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

[centrarchid]

I can't help thinking that's it's threads like this that have erupted on the Internet that are causing the panic buying. So far more people die each day in car accidents.
Sure the virus is dangerous, particularly if you're elderly and have respiratory, or cardiac problems. It has actually killed a very very small percentage of those who contracted it.
I think here in Spain it's killed around 50 people out of the estimated 2300 infected.
Lets try and keep some sense of proportion and rationality. It's the hysteria that's doing most of the damage currently, not the virus.

Some of us have experience in these matters where similar challenges can be imposed by flood or drought. If you are hiding in the mountains keeping chickens where they already have sufficient forages, then you have limited reason to empathize. Others like OP suggested are operating under a very different set of limitations.

 

[crazyhen75]

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.

Meal scrapes. Bites of meat, anything you eat so can they.

 

[centrarchid]

I do not think it will be an actual feed shortage, rather an access over short-term where stores are potentially closed by law and in the long-term where supply chain does not keep up with demand as distributors reduce shipments of just about everything except essentials. Essentials are in the form of human food, medical supplies and fuel.

Vendors I deal with that carry mostly non-feed items do not typically have deliveries made solely of feed. Feed stores will be different, but most backyard poultry keepers do not get their feed through those outlets. I am pretty sure the farmers cooperatives here will be open and supplied, but may not be able to meet demand by their regular customers plus those finding alternatives to current urban and suburban suppliers.

If the more urban suppliers stay open, then all should go well. Will they?

 

[AgnesGray]

I do not think it will be an actual feed shortage, rather an access over short-term where stores are potentially closed by law and in the long-term where supply chain does not keep up with demand as distributors reduce shipments of just about everything except essentials. Essentials are in the form of human food, medical supplies and fuel.

Vendors I deal with that carry mostly non-feed items do not typically have deliveries made solely of feed. Feed stores will be different, but most backyard poultry keepers do not get their feed through those outlets. I am pretty sure the farmers cooperatives here will be open and supplied, but may not be able to meet demand by their regular customers plus those finding alternatives to current urban and suburban suppliers.

If the more urban suppliers stay open, then all should go well. Will they?

Even in Italy, the stores are open and my family there tells us there aren't the shortages we have other places as they are not panicking for the majority. Hopefully they will not close stores as that would just accentuate the panic.

 

[centrarchid]

Even in Italy, the stores are open and my family there tells us there aren't the shortages we have other places as they are not panicking for the majority. Hopefully they will not close stores as that would just accentuate the panic.

I am being specific about stores that are not directly related to human foods and pharmaceuticals. It is my understanding stores and business outside those two categories are closed in Italy. Same was also done in China. Animal feed distribution / suppliers may be different in those countries from much of the backyard supply chain in the USA.

 

[SnapdragonQ]

In the past, when I've just had far too many eggs, I've hard boiled them and mashed them into regular chicken layer feed. It was fed to my layers and I did not notice an appreciable drop in egg production at all. Though I wasn't trying to conserve feed, it did indeed do just that....by about a third. I suppose in tough times I could increase the eggs and lower the feed amounts until the feed was gone. Or the eggs...lol.
I already give my girls kitchen scraps in moderation, and garden leftovers, but some of the other ideas in this thread could come in handy. Thankfully my other farm animals survive fine on pasture and I don't have a dog or cat to buy food for.

As for the human needs, I've been gardening for 15 years and hate tossing good usable food. I learned early on that dehydrating extra veggies and fruits was easier than canning. I do can things but when one has about 60lbs of extra tomatoes because it was a good tomato year, things go faster when you can and dehydrate at the same time.
When I run across a jar of dried foods that have been on the shelf too long, I'll plump them back up with water and give them to the girls. Again...I hate to just toss things my animals can eat.

 

[Cryss]

I personally don't think animal feed stores will be running out of stock like supermarkets are. I mean there are more people than farm animals in most medium sized towns, and animals aren't affected by the virus (I have heard varying opinions on that) so I won't worry unless the situation gets way worse

Yeah, I agree. And I know that he virus is on everyone’s mind. But I just wonder what you would do IF. I don’t believe such a scenario is one we need to contemplate seriously, but during a quiet moment as my mind wandered I wondered what would happen in a zombie apocalypse with no chicken feed.
It’s nice to see s several BYC‘ers using their imaginations and having fun.

 

[Cryss]

Because they can't live off that indefinitely, and remain healthy. Chickens diets in the wild are mostly insect and seed, which I don't think is sustainable, in the situation you describe. If you can get oats, or other kinds of grain, to feed mealworms and such, why aren't you already feeding that to the chickens? If you can't get oats and other types of grain, then you're in a survival situation, and the chickens are not going to be a priority.


Acorns. We get them by the bucketload. Also, Jerusalem artichokes. Plant and watch 'em explode.

But I would think of that as a stopgap, and if circumstances were indefinite.... Yep. Geese.

Be realistic and use common sense.

Ration feed immediately. Most lacking free-range area will also not have enough greens / garden refuse to feed birds more than a token amount.

Cull quickly to get flock number down to further stretch feed. Adult chickens in good weight can go a week without feed if provided water and not overly crowded.

I just went out and purchased about 3 weeks worth of feed is used at normal rate. It can be stretched to almost twice that if I sacrifice egg production. I also have free-range option. If you do not have sufficient resources, then you may loose flock.

Aw c’mon guys. This was supposed to be fun. That’s why I started out saying I don’t want it to start a panic. Sure that’s what started me thinking about such things, but I started thinking up some cool things and thought I’d share the fun!

 

[Cryss]

I can't help thinking that's it's threads like this that have erupted on the Internet that are causing the panic buying. So far more people die each day in car accidents.
Sure the virus is dangerous, particularly if you're elderly and have respiratory, or cardiac problems. It has actually killed a very very small percentage of those who contracted it.
I think here in Spain it's killed around 50 people out of the estimated 2300 infected.
Lets try and keep some sense of proportion and rationality. It's the hysteria that's doing most of the damage currently, not the virus.

Fun. This isn’t about who’s gonna die of the current plague. Its just a discussion. It’s just for fun. If there was no c-virus happening BUT somehow there was no grain available AND you aren’t willing to thin the flock AND it’s a tiny flock anyway AND you live in an inner city apartment with your flock on the roof so you can’t free range, how would you handle feeding them? Let your imagination run wild.
How about making the run on top of a raised garden. Grow veggies protected with wire,let them nibble whatever peeks through the wire, grow grass and other wild lawn vegetation under wire in some spots but leave some spots bare for scratching in. Other spots could be compost. Then rotate those areas.

 

[centrarchid]

Fun. This isn’t about who’s gonna die of the current plague. Its just a discussion. It’s just for fun. If there was no c-virus happening BUT somehow there was no grain available AND you aren’t willing to thin the flock AND it’s a tiny flock anyway AND you live in an inner city apartment with your flock on the roof so you can’t free range, how would you handle feeding them? Let your imagination run wild.
How about making the run on top of a raised garden. Grow veggies protected with wire,let them nibble whatever peeks through the wire, grow grass and other wild lawn vegetation under wire in some spots but leave some spots bare for scratching in. Other spots could be compost. Then rotate those areas.

How many square feet of raised per bird? The panic for me is not having a clue about plant productivity and how much is required to support even one bird. You scare me.