Happy Chickens and A Lower Feed Bill & How to Handle an Aggressive Rooster
Like 1 Dislike 0 Published on 8 Apr 2016
Every day I add a little something to the run for them like the pulp from juicing fruits and vegetables, chicken-safe* leftovers from what we eat, leaves, the dirty straw/pine shavings from their coop, wood chips, and straw in the winter.
I top off the feeder in their coop with about a cup of seeds and grains (corn, black oil sunflower seeds, red and white wheat berries, etc.) when it needs it, which is maybe 1 or 2 times a week. They only eat it in passing as they're on their way outside in the morning.
I also supplement them with oyster shell and ground-up egg shells.
In the winter I give them pine branches and occasional fresh kale.
My chicken feed cost is about $80 a year: Twice a year I spend about $40 for a big bag of black oil sunflower seeds, thick cut rolled oats, white and red wheat berries, and organic corn. They eat most of it in the cold months.
*Foods not good for chickens: Onions, garlic, citrus, strawberry and tomato tops.