mean.

Actually, you'd be surprised at how much dirt & discoloration comes off the new stuff . .
So, I have mine in that order!

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

Actually, you'd be surprised at how much dirt & discoloration comes off the new stuff . .
So, I have mine in that order!

Ahhh! I wash my seed very well before I start ... The main issue here is keeping mold/mildew/slime in check, which means not cross contaminating my trays with the rinse water. I don't let my water travel from one tray to another at all. I sanitize my area very frequently. Etc.

 

[HooDoo Mtn Farm]

I rinse mine well, too, before starting, & never have had mold / slime.
Guess you're in a more humid area, or there's a difference in our rinse water / techniques.
I rinse twice a day, and they are big & crispy. I steal some for myself.
Maybe because I flood the buckets, & fluff the sprouts?
Good luck in finding out what will work for you!