When it comes to chicken care, what are your favorite ways to save money?

[Sally PB]

Put out the word among your neighbors that you'd be interested in any cast off building materials, fencing, etc. I built my run out of a metal frame that was supposed to become a green house for a neighbor, but they never got around to finishing it before they sold their house. The new owner was ecstatic to get "that junk" out of there.

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

I feed crumble-style feed, and there are always the powdery fines at the bottom of the feed bowl. I save those for the chickens' mash snack. I use about 1 1/2 cups of food/fines and enough water to make a mash. It's their favorite "treat." It uses up the bits they don't eat, and it's their regular food, so no worries about it being a treat. Very little feed is wasted here.

I think I will try this. I use pellets, but I still end up with some powdery bits in the bottom of the feeder. Stretch that feed!

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

Put out the word among your neighbors that you'd be interested in any cast off building materials, fencing, etc. I built my run out of a metal frame that was supposed to become a green house for a neighbor, but they never got around to finishing it before they sold their house. The new owner was ecstatic to get "that junk" out of there.

Yes, I think repurposing coop/run materials is a fantastic idea. Plus, everybody wins in that scenario - you AND the neighbor. I'm gearing up to modify our existing coop and run, and I have a good source for lots and lots of heat-treated wooden pallets. For free!

 

[WannabeHomsteader]

I don’t know how much money it saves in the long run because I haven’t been doing it long but I think fermenting feed has cut down on my feed bill.

I've heard about this, but too nervous to try yet. Probably just because I don't understand the process. I regularly ferment things for myself (kefir, sourdough...) is it similar? "Stretching" the feed is great for saving money. I feel like feed is my most frequent recurring cost for the chickens.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I've heard about this, but too nervous to try yet. Probably just because I don't understand the process. I regularly ferment things for myself (kefir, sourdough...) is it similar? "Stretching" the feed is great for saving money. I feel like feed is my most frequent recurring cost for the chickens.

I haven’t been doing it long but I have transferred some of my lazy sourdough skills to it. Once you get a batch going it’s easy to use some leftover liquid from that to “start” your next batch so mine only sits about 24 hours. Here is an article that might help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/fermenting-chicken-feed-a-straightforward-method.75967/

 

[Mrs. K]

The easiest way to reduce your costs is to reduce the size of your flock. This will often help with overcrowding too, giving a calmer, healthier flock.

Another is not to waste feed. When I first started, I over fed. They got picky and trod feed into the ground which caused the run to stink. I generally feed each day. If at night it is completely gone, I feed a little more the next day, if there is left over, I feed a little less. What is surprising is that it varies quite a bit. I recently set up a continuous feeder as we are planning a vacation, last night I was rather appalled at the fines and crumbles trod into the dirt. I am going to try setting this in a large black rubber feed bowl and see if it helps.

Mrs K

 

[RubelliteRose]

I am going to try setting this in a large black rubber feed bowl and see if it helps.

This is what we do and love it. We were getting over run with mice due to the chickens scratching food out of their feeders even when hanging. I put the feeders in rubber feed pans and haven't seen any mice since. At the end of the day, I take the feeders out of the run and pour what was scratched out back in for the next day. Some days it saves us between one and two cups of feed.

 

[CalgaryFarmer]

For feeding, I get large roasting pans from goodwill (they are super cheap) and I place a large rock in the middle and fill it about 2/3 full. They can’t get in there to scratch feed out or flick feed out with their beaks. I find there is very little waste.

[edit: I went out to check on my chickens and I noticed that I use 2 large rocks in the roasting pan. The intent is to ensure there is not enough room in the pan so they can get in there to scratch and toss feed out of the pan.]

I leave it in the run. You can place the lid on at night to keep rodents out.

It should be in a covered area to prevent rain from getting in.