As I posted in another thread, a 50# bag of layer crumbles costs me around $23.00 here in Kodiak. I've currently got 17 chickens, 12 of who are only about 15 weeks old so still in the growing stage, and 3 ducks - all of which are layers or will be layers. They go through a bag of crumbles in about a week, if I feed as much as they want, which means my feed bill is over $100.00/month, not counting the scratch and oyster shell. They all free range and come summer the feed consumption will go down, but right now everything is covered by about five inches of snow and ice. I don't expect to have enough greenery on the ground to help their food consumption until early May.
I want to try and reduce my feed bill by supplementing with leftovers, etc. I know some people go to their local grocery and get the tossed produce. My question is, what scraps and leftovers can I feed my birds that will still be nutritious for them. All I give them right now is leftover lettuce and the chickens don't like it, only the ducks. I never give them bread scraps, because I've heard it has no nutritional value.
Bear in mind that buying other products will not reduce my feed bill (a pound of tomotoes costs over $5.00 and a head of leaf lettuce is $3.00) so scraps or other leftover type options are the suggestions I'm looking for.
Thanks!
I want to try and reduce my feed bill by supplementing with leftovers, etc. I know some people go to their local grocery and get the tossed produce. My question is, what scraps and leftovers can I feed my birds that will still be nutritious for them. All I give them right now is leftover lettuce and the chickens don't like it, only the ducks. I never give them bread scraps, because I've heard it has no nutritional value.
Bear in mind that buying other products will not reduce my feed bill (a pound of tomotoes costs over $5.00 and a head of leaf lettuce is $3.00) so scraps or other leftover type options are the suggestions I'm looking for.
Thanks!