Ready to save a few more dollars on your chicken feed bill?
If you’re still buy the organic, un-medicated, commercial chicken feed, I’m sure you are. That stuff makes home-grown eggs EXPENSIVE!
I’m happy to tell you there’s hope. You don’t have to stay on commercial feed for your whole chicken-raising life. There are many small things you can do that—when combined—can take you off of store-bought chicken feed.
You can’t break away from commercial feed with only one alternate food source though. You need to have food coming from multiple sources before you can completely take your chickens off commercial feed. It’s not impossible though. Check out my article, 10 Ways to Save Money on Your Chicken Feed Bill to learn more.
One thing you can do is strategically feed them your food scraps. The key to that sentence is strategically. Almost all chicken-raisers feed their chickens food scraps from their kitchen. Taking it to the next level can help you cut your feed bill even more.
Disclosure: Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you make a purchase. Read the full disclosure here.
As in everything homesteading we want it to be holistic. Instead of food scraps being trash, now they are chicken food. Or go further and use them as an ingredient to multiply your chicken food (I’ll explain how to in a minute).
When you’re thinking with a holistic mindset you’ll always will be benefitting more than one thing. There are multiple dimensions and aspects to consider on the homestead. Let’s take as many of them as possible into consideration.
The chickens benefit…
Your wallet benefits…
Your garden/homestead benefits…
Chickens can eat pretty much everything, but there are a few bad-for-chickens foods you need to know about. You can find 11 Things not to feed chickens here. (There is also a downloadable free PDF chart you can print and have near your kitchen for a quick summery.)
Way #1. Straight From the Kitchen
This is the simplest way. Also, it’s a key basic to a holistic homestead. If you aren’t feeding food scraps from your kitchen to your chickens, it’s time to start now!
It’s super easy. Just grab a bucket and set it in a central location in your kitchen. Whenever you have food chickens can eat, throw it in. At the end of the day or as often as you’d like, take them out and feed them to your flock.
Way #2. Earthworms & Vermicompsting
Raising earthworms is another way you can use your food scraps. After they multiply, you then feed the worms to your chickens or use them in the garden. You will also have vermicompost for your garden which is one of the best composts.
Way #3. Grow Other Bugs
Besides earthworms, there are many other wriggly creatures you can raise for your chickens. Depending on your climate, some of these might be better than others. Here’s a quick list to get you thinking:
All of these have one thing in common…you feed them food scraps. The bugs—by eating them—multiply your kitchen scraps. There are now more bugs than there were scraps. The chickens get more food and need less commercial feed.
Learn more about raising bugs and earthworms for your chickens here.
Way #4. Food Scraps, Compost, Bugs & Chickens
This is my favorite way to use food scraps. It’s not that much work, and yet you get more out of your food scraps. This system is a great holistic combination!
Instead of having your chickens eat all of the food scraps right away…
Instead of using the food scraps to confinement-raise bugs and all the work that entails…
Instead of making compost for the garden in an enclosed area, away from your chickens…
What if you mixed them all together? Here’s how to get the most benefits for your whole homestead out of your food scraps:
Here’s what will happen:
More detailed instructions coming soon!
This is easy and one of the most productive ways you can use your food scraps. Can you see all the ways this can save you money? This method is the most holistic and therefore, you will save the most money in many ways (more than just your chickens’ feed bill). How?
First you are providing them food, which means they’ll eat less commercial feed.
Second, you’re also making compost, which means a better garden, pasture or trees. You don’t have to buy compost now.
Remember in this whole process of getting your flock off of commercial feed, you need two things:
Links on this page may be affiliate links, so I may get a small commission if you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting this blog! 🤗 Read the full disclosure here.
Soli Deo Gloria! (Glory Be to God Alone!) ~ Julia
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Soli Deo Gloria! (Glory Be to God Alone!)
~ Julia
Hey there! I'm Julia. I live in Arizona on 2.5 acres, with HOT summers☀️, lots of cacti🌵 and amazing sunsets🌅! A sinner saved by grace, I'm also a homeschool graduate🎓. The oldest of six, I live with my family at home🏡. Serving the King, Jesus Christ, above all is my number one goal. Read more --> |
psst...Instagram is my favorite 👇😉
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