Door:Marye Audet, Planet Green|Updated: November 8, 2023
One benefit of raising your own chickens is that you have cheap, organic eggs and meat. The problem is that in many areas it is almost impossible to get organic commercial feed, and even if you can, it is expensive. Here it isHomemade chicken foodis marketed as a method to control your chicken's diet and ensure the ingredients are all organic.
Although you can order organic chicken feed online or have your feed store custom order it, it is inconvenient and sometimes quite expensive. Your final costs are still lower than that of purchasing commercially raised poultry products (and more humanely!), but homesteaders generally must continually look for ways to save money.
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Contents
- What you need to know about homemade organic chicken food
- A homemade chicken feed recipe
- How to keep chicken food fresh
What you need to know about homemade organic chicken food
Like your backyardchickensfree range or on grass, they eat a lot of food. From mice to insects and grass to your best tomatoes, chickens will peck at everything. Add in your leftovers and your chickens will likely get a fairly balanced diet. You don't have to worry too much about getting the balance of ingredients right because the food will be an addition to their diet rather than a main component of it.
If you're going to make your own homemade organic chicken feed, you'll want to use all of thisorganic ingredients. However, be careful with soy and fishmeal. Soy has a high concentration of phytoestrogen and this worries some people. Fishmeal can contain high levels of mercury, and that's something you'll want to look for as well. There are so many great ingredients that can be added to your own food that you don't have to buy questionable stuff.
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You should be able to find all of the following ingredients in an organic variety. Most, like lentils, quinoa and barley, are sold in supermarkets and health food stores and are available in bulk. You may need to go to your local feed store for a few ingredients, especially the oyster shells. You can order online any ingredients that are difficult to obtain in your area.
A homemade chicken feed recipe
There are a number of homemade chicken food recipes floating around the internet, but this is one of our favorites, shared byChicken coops in the backyard. This DIY chicken feed recipe is suitable for both laying hens to support egg production and meat birds.
- 2 parts whole corn
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- 3 parts soft white wheat
- 3 parts hard red winter wheat
- ½ part diatomaceous earth (not the kind you put in your pool)
- 1 part peeled barley
- 1 part oatmeal
- 2 parts black oil sunflower seeds
- ½ part peanuts
- 1 part wheat flour
- 1 part split peas
- 1 part lentils
- 1 van of quinoa
- 1 part sesame seeds
- 1/2 del tang
Mix the food by hand so that it is well mixed. And there you have it: your own homemade chicken feed!
Also be sure to store grit and oyster shell calcium in containers so the chicks can eat it as they should. A good place for more information is the forum atBackyard chickens.
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How to keep chicken food fresh
When you make homemade, organic chicken feed, you have the opportunity to completely control everything that goes into it. The tendency is to feel like you have to make huge amounts of money to save time. Do not. Another advantage of homemade food is that it is often fresher than commercial food, which retains many nutrients.
When you mix homemade chicken feed, you tend to feel like you have to make a huge amount at once to save time. Do not. Feed can go rancid, making your flock sick or at the very least forcing you to throw away all that lovingly prepared poultry feed.
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Another great advantage of homemade food is that it is often fresher than commercial food, which retains much of the nutritional value, vitamins and minerals. Don't negate this advantage by trying to make a large batch that sits too long.
Store your fresh food in a covered container in a cool, dry place where pests cannot get into it. Metal and plastic are both partssuitable materials, but be careful with containers that retain moisture in the food. This can be dangerousmold that produces mycotoxins, which can poison your flock.
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Frequently asked questions about DIY organic chicken feed
Is it cheaper to make your own chicken feed?
Homemade chicken feed not only improves the health of your flock, but is usually slightly cheaper than buying ready-made feed. This option is especially cost-effective if you can find grains and seeds in bulk at local supermarkets and bulk food stores.
Is organic chicken food worth it?
When you make homemade organic chicken feed, you have complete control over everything your chickens consume, improving the health of your birds and creating organic eggs and chickens (if you choose to slaughter them). Another benefit of making organic food at home is that it is often fresher and more nutritious than commercial food.
What is the healthiest chicken food?
The healthiest chicken food is one that contains only organic ingredients and does not contain soy or fish meal. Soy has a high concentration of phytoestrogen and fishmeal has a high mercury content. Chickens also need to eat vegetable scraps and grow grass, insects and gravel to be healthy.
How do you feed chickens organically?
To be completely organic, you must make or buy organic chicken feed. This often includes whole corn, soft white wheat, hard red winter wheat, diatomaceous earth, hulled barley, oatmeal, sunflower seeds, peanuts, wheat bran, split peas, lentils, quinoa, sesame seeds and seaweed. You should also make sure that all the vegetables, leftovers and grasses they eat are organic and unsprayed.
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