Homemade Feed Mix Questions for our livestock

[NH Homesteader]

This is interesting. I tried to go on BYC get more information but I quit because... It's too intense about chickens over there. so I'm glad you're talking about this here.

I want to try fermented feed. Right now we just use layer pellets and scraps but there are some good ideas here I'm mulling over now!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I really hope we get a WINTER this year, lol!

 

[Mini Horses]

Probably because you all had one day of temps below 75 & they thought it WAS WINTER

Who knows? Some of mine started a month ago, almost done, some are young & not molting, some are a mess! Hope it ends soon!

 

[tortoise]

We have a group of chickens that is mostly fed expired dog food. Sometimes cracked corn, birdseed, or poultry pelleted feed. We feed poultry grower ration to chicks and our purebred layers get layer pellet + free range + scraps.

I'd like to grow my own stuff for grain mix. We use it for our sheep and young goats. I don't like paying for that kind of stuff since we have space to grow our own.

 

[tortoise]

We make suet out of venison tallow and birdseed (or whatever) for winter. Pour into paper muffin cups, throw a couple in the coop when the weather is very cold.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Well.. Since most of the people here on are either BYC or BYH or both you might not get any new answers...what are you trying to avoid in layer feed? I just feed my chickens layer pellets because I don't have the time or energy to get creative I guess! That's what I fed my ducks when I had them also.

Sorry I'm not helpful. I've found there's a million people with as many different ideas on how to feed chickens. I don't use my BYC account because it makes my head spin! They're... Chickens . Lol

But I don't let any of my animals, chickens included, eat my tomato plants. I've just read they're poisonous so I don't go there.

 

[baymule]

I let my sheep and chickens in the garden this week to clean it up, neither has been interested in the tomato vines.

It sounds like you have a good diet lined out for your poultry. I buy a non GMO layer pellet for our chickens. They also free range and get scraps. I have a "chicken bucket" for them.

Chickens eat practically anything. We killed a snake, and the chickens ate it. Fish scraps? Check the eggs for taste, if no off flavor, go for it.

There are people on BYC that would spend hundreds of dollars on a vet bill for one chicken. Uh....in my world, sorry chicken, but you will not go to the vet for some expensive surgery to save your life. Just not happening. If I just offended anyone, too bad, I stand by what I said.

If your chickens like what you are feeding them, they are laying, growing, and healthy, then don't worry about it.

Grow greens for your poultry and rabbits. They love it and need the greens in their diet. You could buy whole barley and sprout it for them.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Last "winter" I did fermented feed for my chickens and my pigs. They loved it! I quit when the weather gets hot here because while fermented feed is good - rotten is not! I'll probably start again as soon as it cools off a bit more here.

 

[Mini Horses]

Yep -- a good hard freeze will kill a lot of "pests". I just don't want to be one of them, so hope it's only a few days of freeze.

right now, we have some above normal temps for our area. Mid 80's versus low 70s. Tough, I know. Right now, my chickens are molting so heavily that I just cringe when I go outside -- this many feathers normally signals a loss. They just try to take a dust bath and you have enough to fill a pillow! Head counts AM & PM to settle my own mind.

Using lots of high protein to help them re-feather fast.

 

[NH Homesteader]

Mine are molting too. They look ridiculous!

Warm here today, low 70's. Will be back in the 50's this weekend.