11 Local Chicken Feed Resources That Save You Money Naturally

Rising feed costs make it challenging to maintain a profitable backyard flock but you’ll be surprised by how many free or low-cost local resources can nourish your chickens. Nature provides an abundance of nutritious options right in your backyard – from kitchen scraps and garden waste to foraged plants and insects that can supplement commercial feed. By learning to identify and utilize these local resources you’ll not only reduce your chicken-keeping expenses but also provide your flock with a more diverse and natural diet.

Sustainable chicken feeding isn’t just about saving money – it’s about creating a closed-loop system where your birds benefit from resources that might otherwise go to waste. Whether you’re an experienced chicken keeper or just starting out understanding how to leverage local feed sources will transform how you approach flock nutrition and management.

Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Your Chickens

Proper nutrition forms the foundation of a healthy and productive flock. Meeting your chickens’ dietary requirements through local resources starts with understanding their basic nutritional needs.

Essential Nutrients for Healthy Chickens

Your chickens need six key nutrients for optimal health and egg production. Protein supports muscle development and egg production with requirements ranging from 16-20% for laying hens. Carbohydrates provide energy through grains like corn and wheat. Fats help absorb vitamins and maintain body temperature at 3-5% of diet. Vitamins A D E and B complex support immune function and egg production. Minerals including calcium phosphorus and trace elements ensure strong bones and shells. Fresh water must always be available as it’s crucial for digestion and egg formation.

Hey hey, be sure to sign up & receive fun & interesting updates…

Daily Feeding Requirements

A typical laying hen needs 1/4 to 1/3 pound of complete feed daily adjusted for size and production level. Here’s the optimal daily intake breakdown:

Feed Component	Amount per Chicken
Grains/Carbs	2-3 oz
Protein Sources	1-1.5 oz
Greens/Vegetables	1-2 oz
Grit/Minerals	0.1-0.2 oz
Fresh Water	2 cups

Feed requirements vary based on age breed season and laying status. Free-range chickens supplementing with insects and forage may need less commercial feed while maintaining proper nutrition levels.

Foraging Natural Resources in Your Backyard

Transform your backyard into a natural feeding ground for your chickens by identifying and utilizing existing resources.

Common Edible Plants and Weeds

Your backyard likely contains numerous chicken-friendly plants that provide essential nutrients. Dandelions offer high levels of vitamins A D & K while chickweed contains beneficial protein & minerals. Common plantain clovers & grass seeds serve as excellent foraging options. Let your chickens feast on lamb’s quarters purslane & wood sorrel which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Create designated growing areas for these plants to ensure a sustainable food source throughout the growing season.

Insects and Grubs as Protein Sources

Enable natural protein foraging by encouraging beneficial insects in your yard. Create bug-friendly zones with leaf piles mulch & rotting logs to attract earthworms beetles & grubs. Install a compost pile where chickens can scratch for soldier fly larvae which contain up to 40% protein. Turn over garden soil regularly to expose insects & allow chickens supervised access to these areas. During warm months grasshoppers crickets & other insects provide additional protein sources that chickens naturally seek out.

Growing Your Own Chicken Feed Ingredients

Cultivating your own chicken feed ingredients lets you control quality while reducing costs. Here’s how to grow nutritious options in your garden space.

Fast-Growing Grains and Seeds

Plant quick-maturing grains like buckwheat that reaches harvest in 6-8 weeks or amaranth ready in 10-12 weeks. Sunflowers provide protein-rich seeds in 80-120 days depending on variety. Dedicate rows to millet quinoa or field corn which mature in 3-4 months. Consider succession planting these grains every 2-3 weeks during growing season for continuous harvest. Focus on varieties that don’t require extensive processing like naked oats or popping corn.

Nutrient-Rich Garden Vegetables

Grow nutrient-dense vegetables that produce abundant yields in small spaces. Plant kale swiss chard and collard greens for year-round leafy greens production. Include root crops like turnips beets and carrots that offer both tops and roots as feed. Maximize vertical space with climbing peas and pole beans which fix nitrogen while providing protein. Choose varieties that store well like winter squash and pumpkins for extended feeding periods.

Sustainable Cover Crops

Integrate cover crops that serve multiple purposes in your feeding system. Plant clover alfalfa or vetch to improve soil fertility while providing protein-rich forage. Use winter rye or wheat as both soil protection and future grain source. Austrian winter peas offer ground coverage during cold months plus spring feed. Rotate these crops through garden beds to maintain soil health while producing continuous chicken feed ingredients.

Converting Kitchen Scraps Into Feed

Transform your everyday kitchen waste into nutritious chicken feed while reducing household food costs and waste.

Safe Food Waste Options

Feed your chickens these kitchen scraps to supplement their diet:

• Vegetable trimmings like carrot tops lettuce ends & cucumber peels
• Fruit scraps including apple cores berries & melon rinds
• Cooked grains such as rice quinoa & pasta
• Stale bread products & expired crackers
• Crushed eggshells for calcium supplementation
• Overripe produce from your refrigerator

Avoid feeding:

• Raw or green potato peels
• Avocado pits & skins
• Onions & garlic
• Moldy or spoiled foods
• Chocolate & candy
• Raw beans

Composting and Fermentation Methods

Create nutrient-rich feed through these preservation methods:

Bokashi Fermentation:

• Layer kitchen scraps with bokashi bran in an airtight container
• Let ferment for 2 weeks
• Mix with regular feed at 20% ratio

Simple Composting:

• Create a three-bin system for different decomposition stages
• Add kitchen scraps to the first bin
• Turn weekly until material breaks down
• Screen finished compost to remove large pieces
• Mix with commercial feed at 10% ratio

Keep scraps in sealed containers between feedings to prevent pest issues & maintain freshness.

Sourcing From Local Farmers

Building Relationships With Grain Producers

Connect with local grain farmers to secure fresh feed ingredients at competitive prices. Start by visiting nearby farms during harvest season to inquire about purchasing excess grains like corn wheat or soybeans. Build trust by committing to regular small purchases and offering flexible pickup times that work with their schedule. Many farmers appreciate steady local customers and may offer better prices for direct sales compared to retail outlets. Contact your county’s agriculture extension office to find grain producers in your area.

Seasonal Feed Opportunities

Take advantage of seasonal harvest periods to stock up on affordable feed ingredients. Purchase corn after fall harvest when prices typically drop purchase damaged produce from vegetable farmers and collect field gleaning permissions from local orchards. Some farmers offer discounted rates on weather-damaged grains that aren’t suitable for human consumption but remain perfectly safe for chickens. Look for opportunities to collect crop residues like sunflower heads after seed harvest or bean plants after pod collection. Join local farming groups on social media to stay informed about seasonal availability.

Processing and Storing Local Feed Materials

Proper processing and storage of local feed materials helps maintain nutritional value and prevents spoilage. Here’s what you need to know about equipment and storage solutions.

Basic Equipment Needed

• A grain mill or grinder for processing whole grains into digestible form
• Food-grade storage containers with airtight seals
• Mesh screens in various sizes for cleaning and sorting feed
• A moisture meter to check grain and seed moisture content
• Basic kitchen tools like knives buckets and cutting boards for processing vegetables
• A dehydrator or drying racks for preserving excess produce
• A scale to measure feed portions accurately
• Clean feed scoops designated for different ingredients

• Store grains in food-grade bins or metal containers off the ground on pallets
• Keep moisture levels below 13% for grains to prevent mold growth
• Label containers with contents and storage dates
• Use bay leaves or food-grade diatomaceous earth to prevent pests
• Rotate stock using the “first in first out” method
• Store feed in a cool dry location away from direct sunlight
• Check stored feed weekly for signs of moisture or pest activity
• Separate different feed ingredients to prevent cross-contamination
• Process only what you can use within 2-3 months

Supplementing Local Feed Resources

Essential Minerals and Vitamins

Chickens need specific minerals and vitamins to maintain optimal health that local feeds might not fully provide. Mix crushed oyster shells or limestone into feed to supply calcium for strong eggshells at a rate of 4% of total feed volume. Add trace mineral supplements including selenium zinc and manganese at 0.1% of feed mix. Offer free-choice grit made from granite or quartz to help chickens digest fibrous local ingredients. Consider adding kelp meal at 2% of feed mix to provide natural iodine and micronutrients.

