Homemade Feed vs Store bought bags??

[ABHanna4d]

Im VERY new at this and VERY confused! (we actually havent even bought our chickens yet)
We are trying to get everything ready for them to be brought home on Thursday. We are getting (hopefully) 5 Buff Orpingtons about 9 weeks old.
I want the best feed for lowest cost. I am interested in making it ourselves so there arent alot of fillers, but I am a little overwhelmed with some of the website recipes!! I dont want to buy 50lb bags of every different ingredient...Ill have feed for a year! Plus I dont know what my 9 week old girls will need, are they ready for "grown up food"?
Is homemade really any better? They will be freeranging around the yard during the day and then in the coop at night so is there a special blend I should have for part-time free rangers?

ANY advice would be fantastic!

ALSO: I live in Wichita KS so anyone have any advice on WHERE to buy what I need.

 

[pbuckler]

I too am brand new to chickens. I found this recipe at Greener Pastures Farm. They also have a recipe for chick starter.

I found all of the ingredients at my local health food store in bulk. That allows me to purchase ingredients in any amount. I too will be free ranging my chickens so I didn't want to buy 50# bags of feed either. I was able to put this recipe together using all organic ingredients totalling $10 and I have over 20lbs of feed. I know it is a bit expensive for feed but that's why we are raising our own chickens, so we can control what we are eating. I wouldn't feed my chickens anything I wouldn't eat!

 

[mendogurl]

Quote:
I am debating wether or not to make my own food. I currently buy organic layer feed from My Pet Chicken, so far they seem to have the best prices. Shipping 50 lb. bags is expensive.
I am trying to do a cost comparison between making my own and buying it.
Anyone willing to share their home made feed costs?

 

[ABHanna4d]

Is there any ingredient in particular that I need to be careful they dont get too MUCH or too LITTLE?
Protein, etc?

from the Greener Pastures farm recipe:
"free choice of granite grit, free choice of oyster shell"
What does "free choice" mean?

 

[daydreamfarm]

Due to my families health concerns I do not feed my chickens corn or soy. I believe that corn was not meant to be the main ingredient for animal feed but manufactures use it because it is cheap. I make my own feed and use a variety of grains and seeds...whole oat groats, millet, quinoa, rye berries, wheat berries, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds.

If you check out this next link it shows the protein content of various ingredients and if you look at corn it shows that it is devoid of most nutrients that the chickens need. Also look at the "About Nutrition" link at the left and it will have the nutrient content of various grains and seeds. See where corn is on that list!!!

http://www.lionsgrip.com/protein.html

Good luck!

 

[Hoosiermomma]

Quote:
Free choice means that it is readily available to them. You set out a container of both like you would for their feed.