How to keep feed costs low?

[cajunlizz]

well , when my chickens were in cages they wasted ALOT of feed .


Now that they are ALL in their run /coop ( completed closed in area 12 x32 , NO MORE waste .

I supply their feed and water in the early morning hours( 6:00 - 7:00 AM ) and around 4:00 I replenish the feed and water . Thats when I give Snacks of greens . cooked rice , bread .

They eat all they want during the day . I DO NOT put food inside of coop at night .

They enter the coop during the day ONLY to lay and they return back outside into the run area . SO MUCH less waste since they are inside their run.

 

[greyhorsewoman]

Mahonri,

I too asked why not potato peels back in another thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=68310

I've been feeding them to my chickens for as long as I can remember (my mother did it when I was a little girl), with no ill effects.

 

[jmc]

Thanks for replies folks!

Forgot to put down kitchen scraps as a cost reducer.

G. Damerow in Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens says 'No' to potato peels unless cooked. I would consider her an authority as she has also authored an entire book on Chicken Health, called--duh--the Chicken Health Handbook. Her guide is considered by some to be the single best book--more than complete!--on raising chickens in all its aspects.

Yet, if you can feed your birds raw pot. peels and they're fine, how does one gainsay that?!

Comments on this thought? No spoiled scraps, ever and no more scraps or loose greens than they can eat in 15 minutes, I've heard (and read) raisers saying.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

Ours think we really done something when they get the tomato tops or the canatlope insides with seeds. Or cucumber peelings not to mention bell pepper seeds. They come running when they see those veggie leftovers in our hands. I think their favorite is when a zucchinni gets to big I cut in up for them and they fight over it like someone found a bug.....We feed ours and then let them run for the day except the roosters so they won't interbreed types. Then we have rooster day for those who can play nice. Our little chicks are still in pens for their safety and I give them veggie leftovers too.... I think the combination of the two help keep down the cost of purchased grains/feed

 

[dixygirl]

I noticed today that mine love eating leaves off of fallen branches. Today they have been playing all day with some leaves. Actually eating them. They have their feed but they are preferring the natural green stuff.

So I think since I am in the woods, I will take them some leafy branches each morning and figure out which trees they prefer. Yesterday i took them grass clippings and they had a banquet. They are leaving more and more of their feed untouched and eating these things instead.

 

[AllChookUp]

Great thread - Good input, all!

 

[IrishWench]

I've noticed That some people have said no potato peels.

Years ago when I had my R.I. Reds, I gave them potato peels all the time and they loved them. It was one of their favorites. To this day (10 years later) I have not been able to peel a potato without thinking of them. They were healthy and productive to the age of 2 when a neighbor's dog slaughtered them. (1 of the worst days of my life)

I never gave meat, fish, fast food, overly processed or spicy, but just about everything else. The potatoes were never old, no green skins, no eyes, no roots. The peels were Idaho and Russet and I believe I would also give them ends of sweet pototo and yams.

I have not given any to my new girls yet. Can someone please explain the peel issue? Thanks

I did some googling and offer these links for consideration -

http://www.deliciousorganics.com/Controversies/nightshade.htm

I also found indication that there can be a significant problem if potatoes have been treated with sprout inhibitors (for us and our livestock)

 

[cajunlizz]

Is it ok for chickens to eat leaves that fall from Pecan trees ?

 

[DrakeMaiden]

The link above about potatoes didn't work for me. Here is another that explains the concerns with potato peels. The skins seem to accumulate chemical residues, some of which is produced by the potato plant itself.

 

[IrishWench]

Hmmmm... Maybe if you just type in the www.deliciousorganics.com

I actually found this link when I googled "Nightshade Family" it was 1 of the first on the response list. It talks about many fruits and vegetables.


The link you posted is a good one also. That is where I learned about the sprout inhibitors. So, I gather if the potatoes are organic, then that particular problem is eliminated.