Hello, I am starting with laying chicks. Only a few to start. I make my own feed for numerous other animals, but very much new/ignorant with any sort of bird. My goal is to make an adult feed for laying hens. I feed commercial stuff from the store now. When they go outside they will be free range, but on concrete.
As an aside, we are commercial spice farmers and have a small factory. I have commercial dryers, hammer mills etc. My goal is to make up say half year supply of dry food I grow. Not fermented.
I'm reading up, but looking to see if anyone has experience with any of these. I am particularly wondering about the anti nutritive aspects and how impactful they may be.
Here is the list I have now, mostly getting nutrition data from foodipedia website so far.
Leucana leaf meal (wondering about the antinutrivitve issues on this one as I would like to use this as a main protein source)
Pigon pea (will dry at high heat)
Corn
Sorghum
Quinoa
Millet
Sun flower
Amaranth
Roselle seed
Sweet potato foliage
Duckweed
Water hyacinth
Azolla
I can dry and blend all plant material easily. Though I don't have a pelleting machine.
I also raise these for other animals (we also have a pond with some fish for food). Can scale up easily for chicks
Won't be drying these, feed fresh/live
Black soldier fly
Yellow mealworm
Dubia cockroach (I think the chitin:"meat" ration may be too low for chickens?)
Would love to hear thoughts, opinions, experiences or just brainstorm
For practical reasons on our farm setup, I'm trying to avoid low growing beans and the like. Basically, soy free.
As an aside, we are commercial spice farmers and have a small factory. I have commercial dryers, hammer mills etc. My goal is to make up say half year supply of dry food I grow. Not fermented.
I'm reading up, but looking to see if anyone has experience with any of these. I am particularly wondering about the anti nutritive aspects and how impactful they may be.
Here is the list I have now, mostly getting nutrition data from foodipedia website so far.
Leucana leaf meal (wondering about the antinutrivitve issues on this one as I would like to use this as a main protein source)
Pigon pea (will dry at high heat)
Corn
Sorghum
Quinoa
Millet
Sun flower
Amaranth
Roselle seed
Sweet potato foliage
Duckweed
Water hyacinth
Azolla
I can dry and blend all plant material easily. Though I don't have a pelleting machine.
I also raise these for other animals (we also have a pond with some fish for food). Can scale up easily for chicks
Won't be drying these, feed fresh/liveBlack soldier fly
Yellow mealworm
Dubia cockroach (I think the chitin:"meat" ration may be too low for chickens?)
Would love to hear thoughts, opinions, experiences or just brainstorm
For practical reasons on our farm setup, I'm trying to avoid low growing beans and the like. Basically, soy free.
Last edited:
