For me, I wanted to raise my chickens as cheaply and naturally as possible. They are scavengers, foragers and will eat just about anything. They are also lazy and will camp around a full feeder and stuff themselves like a football team at a pizza buffet if given the opportunity. Grain free means I no longer buy packaged 50 lb bags of chicken feed for my laying flock.
This has been an ongoing process for about 5 years and I have learned a lot along the way.
Mostly, my chickens eat compost, and the bugs that live in compost. They scratch around, eating whatever appeals to them in that decomposing pile. And they give me eggs, entertainment and beauty. Yes, I think my chickens are yard art!
Step one to starting grain free chickens is a compost pile. Also buy yourself a sturdy pitchfork, you're gonna need it! A compost pile does not need a container or anything fancy, you can literally just start a pile in your yard, on the ground. Make sure it is close to your chicken coop and the birds have access to it. They will take care of the rest!
Things to put in a compost pile....
●fruit and veggie scraps
●paper products
●cardboard
●coffee and filters
●weeds
●yard waste (no sticks)
●bills you dont want to pay
●cotton rags
●coop bedding
●basically anything biodegradable that you would normally toss
I also keep a small bucket or bowl next to my sink and add ALL of our throw away food to this. At the end of the day I toss it on the pile and my chickens go crazy for it. They love people food. Especially meat. Protein is a huge part of their diet, usually supplied by bagged feed and bugs. The compost purists will say that you should never put dairy, meat or anything greasy in the compost but the chickens eat it so fast it has never caused a problem for me. So I do it anyway.
About once a week I turn the pile, or get it back to a semi neat heap as my birds have scratched it out about 10 feet from where it should be. Turning the pile helps it break down and reveals treats the girls havent found yet. I basically move it from one spot to another, once a week, maybe more depending on my anxiety levels. This is where you need a pitchfork! And ladies, want strong muscular arms and shoulders? Turn your compost! In the spring you will have a nice pile of black rotted compost that you can fertilize your garden with. And my personal favorite, no food waste in your trash!
I will be adding 3 more posts about grain free chickening to help you get started. It has been a great addition to my life and a source of pride for me as well.
See you next time - joy
