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Chicken Feed

 
master gardener
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Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
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Sprouts are a hit.

The chickens however are 'too dainty' to go outside into the fresh snow and requested that their snack was served inside.

I'm thinking of trying lentils next, price is cheaper than whole peas in my area and have better availability for now.
Chook7.jpg
Pea Sprouts
Pea Sprouts
 
Timothy Norton
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Is oyster shell the gold standard for calcium/grit?

I understand I can't avoid importing everything but I was wondering if there are alternatives people use.
 
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We have crushed limestone around here for driveways ,mine just eat that for grit and im sure they get calcium from it,i have given them oyster shell but,i dont know if its the best.I think sandy creek gravel would be fine for grit but it may not have much calcium.

High calcium veggies are a good alternative to supplement.I give mine a few greens when available in the winter but grasses and other wild greens have calcium in them when they can free range in the warmer months.Dont forget snail shells are a high calcium source among other exoskeleton critters,i think black soldier fly larvae are high in calcium.
 
taco bot
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Chickens want tacos. And bacon!
 
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I hear egg shells are fairly high in calcium
 
Gir The Bot
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But, oyster shells are too crunchy. And not crunchy good like tacos or crispy yummy bacon.
 
Shookeli Riggs
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bacon is good
 
Timothy Norton
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I have a good amount of maple trees on or around my property and with that comes whirly-birds. They sprout readily when they land on wood chip mulched ground and found that chickens go bonkers for them. I didn't intend to save a whole bunch of them but they ended up sprouting in big groups which I just drop into the run. Unexpected but appreciated treat!
 
Shookeli Riggs
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I have tons of boxelder sprouts coming up,i think my chickens only eat the plants i grow and eat.I did feed them some honey locust pods after i tore them open they did like the sap.
 
Timothy Norton
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Jay Angler wrote:I was told years ago that "Chicken Scratch" is junk-food for chickens and they shouldn't get much. However, I can understand the OP using it as a bribe.

I just have a better bribe - Russian Kale. My birds totally adore it. I can genuinely use it to bribe the girls to go to bed.

Now if I could just get my young rooster to follow their example... sigh... I tried very hard tonight, but there was no help available and he just couldn't figure out that the pop door was for going *in*, not just *out*.



I just want to touch base on this reply because you have helped me ween the girls off scratch! They really enjoy the Russian Kale to the point that I grow them their own row to pick through. I have also found that cucumbers are a delicacy to them so I might 'forget' a cucumber or two on the vine and let it grow nice and big.

Thank you for sharing what works for you. :)
 
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