Making your own chicken feed is an economical and effective way to save money and have control of what goes into your flock’s meals. Plus, it helps keep your birds healthy and contented!
Homemade chicken feed should provide your poultry flock with all of their basic nutritional requirements, such as energy from grains, protein from sources, calcium and phosphorus from rocks, plus vitamins and minerals.
Contents
Cost
Farming and homesteaders who want to increase their self-sufficiency should consider making their own chicken feed. It’s cost effective than commercial products and can be tailored specifically for your requirements.
Depending on where you live, homemade chicken feed can be as cheap as $6 or $0.60 per 10 pounds. Plus, if you source ingredients from nearby mills, the cost per 10 pounds drops even lower.
For an optimal chicken ration, mix organic, non-GMO, soy free or corn free grains together to create one that is balanced and nutritionally for your chickens.
Chickens require protein to grow and produce eggs, so it’s essential that you provide them with a diet tailored for their size and age. Additionally, adding poultry vitamin/mineral supplements as well as free-range grit will guarantee your birds get all of the essential vitamins/minerals they require for optimal health.
Availability
Chicken feed is an essential factor in the health and welfare of your chickens. The type and amount of feed can significantly impact their growth rate, egg production, and meat quality.
Your chickens’ nutritional requirements differ based on their age. A balanced feed can supply all the essential vitamins and minerals your flock requires to grow and flourish.
Complete feeds provide your chickens with essential amino acids and high levels of protein, along with essential vitamins and minerals they require.
Pellets are the most widely available type of chicken feed on the market today. Not only are they convenient to handle and minimize waste production, but their high nutritional value also contributes to improved overall performance.
Crumbles are pellets that have been broken into smaller pieces, similar to oatmeal. These smaller portions make it easier for chickens to digest than mash or pellets.
Other healthy, nutritious options for your birds’ diet include shell grit and green forage. These supplements can provide essential vitamins and minerals while shielding your birds from disease.
Safety
Producing your own chicken feed is an excellent way to ensure the wellbeing of your flock. However, you should take certain safety precautions when doing this.
First, ensure you have all necessary equipment and ingredients. For this task, you will require a feed grinder and 5-gallon bucket to weigh ingredients.
It is essential to store your homemade feed in a dry and vermin-free space. Doing this helps minimize nutrient loss due to moisture exposure.
Another safe measure is to only use trusted ingredients in your products. This will help protect you against potential toxicity or allergies from the items you’re using.
In addition to the standard ingredients, you can add other supplements or boosters for even greater benefit to your chickens’ diet. Nutrients like probiotics and prebiotics help digestion so that your birds get all of the nutrition they need.
Time
No matter the breed of chicken you raise, the feed you provide them with plays a critical role in their health and productivity. Furthermore, it accounts for the majority of production costs when raising poultry.
A comprehensive chicken feed should contain the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals that chickens require for healthy growth and wellbeing. This includes carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins.
For younger chicks, mash is an ideal food choice. This mixture of cracked grains and other unprocessed ingredients has a granola-like consistency which encourages natural pecking behavior.
Crumble is an intermediate step between mash and pellets that should be fed to your chickens between 8-12 weeks of age, until they start producing eggs. It’s softer and easier to manage than mash, providing them with an easier transition into pellets.
Mixing your own chicken food takes some effort, especially if you are making a large quantity. But in the long run, it will save you money and give your flock an all-natural diet that promotes growth and health.
