I would caution you about taking food from the fast food restaurant
One of DH's managers at Popeyes let them take home throw-away chicken, and the "head" manager came in the next day and fired everyone who "stole" chicken
and then he couldn't get unemployment because he got fired for "stealing"
So even if one manager says it's ok, or even gives it to you, it might not be such a good idea.
for the home made mix.... I will try this mix and gradually switch all of them. ( to change to quick would be a disaster!
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Are the sunflower seeds at the feed store "shelled" or un shelled?
I will give this mix a try sounds like a winner. Mix with some "flock raiser as well as fast food. this will cut down on the food bill. And yes All of the chickens WASTE LOTS AND LOTS of food.......
Would not take food from the fast food restaurant! No! I mean to be clear... there are RULES and my husband is GM.. I mean to take home garbage, left over wasted unwanted customer food and scraps only. But I will add this as a treat but use the home made mix scratch too.
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When I worked at a restaurant I fed the chickens allot of scraps...mostly from veggie prepping or things about to go bad....they got so they would run to me when they saw the bag. They sure loved it!
I don't believe it cost me that much to grow mine, but I found that I don't much care for *rooster meat* anyway. Maybe it's the aggravation factor that makes them so unappetizing.
Letting them range was cheaper, but they spent so much time trying to flog each other that they ended up skinny and tough! Not good for much other than broth. I had to keep them just past 6 months to get any kind of size on them and they drove me nuts the whole time. I was so relieved when they were gone (and the rest of the flock was too!)
No potato peelings because they sometimes have that icky green stuff on them from light exposure, and apparently it contains some mildly poisonous substance. I don't want sick chickens.
So far as no animal proteins, they get plenty of bugs and worms, so no worries there.
The sunflower seeds are in the shell still. You can get ones out of the shell, but it costs more, and the chickens will naturally eat the ones in the shell given the chance. The grit in their gizzards grind them up and they get what they need out of them.