I know its been asked a million times but...

[dirt4life]

So feed is getting out of control around here and with the major drought our garden we planned on using to feed our chickens dried up literally.
So the question I have is what can I feed my chickens besides feed that will help off set the cost? Two bags a week for my chickens, Two/ three for my ducks and turkeys its getting nuts!

Plus if you happen to have suggestions for ducks and turkeys too that be awesome

 

[mnferalkitty]

are you buying 50lb bags? how many chickens and ducks do you have? I try to free range, started a mealworm bin, ask friends neighbors to save kitchen scraps, I give mine some scratch and alfalfa pellets(these are still cheap around here). pull weeds throw in the runs, rake up lawn mower clippings. I have about 50 chickens 12 ducks and go through one 50lb bag every 2 weeks and that is free fed they have access to it 24/7

 

[dirt4life]

Yeah the 50lbs at a time. Chickens we have probably about 25 or so now (a neighbor decided to give us his also so i am not 100%) Our runner ducks have their own cage and we have 8 of them. The rouens, Pekins, Muscovy's, anaconas, combined we have about 20.
They are free ranged most of the time just seems if we have a food dish out they chow down like they havent ate in years :-( hate to have them starving especially since our ground is like rock solid no bugs really are coming out and no grass is growing.. as in i have mowed once this year..

 

[mnferalkitty]

maybe its my feed that makes them not gorge on it, it is a mash/powder form of feed.

 

[dirt4life]

No, its the crumble kind. I think its called meatbird? for the ducks at least. Its layer feed for the chickens.

 

[mnferalkitty]

maybe its my feed that makes them not gorge on it, it is a mash/powder form of feed.

This is what I feed and maybe because its not crumbles like you feed is the reason they don't eat as much of it.

 

[dirt4life]

They eat it like crazy! That's why I need to find more ways to feed them

 

[mnferalkitty]

so maybe you could try the mash/powdered feed instead of the crumbles

mine eat less if its not crumbles but still get the nutrients etc and are not skinny or starving

 

[dirt4life]

I have tried it with our older ones they didn't seem to thrilled stubborn things lol

 

[Den in Penn]

By my calculations you should be using a bag every 6 to 8 days per 50 lbs. bag. Chickens eat between .25 to .33 pounds a day each.

25 chickens x .25lbs =6.25lbs per day, 50lb. bag divided by 6.25 lbs a day =8 days. .33 works out to 6.25 days.

Free ranging should lengthen the time per bag. Some where your losing a bag a week. Look at what other animals have possible access to the feed. Also how you feed.

You can talk to the local places that sell produce and find out what they do with the bad stuff.