8bells
Junior Member
Chickens are Revolting
Posts: 137
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Post by 8bells on Jan 18, 2011 15:13:18 GMT -6
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Post by Timbo on Jan 18, 2011 16:22:04 GMT -6
thats really good information thank you for sharing it. I would love to be able to do that with mine.
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Post by rinksgi on Jan 18, 2011 23:34:43 GMT -6
That is interesting. I try to free range mine,but I still have to feed them. I have seen recipes for feed,but it is always in large quantities. It would be wonderful to be able to mill our own feed.
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Post by gardendaddy on Jan 19, 2011 10:51:30 GMT -6
On a few notes for us to remember...MOST of the prepared "layer pellets/crumbles" most of us are using have ALREADY been used once. Most of the poultry feed available now in the US are the by-products from Ethanol distillers. Then it is sold in a "cake" form, mixed with some other ingredients, put through a press and extruded into either pellets or THAT by-product being the crumbles from the balance of the extruder mixture. Remembering that chickens are basically vegetarian in nature with the addition of worms, bugs, etc., I made my own plan last season I have mentioned before here. In good weather of this past spring, summer and fall I fed my pullets ALL of the grass clippings I caught in my lawnmower bagger and dumped into the coop where in a few short hours it was completely demolished and eaten. I also fed all of my garden cast offs...damaged vegetables...ie...tomatoes, eggplant, squash, cucumbers, okra, watermelon rinds or damaged ones and cantalope rinds, pumpkins/seeds, apples, pears (picked up from a friend who did not want them)...anything that I either could not rescue for the kitchen or freezer or that was harvested too late and was oversized, etc. I would put once blooming sunflower heads into the coop and they would eat both dried up and still "green" sunflower seeds/seed heads. I even gave them some mint, basil and lemon balm I had growing in the herb bed and they just loved those. I gave them the cosmos flowers when I would trim them back to promote fresh flower growth...they will eat almost anything blooming! They were eating what nature would have otherwise provided if I did not have them closed off from the yard and my inner city predators, both man and beast! I am all for a more natural way of feeding as best I can be, again being in the middle of Jackson in mid-town. Of course in this time of year it is hard to get fresh green stuff. I have mentioned that I get some "mark down" lettuce heads from Kroger often as well as any I do not use in the kitchen myself. I also have been trimming off the "Monkey Grass" from some flower beds here lately to give a few more greens and they like that as well. I have been going to the discount day old bread store and getting 3-loaves/$1.00 with a free one everyday you shop there and my birds will kill you to get at the bread bag. They see it coming and know what they like and I am almost attacked by "killer chickens" over a loaf of bread. I also give them some extra large quantities of some of the wheat straw I have been using for nest material as it contains lots of wheat seed heads. They have loved that as well. Now that I have written a book here (SORRY) I really wanted to just say I agree about the cost of feed and often so unnecessarily it seems right? But if any of you get up with "the chickens" before 5:00am as I often do, one can follow the grain reports on AG DAY on Channel 7/WBBJ in Jackson and I have noted last week that corn prices are on the way up and will set a record price later this year even before planting based on the grain "futures market"! So to say all that...we keepers must come up with more economical & NATURAL ways to feed our flocks and making them remain healthy or even more so with what we already have in our own plots, etc. Again, this turned into an epistle...just miss getting to talk in person to you guys I guess! I need to put this on my blog this week I guess for discussion. Mike...aka...Garden Daddy www.gardendaddy.blogspot.com
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Post by cks4me on Jan 19, 2011 13:18:20 GMT -6
I almost always give mine collards, cabbage, grapes, they love bread, oatmeal and other stuff. I don't cook much so they get fresh. In my yard I have the most invasive bermuda grass that I have never been successful having a garden, although I would love one. Last year I did a raised bed. The dumb guy who cuts the grass sprays the beds with the grass and it is as full as if it is a part of the yard. I would love to have a garden out in the pastrure. If any one has any ideas how to do that I sure would be open. Oh BTW I will also give them defrosted mixed vegs. I don't give them anything with sugar. When people find out all I give them, mostly bought, they think I am nuts but I really think it is the right thing to do. where is your blog? C
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Post by gardendaddy on Jan 19, 2011 15:32:27 GMT -6
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Post by cks4me on Jan 20, 2011 10:50:28 GMT -6
Oh sorry Mike. C
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Post by gardendaddy on Jan 20, 2011 12:45:23 GMT -6
No need to apologize...I try to add it sometimes in case anyone is interested.
Mike
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Post by ellisfarms on Jan 10, 2013 10:10:07 GMT -6
Anyone have a feed grinder for sale are know someone that does
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