How do you reduce feed cost?

[patricimo54]

I have semi free range chickens. That is to say I try to keep them in their yard for about half the day. This helps to keep the eggs in the coop and not in the hay shed or else where.

When I find eggs that have been layed around the property or I have surplus quail eggs, I hard boil them,



Then I smash them.



I will also add any fresh kitchen waste to the mix and feed this to my hens. As long as you crush them before feeding them the girls will eat them and not mess with what is in the egg box.

I live in the land of lizards and my hens are always looking for animal protein. Hopefully I am slowing down their drive to hunt lizards, satisfy their need for protein, and eliminate other wise wasted eggs

What alternate means do you employee?

[cam]

Free ranging definitely helps, as well as feeding kitchen scraps and recycling their eggs.

I scaled back my chicken numbers drastically this past fall. Only have 3 hens now. When I had close to 25 hens, I often asked the local grocery produce manager if I could have any damaged or spoiled produce that came off the line or off the truck. Usually wasn't a problem unless it was already spoken for.

If you know someone who works around food, it can be a great resource. 2 years ago I fattened up a feral hog for a cookout by asking for the scraps at the nursing home I do therapy at. Every day at lunch they brought me a 5 gallon bucket of gruel. That hog LOVED seeing my truck pull up.

If you want to bump up their protein intake, don't overlook dog food. I was looking at some of the .50/can stuff the other day and a lot of the ingredients are beef, beef broth, wheat...fairly good stuff. I would only feed it as a supplement tho.

I'll be watching this thread for ideas too.

Cam

[ninedeer]

ice cream pale in the kitchen to save table scrapes,chicken bones from the local restaurant,I know that just ain't right but they love oicking the bones.oat cleaning from the farm down the road.

[mikeinpa]

I wouldn't feed em eggs! youll have egg eaters on your hands in no time

[patricimo54]

Jun 7, 2013 21:02:24 GMT -5 mikeinpa said:

I wouldn't feed em eggs! youll have egg eaters on your hands in no time

That is what I would have thought as well if I hadn't have tried it and been doing so for months with out any broken eggs.

I hard boil them and smash them and they are quickly consumed by Buff Orpentons. They haven't pecked any of their eggs nor the ducks.

[Admin]

How do I reduce feed cost? The chopping block. The day is near.

[determinator]

Seems like the ultimate way, JC.

[Admin]

Jun 8, 2013 19:31:59 GMT -5 determinator said:

Seems like the ultimate way, JC.

Seems to work.

[Admin]

I sold 7 of my birds yesterday so now I'm down to 5 hens. That's more like it. It's not good when there's so many eggs in the fridge there's no room for beer.

[patricimo54]

Jun 14, 2013 5:37:41 GMT -5 Admin said:

I sold 7 of my birds yesterday so now I'm down to 5 hens. That's more like it. It's not good when there's so many eggs in the fridge there's no room for beer.

I know what ya mean. I am down to 5 hens and that is about 3 too many.