What did our grandmother's feed their chickens 100 years ago?

[ams3651]

I went to the library today and took out a book that gave me the recipes for mash that was mentioned. Its in large quantities, maybe someone could cut it down.

Laying mash
110lb wheat meat
110lbyellow corn meal
110lb oat, barley or rye meal
110lb fish meal
30lb dried milk
20lb ground seashells
5lb salt


fattening mash
330lb barley meal
110lbwheat meat
55lbfish meal
30lbdried milk plus some ground seashells and salt

Its from an excellent book, The self sufficient life and how to live it. Its got alot of great ideas.
Hope this helps.

 

[karri25]

That's really cool

 

[Wyanbrahma]

Ok so here's where my.mind wonders later at night now I've watched all there is on Netflix. Should we experience a recession like the 30s or worse forced starvation due to not taking whatever we are forced to do next. (Chicken raising is a gateway drug to conspiracy) how could one make their own chicken feed.? Because I have many berry trees tons of weeds, wild artichokes and of course egg shells. Could they not be put through a pellet mill and make an acceptable feed for winter? Heck my mind thinks grass clippings could make pellets but nit sure of the nutrient content. The broilers in the coop on wheels instantly devour clover, plantains and dandelions not grass. That said I'm nearly self sufficient but I buy chicken feed. How can I make chicken feed without being a full scale crop farm. Just in case it ever comes to it.

 

[Evadig]

Hello and ! Just want to let you know this thread is from 2008 but there is a newer thread that deals with much the same topic (though it hasn’t been posted on for a while) or you can start a new one (best route)…hope you enjoy your time here!

Link to instructions on how to start a thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-make-a-thread-on-byc.73729/

Link to other discussion mentioned above:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...closest-to-your-grandfathers-chicken.1590883/

 

[igorsMistress]

Ok so here's where my.mind wonders later at night now I've watched all there is on Netflix. Should we experience a recession like the 30s or worse forced starvation due to not taking whatever we are forced to do next. (Chicken raising is a gateway drug to conspiracy) how could one make their own chicken feed.? Because I have many berry trees tons of weeds, wild artichokes and of course egg shells. Could they not be put through a pellet mill and make an acceptable feed for winter? Heck my mind thinks grass clippings could make pellets but nit sure of the nutrient content. The broilers in the coop on wheels instantly devour clover, plantains and dandelions not grass. That said I'm nearly self sufficient but I buy chicken feed. How can I make chicken feed without being a full scale crop farm. Just in case it ever comes to it.

I don’t think you’d be able to provide a complete feed this way. A flock of chickens in the wild would range over a couple of miles to forage their food so even a few acres likely wouldn’t be enough for them to thrive without their commercial feed. You’d do better to stock up on feed to maintain your current flock size, or downsize so that your property can support what you’ve got.