How to make a homemade feeder? And, is whole corn good to feed?

[West Bend]

If you’re concerned about the money in feeding chickens, have you heard of fermenting feed? You should do some research on it. Basically, the food doubles in volume. For example, if you put 2 cups of food in a jar, fill said jar with water about 1-3 inches above the food, put a towel over the jar so it gets air, and it will ferment in about 3 days, give or take a few depending on the temp. Those 2 cups will expand to almost 4 cups, cutting your feed bill almost in half. It has all sorts of probiotics and helps them lay more. I would agree with others, either ditch the corn or only throw out a small bit every few days. The fermenting feed has more benefits, you should put it in the search bar or look for an article about it.

I ferment grains for our Girls, strain it & toss it out there for their scratch treat. Then I use the water from the fermented grains to moisten the pellets into a mash (better than plain H2O). I sift the pellets for the powder & use that so it's not wasted. This has worked for me, I have been replenishing the same jars for several months now- no mold & still smells sweet (kinda like raisin bran). I give a bit more grains in the evenings w/ chopped up grapes on really cold days (my thought is it helps to keep them warm & hydrated a bit longer at bedtime). I have a container of grit and 1 of oyster & egg shells mixed. Washed construction sand on their poop boards. So that's my 2 cents- or was that more like a nickel? Dime? Quarter?

 

[BDutch]

@21hens-incharge I agree with you're advice for laying chickens in a run or pen. Best feed is layer feed and give scratch or corn as a treat.

Free ranging chickens don't need layer feed if there is a lot of variety to scratch for greens and bugs. The scratch (+ grit and oyster shells) is good feed to fill up there bellies at the end of the day. And for a mixed flock you have to be carefull with layer feed because of the amount of calcium which can be too high for roosters and old hens.

My chickens free range a few hours a day (most days) and I give them about ⅔ layer feed with just 2% calcium. And 1/4 scratch. + grit and oyster/egg shells + some left overs. They not good layers, but happy and healthy chickens.

 

[21hens-incharge]

@21hens-incharge I agree with you're advice for laying chickens in a run or pen. Best feed is layer feed and give scratch or corn as a treat.

Free ranging chickens don't need layer feed if there is a lot of variety to scratch for greens and bugs. The scratch (+ grit and oyster shells) is good feed to fill up there bellies at the end of the day. And for a mixed flock you have to be carefull with layer feed because of the amount of calcium which can be too high for roosters and old hens.

My chickens free range a few hours a day (most days) and I give them about ⅔ layer feed with just 2% calcium. And 1/4 scratch. + grit and oyster/egg shells + some left overs. They not good layers, but happy and healthy chickens.

While I agree getting to forage is great for birds......most backyard chicken flocks are....well....in backyards.
Typical backyards offer very little diversity or buggies.
Right now mine is a winter wasteland. No garden growing, no buggies, and only a tiny bit of regular grass.

In my opinion it is never a good idea to restrict feed to laying hens. Restrict treats yes but feed no.

If my birds had to rely on what this patch of ground has to offer even in the height of the growing season they would not be getting good nutrition.

We always need to remember that what each of us can offer for forage will vary greatly. Most of us do not have adequate forage to provide a complete diet. Even if we did it becomes quickly depleted

 

[twendt]

I only give whole corn during very cold weather here in WI. I give a couple handfuls of baby mixed salad greens and mealworms in the morning when nothing is growing here for months.

 

[Manhen]

most backyard chicken flocks are....well....in backyards

Some statements just BEG to be made don't they?

Right now mine is a winter wasteland. No garden growing, no buggies, and only a tiny bit of regular grass.

Our run is a half acre pen. There is draining across it with a mud hole (now) at one side about 1/3 down. They love it. Rain, snow, etc. I put straw down, 6 bales so far, so there is a dry area and the chooks all are standing in the water. Go figure. I think its bugs.

 

[BDutch]

What's in a name?

Some statements just BEG to be made don't they?
Our run is a half acre pen. There is draining across it with a mud hole (now) at one side about 1/3 down. They love it. Rain, snow, etc. I put straw down, 6 bales so far, so there is a dry area and the chooks all are standing in the water. Go figure. I think its bugs.

A backyard can be small and filled with crap for chickens like plants from a shop full of herbicides and pesticides a lot of bricks and even a plastic lawn or asphalted. (1)

And there are backyards that look like an orchard, a mixed forest or rich waste land e.g. with wild grasses, herbs, flowers and plenty of life in it. (2)

The first type is unhealthy for chickens and should be avoided IMO. The second one is perfect for chickens if added shelter, a sand hole etc...
I think the chickens love you're backyard @Manhen..

 

[Wetmorechick]

I made one similar to one pictured.
I used a smaller square bucket from menards with a lid. I only have 2 chickens. It works great, holds lots of food and water can't get in.
View attachment 2000958 View attachment 2000958

This is what my girls eat from! NO waste and keep food dry!!!! Cheap to make!

 

[Manhen]

While I agree getting to forage is great for birds......most backyard chicken flocks are....well....in backyards.
Typical backyards offer very little diversity or buggies.
Right now mine is a winter wasteland. No garden growing, no buggies, and only a tiny bit of regular grass.

In my opinion it is never a good idea to restrict feed to laying hens. Restrict treats yes but feed no.

If my birds had to rely on what this patch of ground has to offer even in the height of the growing season they would not be getting good nutrition.

We always need to remember that what each of us can offer for forage will vary greatly. Most of us do not have adequate forage to provide a complete diet. Even if we did it becomes quickly depleted
[/QUOT

a sand hole etc...
I think the chickens love you're backyard @Manhen..

Sand, good idea for my mud hole. It reminds me of what Andersonville was like. I worry about tapeworms. Got some DTE for the food mix.
I think they do like the run, none have even tried to go over. Most of the time the roosters keep the hens from going through a door or gate I leave open, for a while anyway.

We have an injured one. Small bird, black with beard and muffs, maybe tuffs, maybe no tuffs. Orange or tan legs. no comb to speak of, but she is 6-8 months old. I may have trod upon her several weeks ago, she won't put weight on one leg. I have her in a small cage mounted on the roosts now.

 

[Manhen]

Scratch is just that SCRATCH it is used here as a way to keep penned birds active by spreading it over a wide space. It encourages ... well ... scratching.

LOL....some things just BEG to be said!

 

[21hens-incharge]

LOL....some things just BEG to be said!

Straight up I have seen WAY to many times people thinking it is a good thing as the only feed....same with corn.

A couple years ago I was picking up feed...there was a sale on scratch....I had to ask the person loading 6 bags onto a push cart how many birds they had to need so much scratch. They had 6. Yes just 6 birds and no clue that scratch is a treat or that feed loses nutrients if it sits around for months on end.
I gently informed them it is a treat like candy and encouraged them to read the manufacturer recommended information on the bags. No idea if they listened.