Homemade Chicken Feed

[lpbrady]

I am trying to formulate my own chicken feed recipe. I have found several recipes online and I read Joel Salatin's book which included his recipe for his meat birds. My reasons for switching to homemade whole grains are several
1) the cost of organic feed is too high and I can't sell eggs in our area for enough to cover the cost
2) there is SO MUCH waste of the feed
3) we often supplement with grains and their eggs taste so much better
4) I want to know exactly what they are eating- healthier eggs is the sole reason we have chickens!

I want to experiment with sprouting black eyed peas as part of their ration. Has anyone tried this? I understand phytic acid is the large concern with the peas but I read an article stating sprouting them reduces the acid so it shouldn't cause as many problems.

I would like to hear from anyone that uses their own feed. What you do and how you do it? Thanks!

https://www.mercola.com/article/soy/avoid_soy.htm (about phytic acid)

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0482/1017/files/Feeding_Germinated_Grain.pdf?15224726324091326303 (about benefits of sprouted grain)

 

[snow5164]

I researched making my own feed and it wasn’t worth it for us.

The grains will have to be purchased in huge quantities and stored in the proper, rodent and mold proof environment.

You have to measure everything very accurately, the minerals have to be weighed and shook up so they aren’t all at the bottom . When you buy bag you turn it over and shake it up ( or you should ), but with 3 ,50 pound bags of grains and a few cups of minerals good luck!!

I wish you luck , our conclusion??

“if you raise undernourished hens and save a few dollars you are no further ahead because egg production an life spans will suffer “

 

[Folly's place]

Modern laying hens need a balanced diet to do well, and it's complicated/ expensive to make at home. VERY complicated and difficult! You can feed them whatever, and think things are good, but likely they aren't getting all that they need in the right proportions.
Look up university articles, and contact poultry nutritionists, and see if it still makes sense to 'do it yourself'.
Mary

 

[Butchers Wife]

I buy from Good's Feed Mill in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Lancaster has a large Amish community. The Amish are known hereabouts for their frugality and farming skills (among other things). Good's sells a 20% protein poultry feed for $24.75 per 100 pound sack. 100 pounds of 28% Turkey Starter costs $31.50 Just yesterday I purchased 400 pounds of feed for $104.94 including tax (I hope it lasts a month). The ingredients and nutrition info can be obtained from their knowledgeable staff who will custom mix to your specs as well. They also stock a huge variety of whole grains, vitamins, minerals, nutri-balance, prebiotics and probiotics, etc right on the shelves. They don't have a website, which is common for businesses serving the Amish, but these folks recite feed requirements for all variety of livestock like nothing I've ever seen. I've spent countless hours researching pheasant nutrition and a 17 year old just spouted off a recipe for me, with quantities, prices and suitable substitutions from ingredients posted on the bulletin board behind her (without even glancing at it) while ringing up another customer's purchase. Holy Crap! I'm pushing 60 and have been studying for years and I'm only now just barely knowledgeable enough to broach the subject. Maybe some day I'll play around with mixing my own feed but it feels a bit like reinventing the wheel.