If feed stores closed and you can’t free range...

[Deb ekholm]

For starters, any eggs laid would probably have to go right back to the flock. We have a very short growing season, even with my cold frames, so that would really only help part of the year, I do like to grow mixed greens in there and I like to just pick leaves off to use so that the main plant keeps growing and producing as long as possible before I harvest the entire head of romaine/lettuce/etc. Our forage isn't great due to the short growing season, but we do have a good variety of wild grasses including quite a bit of wild wheat. I would tap into this naturally abundant plant. The idea of wire frames is appealing and it must be able to go to seed at some point to self sustain. Another random thought, if times were really hard, would be live traps for rodents that could then be fed to the flock. More fortification against wild birds to limit food theft would be important as well. I'm curious to hear the ideas of others. Natural vermiculture techniques is something I'd like to explore to encourage earthworms to grow and gather where the girls could find them.

My chickens eat everything, bugs scraps and their own eggs are excellent when their molting. Remember feathers are 80 percent protein. Us chicken owners wont starve. I like the fluffy ones

 

[jo_crouch]

I do not want to start a panic, rather a conversation. No I haven’t heard rumors of feed shortages. Yes we all are aware of the virus situation in the United States and everywhere in the world.
Just for the sake of conversation If someone needs to decide to stop buying feed and could not free range what would be your go to way of feeding your flock?
Yes we all know free range is the ideal. This discussion is about a situation where that is not an option, neither is purchasing grains. Let’s just include the thought that this is not a farm with fields to grow tons of grain but perhaps a “backyard garden” could include a bit dedicated to chickens. Let’s discuss this in terms of various seasonal and environmental conditions. Let’s also include that you are not open to the idea that you should stop raising chickens because you can’t afford them. This isn’t about affordability. It’s just a discussion.
What would you feed your flock? What would you grow for them? What would you do in winter?
If this discussion becomes problematic I request moderators to remove it. Let’s just enjoy exchanging ideas.
I’ve had some thoughts. I have a small framed chicken garden in their run so they can eat greens through a wire barrier without destroying roots. Perhaps I could expand that idea with frames of various heights to allow more mature growth an possible fruiting. Maybe grow a protected amaranth plant to allow the grain to fall for the chickens to eat.
I have other thoughts to share but let’s start there.
Your turn.

I would be affected by a grain shortage. I buy from a co-op that buys from a farm and hopefully that might negate an issue. Because its picked up every 6 weeks I buy ahead so I always have some in reserve. Free range is limited to when I'm outside, too many birds of prey. I do give them clippings from the yard and this year I'm raising a patch of curly kale and extra spinach which they love. I've seen packages of "chicken forage " and maybe I'll look that up and plant a strip at the edge of the yard. If forced I would make a moveable pen to move around the yard. Love your discussion parameters by the way!

 

[Magpie1]

I do not want to start a panic, rather a conversation. No I haven’t heard rumors of feed shortages. Yes we all are aware of the virus situation in the United States and everywhere in the world.
Just for the sake of conversation If someone needs to decide to stop buying feed and could not free range what would be your go to way of feeding your flock?
Yes we all know free range is the ideal. This discussion is about a situation where that is not an option, neither is purchasing grains. Let’s just include the thought that this is not a farm with fields to grow tons of grain but perhaps a “backyard garden” could include a bit dedicated to chickens. Let’s discuss this in terms of various seasonal and environmental conditions. Let’s also include that you are not open to the idea that you should stop raising chickens because you can’t afford them. This isn’t about affordability. It’s just a discussion.
What would you feed your flock? What would you grow for them? What would you do in winter?
If this discussion becomes problematic I request moderators to remove it. Let’s just enjoy exchanging ideas.
I’ve had some thoughts. I have a small framed chicken garden in their run so they can eat greens through a wire barrier without destroying roots. Perhaps I could expand that idea with frames of various heights to allow more mature growth an possible fruiting. Maybe grow a protected amaranth plant to allow the grain to fall for the chickens to eat.
I have other thoughts to share but let’s start there.
Your turn.

What an interesting idea. I love the idea of the caged veggies and seeds but chickens do love to scratch where they eat. This topic has also been a concern to me since my chickens don't seem to do well on total free range. That may be because they are used to being fed and also going out during the day in a large orchard. Lately I've been moving manure to a garden site, turning the flock loose (while keeping watch for an eagle who likes chicken dinner) and letting them go to town on the rotted manure. I realize this doesn't work for everyone. However, if you have other livestock, it's a great way to supplement chicken feed, cut down on bugs and break down the compost. If you don't have other livestock, many farms offer varying amounts of compost for free.

