• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • John F Dean
  • Timothy Norton
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • paul wheaton
  • Tereza Okava
  • AndrĂ©s Bernal
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
gardeners:
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • M Ljin
  • Matt McSpadden

Chicken Feed - What options exist?

 
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
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
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
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.
 
Posts: 108
Location: Kentucky
14
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
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
Posts: 81
1093
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Chickens want tacos. And bacon!
 
steward
Posts: 15820
Location: Northern WI (zone 4)
5007
8
hunting trees books food preservation solar woodworking
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I hear egg shells are fairly high in calcium
 
Gir The Bot
taco bot
Posts: 81
1093
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
But, oyster shells are too crunchy. And not crunchy good like tacos or crispy yummy bacon.
 
Shookeli Riggs
Posts: 108
Location: Kentucky
14
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
bacon is good
 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Seeds from Maple Family


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
Posts: 108
Location: Kentucky
14
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
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
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 5
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

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. :)
 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Another input as a rare addition to their feed is cooking grease. If I cook something that I can't repurpose the grease easily such as bacon, I will pour the fat over rolled oats and let it solidify before feeding it to my hens.

I understand the salt content isn't the best so I don't do this frequently but they seem to enjoy it.
 
Posts: 75
Location: Memphis (zone 7b/8a)
26
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I really enjoy throwing voles, rats and roaches that we trap around the house into the chicken coop.
 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Garlic mustard is considered an 'invasive' where I live in North America. It is now that time of spring where the plants leaf out and make their presence known.

Garlic Mustard Guide


Doing some reading online, I have received mixed responses on the palatability of garlic mustard for chickens. Does anyone have experience feeding garlic mustard to their hens?
 
Posts: 10
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I've been using big-name feeds too, but I'm always curious about what else is out there, especially something I can control myself.

My base feed is a pellet mix that I make. It's got a bunch of grains, some bean meal for protein, and a few minerals mixed in. The key is to make sure it's a complete meal.

https://www.kawise.com/blog/how-to-make-your-own-chicken-feed-pellets

And yes, I definitely supplement! I'll toss them some greens from my garden like kale and chicory. Veggies like pumpkin or squash are also awesome additions. It just feels good to give them something fresh and homemade.

I'm a big fan of composting too. I mix their bedding and droppings with other scraps. It works out great because it helps me manage waste, and I get amazing soil for my garden in return.


My routine is simple: pellets in the morning, let them free-range, and then give them some of the fresh stuff in the afternoon. I'm really curious about that local farm feed you found. What's in it? I'd love to know!
 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
In an answer to my own question, it seems that they just ignored the garlic mustard. They actually scratched around the plants so, in a way, they helped remove some of them for me!

I have found that young amaranth is easy to grow and my hens will forage them to a degree. The smaller the plant, the more likely they are to go after it. Anytime I think a densely planted spot of amaranth, they get the plants we pull.
 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 5921
Location: Upstate NY, Zone 5, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
2719
monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I'm sure that folks are still doing it, but for a bit of time it seemed that fermented chicken feed was 'in'.



How to Ferment Chicken Feed Guide


Do you currently ferment your feed? Thoughts on it?
 
CLUCK LIKE A CHICKEN! Now look at this tiny ad:
Learn Permaculture through a little hard work
https://wheaton-labs.com/bootcamp
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic