OK, there has got to be a cheaper way to feed chicks/chickens...

[Kansaseq]

Start your own meal worm colony. There was a recent thread on here with directions.

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Quote:
WAY WAY WAY too much work. Could you imagine how much work to grow enough of these little things to feed 150 hungry chicks? I've looked at this before but it really isn't feasible. I do better with my free ranging by putting down cardboard in my yard and pulling it up every other day. There are hundreds of beetles, worms etc that gather under there and the chickens have a blast with the free protein. But that doesn't lower cost of feed significantly.

I will also add that I've read about people who use Siberian Pea Shrubs in their run. When the shrub sheds it's seeds, the chickens go crazy. LOTS of protein... Again, not a viable option for long term feed cost reduction...

 

[Fred's Hens]

You simply are going to have to find a local mill, often run by either the Amish or Mennonites. With that many mouths to feed, going to a Big Box store is going to break the bank. Even if it is 40 miles away, when life takes you that direction, make plans to take the truck and get a couple dozen bags.

 

[WHISTLER]

get in touch with some local farmers if you have any around you and when they go to clean out thier grain bins there will be left overs in the bottom that is a mix of duff small pieces of corn and other various grains, they will usually sell it to you for dirt cheap. we were filling 55 gallon drums for less than 5 bucks each

 

[galanie]

Quote:
WAY WAY WAY too much work. Could you imagine how much work to grow enough of these little things to feed 150 hungry chicks? I've looked at this before but it really isn't feasible. I do better with my free ranging by putting down cardboard in my yard and pulling it up every other day. There are hundreds of beetles, worms etc that gather under there and the chickens have a blast with the free protein. But that doesn't lower cost of feed significantly.

I will also add that I've read about people who use Siberian Pea Shrubs in their run. When the shrub sheds it's seeds, the chickens go crazy. LOTS of protein... Again, not a viable option for long term feed cost reduction...

Work? really? All I do is wet a paper towel once a day and sometimes throw in a few veggies. My setup has a screen on the bottom of the tray and most of the eggs and larvae drop into the next tray... Viola! babies separated! But I guess that means I have two whole trays to worry about.

But I can appreciate if you don't want to bother with it. Sounds like a feed mill is your best option.

 

[newchknmama]

Quote:
Where is the Feed Mill in Boise? Im in Middleton and even though I only have a few chicks it would be nice to buy in bulk. I got my last 2 bags on special for chick days and it was buy one get one 50% off.. now I just hope my chick starter lasts another 13 weeks cause for my discounted bag I got layer pellets

 

[amynbrent]

Quote:
I should start a mail order of Japense beetles, lady bugs and Elder bugs. My house is infested with them. We are in Michigan and when the sun comes out so do they. The elder bugs are all over my windows that they actually block out the light. It's like a horror movie! The lady bugs will be next and the then beetles.

 

[galanie]

Quote:
I should start a mail order of Japense beetles, lady bugs and Elder bugs. My house is infested with them. We are in Michigan and when the sun comes out so do they. The elder bugs are all over my windows that they actually block out the light. It's like a horror movie! The lady bugs will be next and the then beetles.

Arr don't kill the Lady bugs! They are good bugs. They are killing the aphids on your plants! Unless they are really Potato beetles. Potato beetles and lady bugs look very much alike but lady bugs are red to reddish orange.

I have a bucket under my back porch light and it catches lots of japanese beetles. In the mornings I just empty the bucket in front of my girls and they go wild.

 

[motoclown]

I started raising meal worms, took like 4 months to get a return.
Some raise black fly larva, worms or crickets.

You could always put an add on craigslist for wanting stinkbugs.....lol

 

[Urbanfarmerkc]

Since we are on this topic here are a few resources for trapping Jap. Beetles for chickens. The first link is to a BYC forum about it and the other You Tube videos.

DAve

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=68337&p=2

http://www.google.com/search?source...qwQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=ec671cba53863ef