HOW TO FEED YOUR CHICKENS if there is no scratch or pellets?

[U_Stormcrow]

@U_Stormcrow mentioned flax too...

From another thread (this is me typing):
Flax is good protein, high fiber, and massive fat. Its amino acid profile is one of the best in the seed family. Unfortunately, its fat content is TEN TIMES the recommended level for poultry. Its about as healthy in quantity as you taking a multivitamin in a stick of butter each day.

Now this is in reference to someone trying to build their own complete feed with store bought flax seed (and others). As a forage, the seeds are so dang tiny, and the chickens have to work hard at them (assuming you haven't simply planted a field of flax, but rather have it mixed amongst other greens), I'm actually positive on the stuff. Only in big quantity do I have concerns with its very high fat levels, just as I would with a field of sunflowers.

I have, in fact, planted flax (with lots of other plants) in my acres of weeds. And I'll be updating that today, soon as I detatch my cell phone from my computer.

Alfalfa, btw, is a tolerable substitute for soy in many ways - its one of the better legumes. Unfortunately, I've had no success with it on my property, and make due with various clovers.

 

[karenm52]

Another concept worth exploring is a Black Soldier Fly Larvae farm.

And if you can work with a local school or restaurant to get their food waste, this effectively becomes free feed! Other than the effort taken to go and get the food scraps.

Downside though is that I expect a lot of stink to happen with this.

thanks so much for posting this!!! great info.

 

[Brenda Jones]

I tried growing fodder this winter for my girls and sprouting seeds and all I got for the trouble were a bunch of fungus knats in my house. The grasses and seeds that I sprouted provided SOME food for the girls to supplement the normal rations, but it died off or got moldy too quickly. I do ferment my girls feed and keep it in a half gallon jar in the fridge and it has done really well for nearly 2 years... my girls won't eat anything dry

My girls prefer to eat the grasses in the yard, but during the winter when there is 5 feet of snow on the ground they don't have much choice but to eat what I can give them.
My girls are not fond of the black sunflower seeds either, so I have to find other things to grow for them... they have their own garden in their yard, so I plant things like chard, kale dandelion, wheat grass tomatoes, strawberries, and herbs, and The lawn is forage grass/chicken grasses... but nothing grows during the winter months (from September - end of June)

 

[Weeg]

I do ferment my girls feed and keep it in a half gallon jar in the fridge and it has done really well for nearly 2 years... my girls won't eat anything dry

Question, so what are you doing differently than me? When I fermented my feed during the winter, I had to use a 5 gallon bucket to feed my birds. Maybe I just have more birds than everyone else. I have 13 chickens, 10 ducks. Does that sound about right? I keep hearing 1 gallon bucket, and now 1/2 gallon jar and I'm wondering why I need such a big bucket.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Question, so what are you doing differently than me? When I fermented my feed during the winter, I had to use a 5 gallon bucket to feed my birds. Maybe I just have more birds than everyone else. I have 13 chickens, 10 ducks. Does that sound about right? I keep hearing 1 gallon bucket, and now 1/2 gallon jar and I'm wondering why I need such a big bucket.

I use a 5 gal bucket, and its just big enough for one day's feed. Of course, I have more birds than most. Flock (at its new, smaller size) in Sig, below.

 

[Weeg]

I use a 5 gal bucket, and its just big enough for one day's feed. Of course, I have more birds than most. Flock (at its new, smaller size) in Sig, below.

Same. For my flock I seem to feed a whole 5 gallon bucket a day, with a little in the bottom to help the rest ferment overnight.
Wasn't sure if this was normal or not. I guess it depends on the amount of birds.

 

[MeanCheek]

Would BOSS be good sprouted? And what kind of millet is best to plant?

 

[Jeri B]

I only have 6 chickens which probably makes things a bit easier than if I had a lot more. Mine love lawn clippings and soft hay (especially if it's been soaked in water) to a frankly strange degree. They have eaten a lot of that stuff; I haven't had any impacted crop issues. So, my feed apocalypse plan at the moment is hay/clippings, food scraps, and a mix of whatever seeds are available to bridge the gap. If I have to do that, I just hope I don't have to do it for too long because everything I've read on playing the protein/fat balance game in DIY feeds does not seem very easy, and it would only be harder when things are scarce.

Earlier this year I had so much trouble with old feed going bad that I don't feel comfortable storing bags for very long, so I'm mostly just going to have to take my chances with the availability. I can store one 50lb bag in an air-tight container and might get a second container so I can keep another 50lb in reserve at any given time. More than that and I worry something would go off. I have similar long-term storage worries for seed/grain regarding mold and/or pests even in a sealed container. I've had small things of pretty tightly sealed grains turn out to be half bug poop and also would have to worry about mice chewing through bags and/or plastic tubs.

There are places in the cleared part of my property that I need to re-seed very soon. I wonder if I can convince my husband to mix in other seeds and not just do grass so that that clippings would be more diverse for the chickens. I have never seen someone so upset at dandelions popping up through the grass though, so I might not win that one lol.

We have a diverse lawn including lots of dandelions. The previous owners had a turtle who “free ranged” the front yard. The chickens stay in their run in the side yard but I harvest dandelion greens for them daily. From the yard and from the side of my road and from the field nextdoor. They get some other weeds and a variety of grasses but love the dandelions best. The husband knows better than to even think about getting rid of the dandelions.

 

[2geesegal]

Cool! We don't have a ton of space ufortunetly, but I cold always create a garden bed within the coop if we needed more space. I could probably easily find locations to add other raised beds as well. Probably a good idea now that I'm thinking about it.
I want to plant as much as possible. Maybe grow corn, though I don't think that has a ton of nutritional value. Probably way more fresh than dried corn though.
What about soy beans? They are a pretty complete protein source. I try to avoid them in chicken feed due to commercial spraying, but it could probably be beneficial if it was grown from organic seeds.

I'm no expert, but feeding soy has been detrimental to the reproductive health of mammals for decades. IMO, we'd be better off replacing farmland with more corn and soil recovery crops.

 

[sandburRanch]

Alfalfa, btw, is a tolerable substitute for soy in many ways - its one of the better legumes. Unfortunately, I've had no success with it on my property, and make due with various clovers.

I'm puzzled concerning the unsuccessful problem with growing alfalfa . With all of the cattle in FL surely someone has been growing alfalfa . Maybe a soil sample to the state agricultural would be beneficial . You can check the amounts of different soil classification percentages using a quart jar and water . Take 3 or 4 samples in different locations and using these fill the jar about 60 % soil then add water to nearly full . Shake the jar vigorously for a minute then allow to set until the next day . The different soil classes will separate by density .