S*yb**ns

[KansasQuailer]

50' x 100' = 5,000 feet^2 = 0.11 acres

Average bushels per acre ~ 40. See link below.
https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/re...344A9FEA#1C0960DD-FF16-3479-B2A4-39E956BD1B56

40 bushels x 0.11 acre = 4.4 bushels

Average ~60 lbs soybean / bushel. See link below.
ftp://www.ilga.gov/jcar/admincode/008/00800600ZZ9998bR.html

4.4 bushels x 60 lbs = 264 lbs


I would assume soybeans will represent between 1/3 and 1/2 of the feed consumed assuming you make balanced diets using feedstuffs you "import".


High range of feed = 264 / 0.33 = 800 lbs feed

Low range of feed = 264 / 0.5 = 528 lbs feed

Wow i love the numbers, do you have any advice on how to store them/keep them from spoiling?

Thanks so much for your reply!

 

[centrarchid]

Wow i love the numbers, do you have any advice on how to store them/keep them from spoiling?

Thanks so much for your reply!

Store them dry and out of sun.

As a kid growing up we raised most of the soybeans and corn used to make feed for hogs, cattle and a couple hundred chickens. Harvested grain (soybeans and ear-corn) was taken to feed mill every couple weeks to be mixed and milled with supplements before being sacked and brought back to use as feed. Supplements mostly covered minerals and vitamins. Another relative kept supplements on site and milled everything as needed. With chickens that meant simply mixing things up. I come close by using a game bird starter as primary vitamin source that is diluted with intact grains.

 

[KansasQuailer]

Store them dry and out of sun.

As a kid growing up we raised most of the soybeans and corn used to make feed for hogs, cattle and a couple hundred chickens. Harvested grain (soybeans and ear-corn) was taken to feed mill every couple weeks to be mixed and milled with supplements before being sacked and brought back to use as feed. Supplements mostly covered minerals and vitamins. Another relative kept supplements on site and milled everything as needed. With chickens that meant simply mixing things up. I come close by using a game bird starter as primary vitamin source that is diluted with intact grains.

I like the tip about using starter as vitamin source, and cutting with grains, It sounds like im trying to do what you guys did just on a much smaller scale. Any tips on how to dry them? i was thinking about sun drying them for a day or two, dry and windy around here. I really appreciate your comment. Thanks for the insight!

 

[centrarchid]

Beans we almost always harvested after allowed to dry in pods on standing plants in field. When moisture content high we had a propane powered dryer that is far from economical unless doing at least hundreds of bushels a season. Where you are at most times they should dry in pods just fine.

 

[Acre4Me]

Also, FWIW, I was looking on the Sandhill Preservation website, and they sell seeds (and various poultry chicks), where many seeds were organic. I did notice under “specialty seeds” they offer things specifically for chickens for when they free-range I think, or to harvest and feed. I would imagine this type of seed might be available from other sources possibly. You can look it up to see specifically what was listed in their mixes and offerings. Good luck.

 

[KansasQuailer]

There is some wheat that grows where I live naturally, and I live in a harsh environment. I'd expect you could grow a patch of wheat and they'd be happy with the greens and the seeds both. This past year I grew lots of assorted salad greens and the girls loved all of them. I would make salads for the family and give them the scraps or give them the heads that got infested with bugs and the girls gobbled them up bugs and all. I wanted to look into growing amaranth as well. I have not tried growing soybeans. Also sunflowers, then you can save the heads and throw them in the run for a treat in the winter. There are many gardening threads on here that you can get some ideas from. Good luck. Have fun with it. Chickens are not picky eaters, you'll find something that works both for your environment and for the chickens.

I have looked at millets and amaranth. I was pretty interested in pearl millet as it doesn't need processed like soybeans and can constitute up to half their diet as long as nutrition is maintained. Thanks for the reply!

 

[KansasQuailer]

Beans we almost always harvested after allowed to dry in pods on standing plants in field. When moisture content high we had a propane powered dryer that is far from economical unless doing at least hundreds of bushels a season. Where you are at most times they should dry in pods just fine.

Thanks so much for this. I appreciate your reply!

 

[KansasQuailer]

Also, FWIW, I was looking on the Sandhill Preservation website, and they sell seeds (and various poultry chicks), where many seeds were organic. I did notice under “specialty seeds” they offer things specifically for chickens for when they free-range I think, or to harvest and feed. I would imagine this type of seed might be available from other sources possibly. You can look it up to see specifically what was listed in their mixes and offerings. Good luck.

Thanks for the information. Also for the reply!