Homemade Chicken Feed

[Sally PB]

Which feed do you recommend for layers that can have soy.

Many people here on BYC feed their birds an "all flock" or "flock raiser" type of feed once they're about 15-16 weeks old and off a chick starter feed. Most name brands will have an all flock feed, at about 20% protein. Be sure to supply oyster shell or crushed egg shell separately to supply calcium.

And,

 

[Debbie292d]

Also when using flaxseed in their feed, should it be ground or whole?

Flax they can have whole and it's a bit better for them that way too. I have whole I put in the ferment mix usually though rather than mix it in their regular layer feed.

 

[RedHillChicken]

I am thinking about creating my own chicken feed. Im not sure how sustainable it is but curious what others would think about it. First Off, I do not eat soy or corn for a lot of reasons so I don't really want to feed my animals corn or soy either. Here's my idea.

Rolled Oats
Ground Flax
Black Oil Sunflower seeds
Safflower seeds
Meal Worms or Black Soldier fly grubs

Plus all of our table scraps
thoughts?

I have been buying feed from New Country Organics (first the chick starter and now the grower broiler with a side of oyster shells), and our chickens gorge on it. They have soy free, corn free, most anything you'd want. Mixing your own feed is best done if you understand all of the nutritional needs of chickens. Most folks don't! Save yourself, and your chickens, from experimentation and start them out with the best.