What can I feed my chickens besides layer food which I do

[ange]

I am feeding my chickens layer food. I switched from pellets layers food and crumble layer food, to meal layer food. It looks just like cornmeal or finer. I switched because I read some what they arte where that the pellets and crumbles are not as nutritious as the meal, finer grain, because they can digest it better and when they peck at the pellets and the crumbles they loose much of the good stuff., and meal does not. So I bought some meal fine grain, made from a place that sells fresh grains for all farm animals, it is a reputabl;e place, been there for years, and has animals himself. That is what they are noted forrrrrrrr, and have been fore over 30 years. What are opinions on the grain . Also, what can I feed my chickens that are nutritious. They say leftovers, anything, but is that just fillers or good stuff for them. I have just started giving them l hard boiled egg l time a week, and so far, they loveit.

 

[Tanichca]

I have the same layer meal, and I just mix two cups of that with one cup of bird seed or scratch. My birds also like hamburger (raw) and old toast, apple cores, cantaloupe/watermelon rinds, pineapple, pretty much anything. But the hamburger is good for protein.

 

[shiloh04]

I give mine all sorts of leftovers, but mostly fruits and veggies, the end of a ham or something so they can clean off the last bits, any weeds i pull from the yard, leftover pasta, things like that.

We are considering getting some guppies, letting them breed like mad, and feeding them some guppies occasionally. I kinda feel bad that they are meant to be omnivores and they get mostly just grains and other plant matter.

 

[schmije]

Here is the link to the official BYC treat chart. It has lots of good information.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

 

[OwensMom]

In addition to the Purina Layena, oyster shell and grit, I feed my girls yogurt or cottage cheese with 2tbls. of ground flax seed. They love these treats and the treats are good for them. Sometimes I can add spinach or lettuce. I found that they love cheerios and granola.

 

[ange]

Today I gavew them grit, chicken meal food, lettuce andd a head of cabbage Hope that helps make them lay

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I used to mix the meal with seed, but stopped and now feed them separate. I found them trying to pick through the meal for the "treats".

ON

 

[Brenda Dale]

I am feeding my chickens layer food. I switched from pellets layers food and crumble layer food, to meal layer food. It looks just like cornmeal or finer. I switched because I read some what they arte where that the pellets and crumbles are not as nutritious as the meal, finer grain, because they can digest it better and when they peck at the pellets and the crumbles they loose much of the good stuff., and meal does not. So I bought some meal fine grain, made from a place that sells fresh grains for all farm animals, it is a reputabl;e place, been there for years, and has animals himself. That is what they are noted forrrrrrrr, and have been fore over 30 years. What are opinions on the grain . Also, what can I feed my chickens that are nutritious. They say leftovers, anything, but is that just fillers or good stuff for them. I have just started giving them l hard boiled egg l time a week, and so far, they loveit.

what is the price and how many lbs

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Remember that the commercial food is scientifically formulated to provide them with complete, balanced nutrition, so they don't need anything else. When you "add" other foods and treats, you are actually reducing the amount of balanced food they are eating, because they will fill up on the treats and eat less of the commercial food. It's like giving children cake, pies and ice cream and thinking you are supplementing their diet with good things. If you must giive them treats, make sure it is no more than 10% of what they should consume in a day.

 

[saysfaa]

what is the price and how many lbs

The person you asked hasn't signed in since 2016. If you don't mind others answering - I usually feed a similar mix that costs about $12 for 50 pounds.

Last winter, I tried pellets and am doing that again. I like the meal type because it is what the local feed company offers. They use locally grown ingredients and do not have a pelletizer machine. I don't think it is more nutritious. Chickens gizzards are very effective at grinding their food.

I switch to pellets for the winter because the salt, vitamins, and minerals are added as a powder. In the pellets, the powder is pressed into the pellet but in the meal It tends to be left in their bowl after they eat the larger (still quite small) pieces. This isn't a problem when the weather is above freezing because I mix some water into their feed every few days.