Keeping chickens is a great way to get fresh food right from your backyard. Many people start this hobby because they want healthy eggs. Then they see the price of a bag of chicken feed at the store. It seems like the cost goes up every single month. If you are not careful, those free eggs can start to feel very expensive. I have spent a lot of time looking for ways to lower my bill. You do not have to spend a fortune to keep your birds happy and healthy. There are several ways to feed your flock for much less money. Most of these methods just take a little bit of extra time. I think the results are worth it because my birds actually look better now than they did on expensive store feed.
Let Your Chickens Find Their Own Food
The best way to save money on feed is to let the birds do the work. Chickens are natural hunters. They love to eat bugs, worms, and grass. If you have a fenced yard, let them out as much as possible. This is called free ranging. It gives them access to a diet that is high in protein and vitamins. I notice that my hens lay eggs with much darker yolks when they spend the day outside. The grass gives them extra nutrients that you just cannot find in a dry bag of pellets. It also keeps the birds busy so they do not peck at each other.
If you have a small yard, you can use a chicken tractor. This is a light coop that you move every day. It gives the birds fresh ground to explore without ruining your whole lawn. They will eat the weeds and clear out the pests for you. This is a win for you and a win for the chickens. You can find many more poultry tips on our main site at etubeguide. blogspot. com where we share daily advice for home growers. Using your land is the most natural way to cut your costs. You will find that they eat much less of the store bought grain when they have plenty of grass.
Try Fermenting Your Chicken Feed
This is a trick that many new chicken owners do not know about. Fermenting your feed is very simple. You just put your dry grain or pellets in a bucket and cover them with water. Let the bucket sit for about three days. You will start to see bubbles on top. This means the feed is fermenting. This process makes the food expand. Your chickens will feel full while eating much less total weight. It also makes the nutrients in the grain easier for their bodies to use. It adds good bacteria to their gut which keeps them healthy.
I use a two bucket system to keep a fresh supply ready. One bucket is ready to eat while the other one is just starting to soak. It only takes a few minutes of work each day. My birds love the taste of the wet feed. They often choose it over the dry stuff if I offer both. You will notice that there is much less waste on the ground too. Chickens tend to be messy with dry grain. They kick it around and it gets lost in the dirt. With wet, fermented feed, they tend to eat every single bite. This simple change can save you up to twenty percent on your monthly feed bill.
Use Your Kitchen Scraps Wisely
Your kitchen is a gold mine for chicken food. Most people throw away things that chickens think are treats. I keep a small bucket on my counter for scraps. Leftover salad, vegetable peelings, and even stale bread are great for them. I even give them the leftovers from my kids plates as long as the food is not too salty. Chickens can eat almost anything that humans eat. Just be sure to avoid things like raw beans or avocado skins. Those can be bad for birds. I also avoid giving them anything that has gone moldy.
Feeding scraps is a great way to recycle. It keeps waste out of the trash and turns it into eggs. I like to give the scraps in the afternoon. This gives the birds something to look forward to. It also helps when the weather gets cold. Feeding costs change with the seasons. When it gets cold, birds need more energy to stay alive. You should also learn How to Keep Backyard Chickens Warm in Winter Without Electricity so they don't burn all their calories just staying warm. High energy scraps like corn or oats are perfect for chilly evenings. This keeps their internal heaters running through the night.
Buy Your Grain in Bulk from Local Sources
Buying small bags of feed at a pet store is the most expensive way to do things. The packaging and the brand name add a lot to the price. I suggest looking for a local grain mill or a farm nearby. Many farmers sell grain by the hundred pound bag. This is usually much cheaper than the store. You might have to drive a little further to get it. However, if you buy enough for three months, the savings are huge. You just need a good way to store it so it stays dry. I use large metal trash cans with tight lids. This keeps the mice and rats away from the grain.
You can also talk to your neighbors. If you have a few friends with chickens, you can buy a whole pallet of feed together. This often gets you a discount from the supplier. Another tip is to look for scratch grain instead of just pellets. Scratch is often a mix of corn and wheat. It is cheaper than complete feed. I use it as a topper to make the expensive feed last longer. I also grow my own sunflowers in the summer. The seeds are a great source of fat for the birds. I just hang the whole flower head in the coop and let them peck at it. It provides food and entertainment at the same time.
Saving money on chicken feed does not have to be hard. It just requires a different way of thinking about your daily routine. If you use a mix of foraging, fermenting, and bulk buying, you will see your costs drop fast. Your hens will still lay plenty of eggs. In fact, they might even be healthier because of the variety in their diet. Start with one of these tips this week and see how it goes for your flock. You will be surprised at how much you can save by making small changes. I hope these ideas help you keep your backyard birds without breaking the bank.