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

[SkyBlue49]

You can soak dry dog kibble in a bucket of water, when it's soaked soggy, dump for the chickens. It's a cheap and easy emergency feed. Available everywhere

Never thought of dog food. Will look into it.

 

[centrarchid]

Late to the conversation - Agriculture and Farm/Livestock Supply Stores are considered essential by the federal government. Those stores will fight to stay open and are pushed to stay stocked. They may reduce hours, but the supply chain is strong and not in danger.

That clarification came relatively recently. For a while it was not clear that agriculture of the retail sort was included.

 

[WindingRoad]

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.

Right now I have 4 bags of feed for my 13 babies I need to get some scratch, I have 2 TSC stores same distance away, I plan to go tomorrow and get scratch and probably 2 bags of feed. But I'm like that with my own food. I rotate food and keep track of expiration. Even when I only had two birds I was alway ahead by 1-2 bags,, In a feed shortage I'd stop buying bedding etc. I have 2 , 11 lb bags dried mealworms. I might start growing them.

 

[sbs75]

I haven’t read every single post but I haven’t seen any one say anything about crickets. My chickens LOVE crickets and they are super easy to raise. If I could buy some first I would Do that. If not I would catch about 10 crickets and turn them into chIcken main source of protein and add in weeds and grass and food scraps and anything I can grow in the garden.

 

[Pghelp]

In California, farmers markets are now designated essential businesses. Our organic farmers are used to us showing up behind their stall to beg for clippings and scraps. Most people don't want outside leaves, beet or fennel tops, bruised tomatoes or fruits, etc. so our chickens eat mighty fine. If you don't have a farmers market, is there a restaurant you love? Contact them to pick up their scraps. No contact needed, just arrange a day/time and they can leave them outside for you!

 

[myfivegirls]

I vote for “compost-fed” chickens as I’ve not had to purchase layer feed for spring through early winter. I only had to supplement feed in the winter to kick them back into egg laying after finishing molting. But I also had a food waste collection/ composting business that brought in 5-10 barrels (~45-50 gallons each) a week. And the chickens couldn’t eat it all! But unfortunately, neighbors started complaining and involved code enforcement, so had to stop because of crazy red tape, requiring a special use permit! But if done on a smaller scale with a smaller flock, it’s definitely doable if you can get a consistent supply of food waste.

 

[WindingRoad]

That clarification came relatively recently. For a while it was not clear that agriculture of the retail sort was included.

Many of the store closures are due to distancing and keeping employees safe. Both the TSC around me are encouraging me to shop on line and pick up in store. All I do is open my deck lid and they load it in. Not human to human contact. Some of our grocery stores are actually hiring. I believe Medical facilities won't be able to close. All others could.

 

[ecwdavis]

Can you turn your coop into a chicken tractor - move them about your available space?

I only have 3 chickens, and cannot free range as we do not have vegetation cover against hawks, so our small coop has a metal frame base with wheels attached to one end, a handle on the other end. I move them once a week...

If there was a lack of feed, I would move them every day, and sow more vittles for them on the path of the chicken tractor, afore and aft.

 

[anno1]

I had been stocking up on chicken feed over the last couple of months, buying a bag or two at a time--I get the organic feed and they don't carry much. Thank goodness I've stocked up, since I went early last week, and they had none of what I buy. Who knows when I can get more.
I have been buying lentils, black oil sunflower seeds, etc, and sprouting them all winter. The chickies love the sprouts, a little bit of green when there isn't much, and sprouting increases the amount of food and nutrition they get from the seeds. I have saved some of the lentils and will plant them this spring. I've planted lentils from the store before, although I planted later in the season and they didn't give me any lentils before frost. But I intend to try again this year. Lentils have decent protein, so good option for the hens. If nothing else, they can eat the plants. I'm watching to see if there are any lentils at the grocery. They've been out of stock, but I'll buy as I can to keep for this winter.
I created my garden at this house last year (been here 2 years), with chicken coop in center. Raised beds on one side, fenced permaculture garden on the other side. I've planted a number of trees, (espaliered apples, plums, pears along fence) and a peach, dwarf cherry, cherry bushes, and almond and hazelnuts in center. I'm keeping them all small, so they don't overwhelm the space. Once it gets established, I plan to let the chickens run in there a bit, to get an opportunity to free range. I have a number of things in there--strawberries, herbs, planting Swiss Chard, etc etc., anything in there will be free game for them, although I'll limit their time so they don't destroy it totally.
I also have Siberian pea shrub, which is for chicken food, but can also be ground for flour. Relatively high protein level and nitrogen fixer. Chickens are supposed to love them. I am not sure how many years it will take for them to produce.
I'm growing peanuts so that I can feed a few to the chickens. Again, good protein.
I get an incredible amount of sweet potatoes out of a 4x8' bed. I've gotten as much as 100# from that space. If necessary I can feed some of those to the chickens. I live in PA, but can grow a short season peanut and sweet potato.
And sunflowers. Planting a fair number of those this spring.
I also save scraps and peels etc for the chickens. I like the idea of putting the composting stuff in the run. Maybe I'll build a small compost containment area to toss that stuff in within the run.
Also, squash. Hoping to grow sugar pie pumpkins on the fence of the run. Pumpkins and squash generally store well. Spaghetti squash, butternut, acorn, etc. can be fed to the chickens, at least the seeds if you're eating the squash itself.
Zucchini. Slice a zucchini into a couple of pieces and feed them, esp. the ones that got away from you.
Cantaloupe, watermelon, esp any of those that split or get overripe, etc.
I also save the egg shells, bake them for a few minutes, smash them, and feed them back in the chicken feed. Extends the oyster shell.

 

[Kikiriki]

Everyone has kitchen scraps...talk to neighbors about saving them in a carton in the fridge for you. You provide the clean carton, and sort what goes either compost or right to the chickens.
If you have extra eggs, thank your neighbors by sharing.
And compost attracts worms, grubs, and maggots if the pile is on the dirt. It is an opportunity for free protein for the chickens. If you don’t have access to soil, go dig worms yourself...look for little piles of castings In the leaves. You can make a worm trap by putting a small bit of old veggies or fruit...go back each day and collect the worms.
Save your eggshells, boil or bake, and grind them for returning to the hens with their food.
And you can supplement with bird seed, or bags of grain. Whole grains and seed are nice because they eventually sprout if not eaten, and the sprouts are food.