Where can I learn about milling my own feed? And can someone please recommend a hand mill?

[HarisC]

Hi everyone,

I know nothing about milling but wanted to grow and process my own feed for the chickens in the upcoming year. If someone can point me somewhere to learn I would appreciate it

I took Harvey Ussery's recommendations in his book "the small scale poultry flock" and have ordered various oats, grains, sunflower seeds, corn, soybean, clover, amaranth, sorghum to grow and harvest this year, God willing

I would also like to mill my own wheat into flour

I saw that the "country living mill" was recommended but it is about $500USD. Is there anything more reasonably priced or is that what I will have to pay for a hand mill?

edit: before anyone gets upset at me, the birds have access to forage for most of the year and I will be supplementing with some kind of worms/insect/fish/animal protein

Thanks everyone

 

[pibb]

I don't think anyone will get upset at you.

I do however think some will want to educate you on making a "complete" feed instead of just grinding up some corn and oats and whatever and giving them to your chickens. It is a pretty complicated subject that I haven't really dove into but I see posts about it and it seems you want to learn while some are like "whatever".

It does seem like a lot of work and seems to cost more than just buying a feed but in this day in time the knowledge of how to do it is worth alot in my opinion, whether you do it or not. Good luck to you.

 

[feedman77]

A few years ago milling your own feed was not bad. You could pick up a premix with all the vitamins and minerals you needed. Most would have a basic recipe with them for a specific protein feed usually 16 percent. But with the implementation of fsma. Most over the counter sales of pre mix are now limited.

But if you can find an elevator that still mixes feed they may have recipies and may be able to get what is needed.