⠀ Homemade chicken feed

[MeepBeep]

Foraging animals such as chickens and hamsters don't always get the optimal nutrients from their food in the wild.

As I said I beg to differ, the ones that thrive and live long lives in the wild are in fact getting a balanced nutritionally complete diets as they forage... On the other hand the ones that don't get sufficient nutrition, simply don't thrive, are not as healthy, and live shorter lives due to the lack of a proper diet... At the end of the day diet and health are closely tied together...

I simply will not support the excuse that some don't get balanced nutrition in the wild as a valid reason to not provide proper and balanced nutrition in captivity...

 

[Athaid]

Again I an

As I said I beg to differ, the ones that thrive and live long lives in the wild are in fact getting a balanced nutritionally complete diets as they forage... On the other hand the ones that don't get sufficient nutrition, simply don't thrive, are not as healthy, and live shorter lives due to the lack of a proper diet... At the end of the day diet and health are closely tied together...

I simply will not support the excuse that some don't get balanced nutrition in the wild as a valid reason to not provide proper and balanced nutrition in captivity...

Again, I am not making excuses. one acre of foraging land, which includes trees, bushes, plenty of fertile land for them to forage, plenty of fresh food, Barley, wheat seeds, millet, sprouted seeds, oats, table scraps and a steady supply of crushed shells. Doesn't sound too bad to me. I'm not sure if you misunderstood what I was trying to say or what. We're also rescuing the hens from a battery farm, we're not buying them from a breeder. I assure you I would never mistreat an animal, I'm a vegeterian and grow as much of my own food as I can. As I said, I care a great deal about nature, I was merely looking for suggestions, There is still more research to be done on my part.
I can't help but feel this is turning into an argument of some sort, And I don't want that.

 

[MeepBeep]

IMO you should not factor in your acre of land when considering their diet, I would consider the foraging on a small plot like that to be more along the lines of being 'treats' and 'supplements' as any more then one or two chickens will likely deplete that lot of land of better nutrients in short...

I personally agree with Robert Plamondon as do many others in his 'free range' take, it's a good read...

http://www.plamondon.com/faq_feed.html

 

[Athaid]

IMO you should not factor in your acre of land when considering their diet, I would consider the foraging on a small plot like that to be more along the lines of being 'treats' and 'supplements' as any more then one or two chickens will likely deplete that lot of land of better nutrients in short...

I personally agree with Robert Plamondon as do many others in his 'free range' take, it's a good read...

http://www.plamondon.com/faq_feed.html

Okay, thanks for the info. I was googling non GMO, non soy feeds but I only seem to be able to find US sites.. I still have four months to work something out though so it should be okay. How much space do your chickens have? I was looking at the land plot on my paper and it's actually only 1/2 an acre of land. Is this okay for 7 chickens? We're moving to a place right on the coast and I don't want to let the hens free range completely incase they go into the sea or something. We have 40 acres total but This 1/2 acre is in a prime position. Think I'll browse the forums some more.

 

[MeepBeep]

Okay, thanks for the info. I was googling non GMO, non soy feeds but I only seem to be able to find US sites..

Try adding a 'UK' to the search as well as searching for non-GM or GM-free as the 'O' is not normally used in the UK... Or simply contact a local feed store in your area, you are not going to want to pay shipping anyone so finding a local supplier is in your best interest...

How much space do your chickens have? I was looking at the land plot on my paper and it's actually only 1/2 an acre of land. Is this okay for 7 chickens?

It's plenty of space for them to run around, but no where enough to support them living off the land... My chickens have about a 1/2 acre fence area they share with the llamas/goats but I don't expect or depend on it to be their food source, it's just a place to walk and run around and enjoy the day... Most never venture more then say 50 feet from the coop anyway... And they have 24/7 access to as much commercial feed as they want to eat, as well as copious amounts of ever changing other fresh vegetables, fruits, and other misc stuff daily...

 

[Athaid]

Try adding a 'UK' to the search as well as searching for non-GM or GM-free as the 'O' is not normally used in the UK... Or simply contact a local feed store in your area, you are not going to want to pay shipping anyone so finding a local supplier is in your best interest...
It's plenty of space for them to run around, but no where enough to support them living off the land... My chickens have about a 1/2 acre fence area they share with the llamas/goats but I don't expect or depend on it to be their food source, it's just a place to walk and run around and enjoy the day... Most never venture more then say 50 feet from the coop anyway... And they have 24/7 access to as much commercial feed as they want to eat, as well as copious amounts of ever changing other fresh vegetables, fruits, and other misc stuff daily...

Thanks again. I read the link you gave me and have a better idea of what feed I want to use. I'm going to feed 50% barley mash, and 50% grain and seed mix. I will get some of the mash before I get the hens so I can keep it for a few days and check it out. If it isn't suitable I'll find some other high protein food to feed instead.

 

[DrPatrickBiggs]

Have you consulted with your local feed retailer or animal nutritionist? We don’t recommend mixing your own chicken feed, but if you do make your own feed those are great resources. Mixing your own chicken feed seems easy enough, but crafting the right nutritional profile to meet the needs of your birds takes years to perfect. The main reason is that there are essential micronutrients that birds need that often get overlooked in many DIY chicken feed operations. Over time, too much or too little of these nutrients can negatively influence the health and performance of your birds.

 

[Athaid]

We found a feed already. I asked this a while ago lol but thanks.