Questions about feed. POLL

[Chicks Galore3]

Wheat is probably the least problematic alternative to corn. In fact, my chickens generally get slightly more wheat (sprouted) than corn.

When you say "wheat berries", that makes me wonder if you're buying them at a health food store or grocery. If that's the case, look for a local feed store and buy a 50# bag. It's more expensive than corn, but not ruinously so. (in my area, and in my opinion)

How many chickens are you feeding?

My mom makes bread from the wheat berries and she buys them from a health food co-op. I assumed since we are eating it, the chickens could eat it! I am going to be feeding ten chickens. It's $28 for a 50# bag.

 

[CluckyJay]

Wheat here is like less than half that price for 50 pounds. At the feed store.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Wheat here is like less than half that price for 50 pounds. At the feed store.

Bingo.

And corn's even cheaper.

Back to the OP: are you working from a recipe, or are you winging it? What's your goal in mixing your own feed?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but sometimes that helps figure out what your question really is.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Bingo.

And corn's even cheaper.

Back to the OP: are you working from a recipe, or are you winging it? What's your goal in mixing your own feed?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but sometimes that helps figure out what your question really is.

I'm wingin' it. My goal is high protien feed that doesn't involve much corn. These are what i am planning to mix so far: Sunflower seeds, Wheat/corn/oats and some kind of animal protein. Another question: I am going to raise mealworms for my chickens. In the summer when they have access to a run and free range, could i NOT have animal protein? And in the winter give them meal worms for the animal protein? I know they are omnivores so they need some type of 'animal' in their diet.

 

[Clay Mudd]

Rather than give too much specific (and possibly wrong!) advice, I'd like to point you at some useful resources:

Two books that I've almost worn out in the last year or so:

http://www.amazon.com/Feeding-Poult...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330731514&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Small-Scale-Poultry-Flock-All-Natural-Growers/dp/1603582908/ref=pd_sim_b_4

The first is very specifically about designing poultry diet, and the second is more general, but has great info on feeding. Some of the content in the second one is available for free here:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding.html

another good site is this one:
www.lionsgrip.com/feedinstruc.html

A good article from Jeff Mattocks at Fertrell Nutrition:
http://www.sustainablepoultry.ncat.org/downloads/chnutritionhpinew.pdf


If you're going to be mixing your own feed, you owe it to yourself to do some in-depth research so you can make you own choices for your own reasons. It's important to understand the nutrition need of the chickens. It's more than protein and starch.

My fave animal protein source is fish meal, but I also live in a bug-friendly climate so I don't have to use tons of it.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

haha where do you get fish meal?

 

[Clay Mudd]

haha where do you get fish meal?

http://www.countrysideorganics.com/product.php?productid=181&cat=40&page=1

I haven't found anyone selling smaller quantities of feed-grade fish meal, but they're probably out there.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

how fast do you go through it?

 

[Clay Mudd]

My record keeping is terrible, but it looks like about a pound a week for an average of 10 chickens. How much they eat varies a lot depending on what forage and kitchen scraps they get.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

THANKS! that helps alot!