With the concerns of feeding commercially produced feeds that are GMO, it makes sense to consider producing your own feed. After all, if you’re raising poultry for your family’s table, you naturally want to give them the most nutritious and healthy food source you can provide. We believe Grandma was correct when she said, “You are what you eat.”---for both humans and animals.
At Peace Of Eden, we are striving not only to become more self sustainable, but also to avoid GMOs in our feed source, and that means we’re looking for alternative ways to feed our animals. Free-ranged poultry do very well meeting most of their nutritional needs in a natural and organic way; however, in our climate, the birds cannot be expected to range for their total sustenance, and they certainly are not able to range for food in the winter. There are also times when we must pen our birds for breeding purposes. Therefore, we have set about researching the needs of the birds and finding ways to grow and/or produce our own poultry food that will keep us out of the commercially produced GMO feed “fiasco”.
At Peace Of Eden, we are striving not only to become more self sustainable, but also to avoid GMOs in our feed source, and that means we’re looking for alternative ways to feed our animals. Free-ranged poultry do very well meeting most of their nutritional needs in a natural and organic way; however, in our climate, the birds cannot be expected to range for their total sustenance, and they certainly are not able to range for food in the winter. There are also times when we must pen our birds for breeding purposes. Therefore, we have set about researching the needs of the birds and finding ways to grow and/or produce our own poultry food that will keep us out of the commercially produced GMO feed “fiasco”.
We raise heritage breeds of poultry, with large protein requirements. These birds are omnivores, meaning they prefer some meat in their diet, usually from insects. For laying purposes, they also need a good source of calcium. And for energy, they should have adequate carbohydrates in their diet, as well. Poultry also have different needs at different stages in their lives. When considering producing your own poultry feed, you should understand all these needs and requirements to ensure you are offering as complete and balanced a diet for your birds as you possibly can.
After much deliberation, we decided on the following formula for our adult flocks.
Some of the ingredients we are not producing/adding at the time of this writing, but we are planning to have them fully integrated by the end of this year. Please note that we are not nutritionists or experts in the field of poultry feed; this is simply what we have incorporated (or plan to incorporate) into our adult birds’ diet with success.
Some of the ingredients we are not producing/adding at the time of this writing, but we are planning to have them fully integrated by the end of this year. Please note that we are not nutritionists or experts in the field of poultry feed; this is simply what we have incorporated (or plan to incorporate) into our adult birds’ diet with success.
Ingredient % of Daily Feed
Whole Oats* 25%
Red Wheat* 25%
Duckweed 15%
BOSS 10%
nonGMO corn* 5%
Mealworms 5%
Quinoa* 5%
Flax* 5%
Loose Trace Mineral 2.5%
Diatomaceous Earth 2.5%
(food grade only)
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*fermented and/or sprouted grain
Main benefits of each ingredient when added to the daily ration:
Oats are high in fiber and phosphorus; Wheat is high in iron, manganese, and zinc; fresh Duckweed is about 94% water, which aids in hydration, and it’s very high in protein; BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) is a good source of vitamin E, energy and fiber, as well as magnesium and selenium; Flax is high in Omega 3s and provides fiber; nonGMO Corn (shelled/whole) is high in carbohydrates and is therefore a very good energy source, and poultry love it---which increases their intake of this feed formula; Quinoa has an excellent amino acid profile and is high in the vitamin Bs; Mealworms are a good energy source and are high in protein; Loose Mineral Trace Salt ensures a variety of minerals is ingested; food grade Diatomaceous Earth (never use anything other than food grade DE) is a good source of calcium.
In addition to the above ingredients, we offer oyster shell and grit free choice, even to the ranged birds. Grit is extremely important when feeding whole grains, so that the gizzard functions correctly to break down the ingested grains. Old milk and crushed (cooked) eggshells are offered as available, to further support the calcium sources provided. Table scraps in moderation, as well as culls from the garden, are also good additions to the poultry diets. Supplementing the birds’ drinking water with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) that contains the mother in it is also recommended; the ACV adds probiotics and boosts calcium absorption, and is said to have antiseptic qualities due to its acidic makeup. The general recommended amount is about a tablespoon per gallon.
Whole Oats* 25%
Red Wheat* 25%
Duckweed 15%
BOSS 10%
nonGMO corn* 5%
Mealworms 5%
Quinoa* 5%
Flax* 5%
Loose Trace Mineral 2.5%
Diatomaceous Earth 2.5%
(food grade only)
_________________________________
*fermented and/or sprouted grain
Main benefits of each ingredient when added to the daily ration:
Oats are high in fiber and phosphorus; Wheat is high in iron, manganese, and zinc; fresh Duckweed is about 94% water, which aids in hydration, and it’s very high in protein; BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) is a good source of vitamin E, energy and fiber, as well as magnesium and selenium; Flax is high in Omega 3s and provides fiber; nonGMO Corn (shelled/whole) is high in carbohydrates and is therefore a very good energy source, and poultry love it---which increases their intake of this feed formula; Quinoa has an excellent amino acid profile and is high in the vitamin Bs; Mealworms are a good energy source and are high in protein; Loose Mineral Trace Salt ensures a variety of minerals is ingested; food grade Diatomaceous Earth (never use anything other than food grade DE) is a good source of calcium.
In addition to the above ingredients, we offer oyster shell and grit free choice, even to the ranged birds. Grit is extremely important when feeding whole grains, so that the gizzard functions correctly to break down the ingested grains. Old milk and crushed (cooked) eggshells are offered as available, to further support the calcium sources provided. Table scraps in moderation, as well as culls from the garden, are also good additions to the poultry diets. Supplementing the birds’ drinking water with Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) that contains the mother in it is also recommended; the ACV adds probiotics and boosts calcium absorption, and is said to have antiseptic qualities due to its acidic makeup. The general recommended amount is about a tablespoon per gallon.
Chicks have different nutritional needs than adults.
They require about 20% protein in their diets and should not have the high levels of calcium needed by hens. We give our chicks organic, non-medicated commercial chick start for the first 3 weeks after hatch. We then put them on grass/clover in chick tractors and move them daily to new ground. At this time, we also supplement with fermented wheat and oats. Grit is extremely important, as well. You can also put ACV into their water for added benefits, and a little bit of mealworms and duckweed are nice occasional treats. Some people boil egg yolks, mash them, and feed them to baby chicks; we haven't tried this yet, but would like to explore using the yolks with our hatches this year.
They require about 20% protein in their diets and should not have the high levels of calcium needed by hens. We give our chicks organic, non-medicated commercial chick start for the first 3 weeks after hatch. We then put them on grass/clover in chick tractors and move them daily to new ground. At this time, we also supplement with fermented wheat and oats. Grit is extremely important, as well. You can also put ACV into their water for added benefits, and a little bit of mealworms and duckweed are nice occasional treats. Some people boil egg yolks, mash them, and feed them to baby chicks; we haven't tried this yet, but would like to explore using the yolks with our hatches this year.
In our next blog, Producing Your Own Chicken Feed Part 2, we will discuss growing, harvesting and storing some of the feed listed above, as well as growing feed plots to allow your birds to forage.