what do you feed your flock? the good and the bad

[hdowden]

ok i want to see what everyone else feeds to their chickens the good choice/tries and the bad choices/tries. i want to try and incorpert a good verity for them, i'm up to the ideas of something that needs to be feed the day its made and ideas of those that can be stored for a time.

i currently feed them chick starter for my 2 pullets scratch for the to roosters, grass, and any bugs that i find and know are safe for them to eat.

i am thinking of starting a meal worm farm....

 

[nurse_turtle]

I use a large plastic tote to mix a bag of scratch with a bag of flock raiser then a bucket of BOSS and some whole corn. They get treats daily but never the same thing twice. Shredded cheese is by far their favorite! I buy it in bulk and it can be frozen. They get table scraps of all kinds and sometimes I make them a cake of Jiffy sweet cornbread just for them. It's really cheap. Also, they free range which cuts down tremendously on feed costs.

 

[Mahonri]

Mine gets a mixture.

The mixture feed is

2 parts Layena
2parts Egg Maker
1 Part Gamebird finisher
1/2 part Flock Raiser
1/4 part scratch grains with BOSS
1/8th part oyster shell.

Then they get table scraps and lately I've been feeding them extra lettuce and broccoli from my garden. They love the broccoli.

I give my 5 & 8 week old chicks cheap bread as a treat. And lately they think I'm made of bread.... They LOVE me.

New chicks get another blended mix I do with 18% protien chick starter and other goodies.

 

[Illia]

Mine get a mix of normal layer feed and also poultry/flock raiser feed. Personally I think both aren't great but that's because they're typical commercial type stuff and I'm not a huge fan of feeding my birds large amounts of wheat/corn/soy, but, it's my choice right now.

On the side they get free choice of stuff out in the pastures as well as dried berries and fruits, fresh berries and fruits if our property is producing any at the time, and worthy food scraps (produce, grain products, seafood products)

I do try my best and progress each year in growing more food on site for them though. I'm hoping to get into worm harvesting this year. They already get worms and the sort from the pasture/woods, but, I'm imagining it isn't always abundant.

I would love to get into growing nuts for them and us, but, I don't know when that will begin. We already have a hazelnut tree here but it never produces enough for us and not the wild birds who come through stealing what little is there. Beyond that I'm waiting waiting for some almonds and chestnuts to mature. The almonds don't love it in our climate though but here's hoping they will at least tolerate it enough to bear.

 

[Reyvaughn]

16% grower is in their feeder. I have to many chickens at varied ages to give layer feed. It's cheaper to buy the grower anyways, I throw scratch out every once in a awhile as a treat. Oyster shell and grit are given in a liter box (it's only for the chickens - cats have never used it) to be eaten as they see fit.

 

[hdowden]

are strawberries and blueberries safe for them to eat?

 

[Jonmel]

I've found our chickens love cheese which is a useful enticement to get them back in the hutch by throwing a trail out for them. Also fried bacon fat chopped up into small pieces is a definite favorite.

 

[PtldChick]

Mine get a variety of layer and flock raiser/grower feeds with oyster shell free choice. I sprinkle some flax seed in with their feed. I always check the open bag rack at the local stores to see if they have anything like flax seed, BOSS, parrot seed, etc. They discount it up to 50% off.

As supplements, I give spent grain, and meat products I get for free (past expire date for humans) - like cubed ham, pre-cooked chicken pieces, shrimp, etc. Cheese, too, if it's included. I also give them alfalfa cubes for greens in the winter. I try to keep the extras high in protein so I don't dilute their diet. I have BOSS and thistle seed right now, and I have grown sprouts. I'll put suet or bird seed block in a cage for them to peck at. Left over fruits and vegetables from the house and in the spring/summer the local produce stand sells 'bruised' items for 10 cents each, so they get whatever is in season, apples, tomatoes, etc.

The 'extras' have to be easy and cheap or free.

They all come running whenever I come outside. I am the treat lady for sure.

 

[galanie]

are strawberries and blueberries safe for them to eat?

Absolutely. And most adore strawberries.

Mine have 20% grower in the feeder but they get lots of stuff on the side, whatever I'd be throwing out. Bread, cornbread, chicken stock bones (with meat still attached), greens, whatever. They get the run of whatever garden space is currently not being used and that often contains some sort of greens. Then there's standard scratch to which I've added whole oats. I admit, they really have so much to eat that isn't their food that they aren't eating all of it they should. So that's why it's 20% rather than 16%. At least they are eating food still. When they get so spoiled to the 'treats' that they don't eat any chicken food I stop all the extras till they start eating it again.

 

[Chris09]

This is a medium ground 18% Layer/Breeder mix that I have mixed.

155 lbs Corn
105 lbs Oats
100 lbs 38% Protein Concentrate
60 lbs Cat Fish 32
30 lbs Whole Roasted Soy Bean
20 lbs Alfalfa Meal
10 lbs Black Oil Sunflower Seed
10 lbs Mineral mix
10 lbs Liquid Molasses

I get the above mixed in a 500 pound batch because that is the minimal amount my mill will mix.


Chris