tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post2263666072212071369..comments2023-07-04T06:34:33.249-07:00Comments on Life Through The Cracks: Chicken FeedRuth Trowbridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02504906924681540699noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-22334799596367937882010-01-16T21:04:20.247-08:002010-01-16T21:04:20.247-08:00I don't begrudge the chickens the best basic f...I don't begrudge the chickens the best basic food I can buy them. Purina Layena keeps them healthy and producing. In the summer they gets lots of extra stuff and less Layena. Sometimes one of the nearby farms grows safflower and I pick up some sacks of that very cheap. I give them lawn clippings, old pumpkins, broken watermelons from the local fruit stand. When they're molting I buy game bird mix, which has whole grains, calf manna and fish oil pellets. They need more nourishment when they're growing new feathers. An alternative to that is a sack of cheap cat food as a supplement.<br /><br />In the winter, though, they need more energy than they can get from greens. If I was on a budget, I'd buy commercial feed in the winter and do other things in the summer. <br /><br />Any time of the year, a few flakes of alfalfa hay will keep them busy and full. <br /><br />I mostly cut down on the feed bill, though, by not keeping more hens than I need and by keeping Anconas rather than the bigger Rocks and RI Reds. The Anconas are better producers and don't eat as much. They're hardier than some of the other Mediterranean egg-laying breeds, though.Jan Blawathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06697621979002856884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-60992167425344724802010-01-15T06:04:34.827-08:002010-01-15T06:04:34.827-08:00oh and thank you for your card...it came THIS MORN...oh and thank you for your card...it came THIS MORNING!!!John Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-41744503015688162122010-01-14T13:44:36.607-08:002010-01-14T13:44:36.607-08:00i use organic pellets. that's the best I can d...i use organic pellets. that's the best I can do........<br />love the turkeys.....looks like Boris x 2<br /><br />are they named?John Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-64908007723758738532010-01-14T08:28:36.857-08:002010-01-14T08:28:36.857-08:00The whole chicken feed issue is one that we have b...The whole chicken feed issue is one that we have been working towards become more self-sufficient in as well. I worry that without our own alternative sources for for feed we could have serious issues in the future as our feed prices have also been steadily increasing. <br /><br />By the way, I stopped by Amazon this morning.:)Mr. H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576034751522467377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-77697898664150315832010-01-14T07:52:03.676-08:002010-01-14T07:52:03.676-08:00yes, it costs a fortune to feed 'em now.yes, it costs a fortune to feed 'em now.Joanna@BooneDocksWilcoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11889259406024845745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-73090067116985912642010-01-14T03:35:02.288-08:002010-01-14T03:35:02.288-08:00I would like to hear what people are doing in zone...I would like to hear what people are doing in zones 4 and colder. We had some ideas sf using a scythe to harvest the peas and oats cover crop or buckwheat and feed 'dried on the stem' but it is all theoretical-for next winter. Thanks for the discussion Ruth!Hickchickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09569529847455539317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750393598527843244.post-67977781821167898412010-01-13T18:30:57.809-08:002010-01-13T18:30:57.809-08:00I so want to grow my own feed ! Well for the poult...I so want to grow my own feed ! Well for the poultry any way.I bought several small selections of different grains to try,it is sometimes difficult to find things to grow here!Amaranth is one of the ones I got and sunflowers which I know will grow if I can keep the coons from eating them all!<br /><br />This is a difficult area to homestead in,uncooperative and harsh weather make it a challenge.We have to live where Hubby's job is.Retirement is probably 15 years away!I am hoping for the mountains, any nice tree covered sparsely populated mountains..sigh!Melodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03795916460978775241noreply@blogger.com