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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChickens, like us, have specific nutritional needs if they are to stay healthy and produce plenty of large, good-quality eggs or meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is why before you take the plunge and start making your own chicken feed, you first need to understand what these nutritional requirements are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For complete food, you will need to supply your birds with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Protein <\/strong>\u2013 They need this to build muscle, repair and rebuild body tissue and feathers, and create eggs.<\/li>
- Carbohydrates<\/strong> \u2013 These are the energy source for your chooks, it helps them lay eggs, keep warm, actively forage when free-range and maintains a good weight.<\/li>
- Fat<\/strong> \u2013 Also used for energy, fat keeps your birds warm during cold weather and is used to process fat-soluble vitamins.<\/li>
- Vitamins and Minerals<\/strong> \u2013 These help keep your birds healthy. Minerals also help keep the body functioning correctly and are needed to make blood, new body tissue and build strong bones.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In addition to these basic components, chickens need plenty of clean, fresh water, insoluble grit to help them grind down food in their gizzard, and calcium for laying hens which can be supplemented in the form of crushed oyster shells. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commercial chicken foods are designed for modern chickens, and these differ from older traditional breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In large industrial settings, meat birds (broilers) need to grow fast, really fast, and the feed they are given is very high in protein to help them achieve this. Because they are only going to live for a short time, the food isn\u2019t formulated to keep them healthy, only to make them grow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similarly, battery hens have been bred to be egg-laying machines. Again they only have a very short life, and they are fed to produce the greatest number of large eggs possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even heritage or historic breeds of chicken raised in hatcheries are not the same as they used to be. So getting birds that are hardy, forage well, and are easy to keep can be a lot more difficult today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Best Chicken Breeds for Free-ranging and Home Made Chicken Food<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you want sturdy, healthy hens that are easy to feed and can often serve as not only laying birds but table birds too, then there are few breeds that are a better bet than others, these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Easter Eggers<\/li>
- Orpingtons<\/li>
- Welsummers<\/li>
- Brown Leghorn<\/li>
- Sussex<\/li>
- Rhode Island Red<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Generally, making homemade food for broiler chickens is more complex because they require a high protein content. Layer and dual-purpose breeds are easier to accommodate and get good results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Feed Chickens Without Buying Feed?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nIf you have quite a few chickens, the cost of feed can soon add up. Not only that, but if you want to raise organic birds, then you don\u2019t want to feed them on a non-organic commercial feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are some ways to feed your hens without buying food, or at least greatly reduce the amount you need to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Free Range<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
By allowing your birds to forage for themselves over a large acreage, they will be able to find food for themselves quite naturally. This is definitely the most natural way for birds to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The downside to this may be that you\u2019re not sure of exactly what they are eating. So it\u2019s hard to tell if they\u2019re getting the nutrition they need to stay healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, many breeds of chicken do very well if they are given access to good foraging sites. They will eat insects, small rodents, lizards, worms, snails, weeds, fruits, and seeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Letting your hens free-range means not only will they be selecting what they naturally want to eat, but they will also be helping you out by eating things you don\u2019t want around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kitchen Scraps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Leftover veg, salad, fruit, plain yogurts even some meat scraps can make great food for your chickens. A couple of things to remember is that you must never give your hens rotting food that is moldy as this can make them sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Junk food is another no-no. You want them to stay healthy, so don\u2019t feed them processed foods high in fat, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farmers Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- Carbohydrates<\/strong> \u2013 These are the energy source for your chooks, it helps them lay eggs, keep warm, actively forage when free-range and maintains a good weight.<\/li>
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