Buzz
DIY chicken feed ensures your backyard chickens stay healthy and content. Photo credit: Erika Norris / Shutterstock.Raising your own chickens provides the advantage of cheap, organic eggs and meat. However, in many areas, sourcing organic commercial feed can be both difficult and expensive. This is where DIY chicken feed becomes a game-changer, allowing you to take control of your chickens' diet while ensuring everything is organic.
While it's possible to buy organic chicken feed online or through special orders from feed stores, it can be both inconvenient and costly. Although the price still beats that of commercially raised poultry products (and is more humane!), homesteaders often seek ways to trim costs where they can.
Essential Facts About Homemade Organic Chicken Feed
If your backyard chickens are free-ranging or on pasture, they'll consume a wide variety of forage. From critters like mice and bugs to plants and even your prized tomatoes, chickens will peck at almost anything. With the addition of food scraps, your flock is likely getting a well-rounded diet. You don't need to stress too much about the perfect ingredient balance, as the feed serves more as a supplement than a primary food source.
When making your own homemade organic chicken feed, it's essential to use only organic ingredients. Be cautious of soy and fish meal, though. Soy contains high levels of phyto-estrogens, which can be concerning for some. Fish meal may also have elevated mercury levels, which you’ll want to avoid. Luckily, there are plenty of great organic ingredients to choose from, so there’s no need to settle for questionable options.
You should be able to find most of the ingredients for your chicken feed in organic form. Items like lentils, quinoa, and barley are commonly available at grocery and health food stores, often in bulk. For a few specialty items, such as oyster shells, you might need to visit your local feed store. If something is hard to find in your area, ordering it online is always an option.
A Recipe for Homemade Chicken Feed
There are plenty of homemade chicken feed recipes available online, but this one is a favorite of ours, shared by Backyard Chicken Coops. This recipe is perfect for both laying hens to boost egg production and meat birds.
- 2 parts whole corn
- 3 parts soft white wheat
- 3 parts hard red winter wheat
- ½ part Diatomaceous Earth (make sure it's not the kind used in swimming pools)
- 1 part hulled barley
- 1 part oat groats
- 2 parts black oil sunflower seeds
- ½ part peanuts
- 1 part wheat bran
- 1 part split peas
- 1 part lentils
- 1 part quinoa
- 1 part sesame seeds
- ½ part kelp
Combine the feed ingredients by hand until everything is evenly mixed. And just like that, you've created your very own homemade chicken feed!
Make sure to provide grit and oyster shell calcium in separate containers so your chickens can help themselves as needed. For more helpful advice, check out the forum at Backyard Chickens.
How to Maintain Freshness in Chicken Feed
When you prepare your own homemade organic chicken feed, you have full control over the ingredients. It's tempting to make large batches to save time, but resist that urge. One of the advantages of homemade feed is its freshness, which often means it retains more of its nutrients compared to store-bought options.
When mixing your own homemade chicken feed, it's easy to think making a big batch at once will save time. However, this can backfire. Feed can spoil over time, potentially making your chickens sick or leaving you with a lot of feed that you'll have to discard.
One of the key advantages of homemade chicken feed is its freshness, which helps preserve more of its nutritional value, vitamins, and minerals. Don't undermine this benefit by making a large batch that will sit around for too long.
Store your freshly made feed in a covered container, kept in a cool, dry spot where pests can’t reach it. Metal and plastic containers are both effective choices, but be cautious with any container that could trap moisture with the feed. Excess moisture can encourage the growth of harmful fungus that produces mycotoxins, which can be toxic to your chickens.