 

[Cluckingitup]

Not my idea but I read in another BYC conversation that a farming family would hang a dead rat/mouse inside the chicken coop (in a wire cradle) during summer months. Flies would lay eggs and when hatched the maggots would drop onto the floor for chickens to eat. I have never tried this but there is always something dead around on the roads.

 

[Justso]

Being the other way up on the planet we folks in New Zealand are heading into winter whilst starting our coronavirus experience. We have fewer than 100 cases in our 4 million population.

We know from seeing what other countries have lived thriugh that it will probably get a lot worse very fast.

My chemo every 3 weeks since August 2014 has kept me alive. Aaargh

Stay strong!

 

[Thomas70]

I do not want to start a panic, rather a conversation. No I haven’t heard rumors of feed shortages. Yes we all are aware of the virus situation in the United States and everywhere in the world.
Just for the sake of conversation If someone needs to decide to stop buying feed and could not free range what would be your go to way of feeding your flock?
Yes we all know free range is the ideal. This discussion is about a situation where that is not an option, neither is purchasing grains. Let’s just include the thought that this is not a farm with fields to grow tons of grain but perhaps a “backyard garden” could include a bit dedicated to chickens. Let’s discuss this in terms of various seasonal and environmental conditions. Let’s also include that you are not open to the idea that you should stop raising chickens because you can’t afford them. This isn’t about affordability. It’s just a discussion.
What would you feed your flock? What would you grow for them? What would you do in winter?
If this discussion becomes problematic I request moderators to remove it. Let’s just enjoy exchanging ideas.
I’ve had some thoughts. I have a small framed chicken garden in their run so they can eat greens through a wire barrier without destroying roots. Perhaps I could expand that idea with frames of various heights to allow more mature growth an possible fruiting. Maybe grow a protected amaranth plant to allow the grain to fall for the chickens to eat.
I have other thoughts to share but let’s start there.
Your turn.

You can feed them wild bird food or dry cat food which is mostly grain.

 

[cmom]

I just bought a truckload of feed. All of the feed and pet stores in my area are open. I really don't think there is going to be much of a problem. The grocery stores are open and stores like Walmart that have most everything. Most of the items that I have found that are out of stock are people stuff. The feed store I now get my feed from, shares a warehouse with some other places, so the feed is delivered to the warehouse and they make weekly trips to the warehouse to get their feed. I currently have a couple of hundred birds and eggs in the incubator.

 

[Momto6kiddos]

I've actually run into this issue in a similar form. I own quail, not chicken. I have a problem where I can't find high protein feed locally. I managed to get Layer crumble but it's only 16% protein. I tried posting on another site asking about how to supplement but didn't get much help. I've been feeding them (there's 15) 2 boiled chicken eggs a day. I'm looking into trying to get my hands on roaches or mealworms for them but a lot of places (pet stores and such) are sold out of insects. I'm working on getting the supplies to build a larger ground pen for them; Currently, they are in a raised pen. I'm hoping if I can get them on the ground they can naturally forage for insects. If anyone has any other ideas, that would be great. For now, I'm just trying to supplement however I can.

 

[sqatkins]

Interesting. I have five hens which are allowed to range through about a quarter to a third of an acre, but here in Montana, the ground is barely thawed yet. I have tried giving my girls table scraps of vegetables, but they don't seem to eat it. I've tried chopped cabbage, chopped lettuce, carrot peelings, apple cores, cooked oatmeal, other vegetable scraps... but it just sits there and rots. Suggestions? I'd love to supplement their meals with other things, but haven't hit on anything that interests them.

 

[Acre4Me]

I've actually run into this issue in a similar form. I own quail, not chicken. I have a problem where I can't find high protein feed locally. I managed to get Layer crumble but it's only 16% protein. I tried posting on another site asking about how to supplement but didn't get much help. I've been feeding them (there's 15) 2 boiled chicken eggs a day. I'm looking into trying to get my hands on roaches or mealworms for them but a lot of places (pet stores and such) are sold out of insects. I'm working on getting the supplies to build a larger ground pen for them; Currently, they are in a raised pen. I'm hoping if I can get them on the ground they can naturally forage for insects. If anyone has any other ideas, that would be great. For now, I'm just trying to supplement however I can.

canned meat, fish food flakes, and dry cat food are options to boost protein. just use as supplement bc salt content can get a bit high in mentioned items. You’ll have to grind up or wet the cat food bc too big for quail to eat.