money's tight... out of feed

[suburbanminifarm]

I don't have enough forage on my postage stamp land to not feed. I have been giving mine a bowl of the soaked dog kibble every morning, and YES they do prefer it to boring old chicken food! Protein and grains, what could be better?

To the OP, your chickens will be fine, I am more worried about YOU! Will YOU be okay for a month without going to the grocery store?

 

[Ravishaw]

no these suckers are fully feathered, roosting pullets. They have changed from social creatures to all being skittish and huddle in the corner whenever I get near. I wish they'd just let me pick them up and rub their combs/waddles and pet their tummies.

as for food, I had hens a few years back and only threw a handful or two of seeds to them every morning outside their coop.

 

[scbatz33]

Quote:
Don't worry about that, they go through stages. They'll come back around. Good luck. I know how it is when you don't have two pennies to rub together.

 

[justbugged]

You could try posting on craigslist. I know that last winter we had a guy that was asking on craigslist for chicken feed, do to the slow economy. The Washington State thread group came together and bought him bags of feed. We just called up the nearest feed store to his location, and bought the feed and left it on will call for him. It was a little disappointing that he didn't pop in to the forum and thank the group or at least tell us how things were going, but then Oh well! We know that a good deed was done.

If you let us know where your best feed store is located and their phone number, maybe the group here can help the same way. Our biggest problem was to not bury him in chicken feed.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Free range and scraps they will be fine ...

 

[Ravishaw]

well we wanted to have eggs so we got hens...
we store quite a bit of food, under beds and in closets.

had hoped to get a rooster soon to 'grow up' the last little bit as the hens started laying; that will have to wait too.

It just stinks because the hens wait for me by the door every morning and when I come in to feed or anything they're all so excited and chirping. I don't want to miss that because the kids are starting to do it with me and they enjoy the morning ritual. I showed them how to do their waterer (though it's too heavy for them still), and where the food is... this morning i ground up egg shells, squash, some leftover lazagna from the night before, and some broccoli stems for them to eat. They dug right in!

 

[roosterdog]

I pick up veg. and fruit from behind the grocery store for addition food. My Grocer tells me about what time it will be out so, I go ASAP to get it. Not much but it helps.

 

[roosterdog]

Quote:
other places you could check with are hosptital Nurnsg home, cafes, Sr. Citizn Meal on Wheels and heck neighbors????just a thought.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Many restaurants and grocery stores will give you throwaway vegetable and fruit. We have a day old bread place and can buy a shopping cart full for $5.00, then freeze it and take out one loaf at a time for the chickens.

 

[burquechick]

I don't buy much feed in the summer either. They prefer to eat other things (grass, garden greens, etc.). I almost never run out of feed. I have started feeding them dry cat food though. I read on Storey's Guide the extra protein is really good for moulting chickens. Some of mine are moulting now...