Commercial Feed Integration

Blend commercial layer feed with local ingredients at a 60:40 ratio to ensure nutritional balance. Start with 75% commercial feed and gradually increase local resources over 2-3 weeks while monitoring egg production. Track protein levels to maintain 16-18% in the total diet for laying hens. Mix fresh ingredients daily and remove any uneaten portions after 12 hours to prevent spoilage. Keep detailed records of which local feed combinations maintain optimal egg laying to refine your mix over time.

Creating Balanced Feed Formulations

Creating balanced feed formulations with local resources requires careful attention to nutritional ratios and ingredient combinations to maintain optimal chicken health and egg production.

Basic Feed Mixing Guidelines

Start with a base mix of 60% grains (corn wheat or barley) 20% protein sources (field peas sunflower seeds or local legumes) and 20% nutrient-dense ingredients (dried herbs kelp or ground seeds). Use a kitchen scale to measure ingredients accurately. Mix small batches weekly to maintain freshness and adjust proportions based on ingredient availability. Remember to supplement with crushed eggshells or oyster shells for calcium and provide free-choice grit for digestion.

Seasonal Feed Adjustments

Increase protein content to 22% during molting season and reduce carbohydrates in summer months when chickens eat less. Add extra corn and grains in winter for energy (up to 65% of mix) while maintaining 18% protein levels. Incorporate seasonal ingredients like fresh greens in spring fallen apples in autumn and sprouted grains in winter when fresh vegetation is scarce. Track egg production to fine-tune ratios as seasons change and adjust portions of fresh ingredients based on their water content.

Cost Benefits of Local Feed Resources

Local feed resources offer significant economic advantages for chicken keepers while promoting sustainable practices.

Reducing Feed Expenses

Using local feed resources can cut commercial feed costs by 30-60% annually. Kitchen scraps can replace up to 25% of your chickens’ daily feed needs at zero cost. Growing nutrient-dense crops like sunflowers amaranth and buckwheat yields $3-5 worth of feed per square foot. Partnering with local farmers for grain screenings or damaged produce often costs 50-75% less than retail feed prices. Seasonal foraging provides free nutrition during spring and summer months reducing feed bills by $10-15 per chicken.

Feed Source	Potential Cost Savings
Kitchen Scraps	25% reduction
Home-grown Grains	$3-5/sq ft
Local Farm Partnerships	50-75% discount
Seasonal Foraging	$10-15/chicken

Environmental Impact Considerations

Local feed sourcing reduces transportation emissions by eliminating long-distance shipping of commercial feeds. Home-grown feeds require no packaging reducing plastic waste by 100-150 pounds annually for a 10-hen flock. Converting kitchen scraps to feed diverts 400-600 pounds of organic waste from landfills yearly. Free-range foraging helps control pest insects naturally while chicken manure fertilizes soil creating a closed-loop system. Growing feed crops improves soil health through natural tillage and organic matter addition.

Environmental Benefit	Annual Impact
Plastic Reduction	100-150 lbs
Waste Diversion	400-600 lbs
Transport Emissions	60-80% reduction

Maintaining Feed Quality and Safety

Switching to local resources for chicken feed is a smart and sustainable choice that benefits both your wallet and the environment. By following proper storage guidelines monitoring nutritional content and gradually transitioning your flock you’ll create a reliable feed system that works year-round.

Remember that successful local feeding requires commitment to quality control and careful observation of your chickens’ health and productivity. Take time to build relationships with local suppliers experiment with different feed combinations and maintain detailed records of what works best for your flock.

With dedication and proper planning you can reduce feed costs by up to 60% while providing your chickens with fresh nutritious ingredients. The reward is a more sustainable operation healthier birds and the satisfaction of knowing exactly what’s going into your flock’s feed.