I've been doing a lot of research on feeding my chickens as cheaply as possible. Feeding fermented or soaked food has come up a lot. I've started doing that and it has been saving on food some, but I'm not sure if it is to the full potential. I've heard that I should be able to save 50% on their feed. Here's the thing:
I've also been substituting around 1/4 (probably a bit under) of regular layer crumble with deer corn. It's cheaper, and I have been watching their health and egg production to be as careful with this as possible. (I'll be shooting myself in the foot if they stop laying because of the carbs.
) Since I'm feeding a total of 22 chickens, according to the statistics I've seen, I should be feeding 5 1/2 lbs of dry food daily (based on 1/4 lbs per bird) or 2 3/4 lbs soaked/fermented feed. I've actually been feeding them a total of 3 lbs fermented feed and around 1 lbs deer corn. They have been eating all of it in a day. Is it safe to cut back on their feed?
My biggest concern is that the reason they're eating so much is because, even though I feed it daily, they see corn as a treat. They finish their regular feed and then still eat all that corn. For all I know, they are just eating the corn because they're little piggies, not because they actually need it.
To sum up, my main question is: Even though my chickens are eating all of the food I give them, is it safe to feed them less based on what I've seen you should feed fermented/soaked feed to them?
I've also been substituting around 1/4 (probably a bit under) of regular layer crumble with deer corn. It's cheaper, and I have been watching their health and egg production to be as careful with this as possible. (I'll be shooting myself in the foot if they stop laying because of the carbs.
) Since I'm feeding a total of 22 chickens, according to the statistics I've seen, I should be feeding 5 1/2 lbs of dry food daily (based on 1/4 lbs per bird) or 2 3/4 lbs soaked/fermented feed. I've actually been feeding them a total of 3 lbs fermented feed and around 1 lbs deer corn. They have been eating all of it in a day. Is it safe to cut back on their feed?My biggest concern is that the reason they're eating so much is because, even though I feed it daily, they see corn as a treat. They finish their regular feed and then still eat all that corn. For all I know, they are just eating the corn because they're little piggies, not because they actually need it.
To sum up, my main question is: Even though my chickens are eating all of the food I give them, is it safe to feed them less based on what I've seen you should feed fermented/soaked feed to them?
