9 Guides to Grow Pounds of Chicken Feed for Pennies!

Ever dreamed of slashing your chicken feed costs? Growing your own feed can turn that dream into reality. It’s not just about saving money – it’s about providing fresh, nutritious food for your flock.

But how to grow pounds of chicken feed for pennies? From corn to sunflowers, there’s a variety of crops you can grow to supplement your chickens’ diet. With some planning and effort, you can produce pounds of feed for just pennies. Plus, you’ll have control over what goes into your chickens’ food.

Whether you have a spacious backyard or just a small patio, there’s a way to make it work. Ready to grow some chicken feeds with my guides? Let’s dive in!

7 Reasons Why Grow Your Own Chicken Feed!

There are several reasons why someone chooses to grow their own chicken feed. Well, I grow chicken feed to save my costs. I think you’ll do it for the same reason to save your pennies!

To let you know, here are the general reasons people love to grow pounds of chicken feed –

1. Cost savings: Growing your own chicken feed can significantly reduce long-term expenses. After the initial investment in seeds and set up, the cost per pound of feed can be much lower than store-bought options.
2. Quality control: By growing your feed, you have complete control over the growing process. You can choose to avoid pesticides and chemical fertilizers, ensuring your chickens consume only organic, natural feed. This leads to healthier chickens with better-quality eggs or meat.
3. Self-sufficiency: Growing your own feed reduces your dependence on commercial suppliers. This can be particularly valuable during times of supply chain disruptions or price fluctuations.
4. Customization: Different chicken breeds and life stages have varying nutritional needs. By growing your own feed, you can mix different grains and seeds to create a custom blend that’s perfect for your flock. This level of customization is difficult to achieve with commercial feeds.
5. Environmental impact: Store-bought feed often travels long distances before reaching your coop, contributing to carbon emissions. By growing feed locally, you reduce this transportation footprint. Additionally, you can implement sustainable growing practices that are better for the environment.
6. Educational value: Growing chicken feed can be a great learning experience, especially for families with children. It teaches valuable lessons about agriculture, plant life cycles, and chicken nutrition. This hands-on experience can foster a deeper understanding of food systems.
7. Freshness: Home-grown feed is as fresh as it gets. Freshly harvested grains and seeds can retain more nutrients compared to feed that has been stored for long periods. This freshness can contribute to the overall health and well-being of your chickens.

4 Types of Chicken Feed to Grow

To be honest, a completely balanced diet should come from commercial feed. However, here are some types of chicken feed you can grow to supplement your chickens’ diet:

Grains:

• Corn: A good source of carbohydrates and energy. Chickens can’t digest whole corn kernels, so they need to be cracked or ground.
• Barley: High in fiber and good for digestion. Also needs to be cracked or ground before feeding to chickens.
• Oats: A good source of fiber and protein. Oats can be fed whole or rolled but may require some soaking to soften them up first.

Greens:

• Kale: A superfood for chickens, packed with vitamins and minerals.
• Lettuce: A good source of hydration and vitamins. Use romaine or other sturdier varieties that won’t wilt too quickly.
• Swiss Chard: High in vitamins and minerals, similar to kale.

Vegetables:

• Squash (excess or rinds): A good source of vitamins A and C. Only feed cooked squash in moderation.
• Pumpkins (excess or rinds): Similar to squash, pumpkins are a good source of vitamins and can be fed cooked in moderation.
• Watermelon (excess or rinds): A refreshing summer treat for chickens. Offered in moderation to avoid waste.

Herbs:

• Basil: A small amount of basil can be offered as a treat.
• Oregano: Another herb that can be offered in small quantities as a treat.

Remember: Homegrown feed should only be a supplement to a balanced commercial feed. Introduce new foods slowly to avoid upsetting your chickens’ digestion.

How to Grow Pounds of Chicken Feed for Pennies? A 9-Step Guide!

Want to raise healthy hens and save some cash on their food? Here’s the lowdown on growing your own chicken feed for cheap. It won’t be free, but those pounds of fresh greens and grains will definitely lessen your coop budget.

Guide 1. Assessing Your Space

When I first started, I was living on a quarter-acre lot with a modest backyard. I quickly learned that efficient use of space is key. I mapped out my yard, noting sunny and shady areas, and guess what? I had more usable space than I thought!

Don’t overlook unconventional areas! I’ve successfully grown sunflowers along my fence line and corn in an unused corner of my driveway. If you’re really tight on space, consider container gardening. I’ve grown wheat in large pots on my patio with great success.

Remember, vertical space is your friend – trellises for peas and pole beans can maximize your yield in a small footprint.

Guide 2. Choosing the Right Crops

After years of trial and error, I’ve found that a diverse mix of crops works best. Corn is a staple – it’s easy to grow and chickens love it. I always plant a good amount of wheat and oats for their nutritional value. Sunflowers are a must – they’re not just pretty, but their seeds are packed with nutrients.

For protein, I grow peas and soybeans. Millet and amaranth are great for smaller seeds that chickens enjoy scratching for. Don’t forget about fast-growing greens like lettuce and kale – they’re great for supplementing your chickens’ diet between grain harvests.

Guide 3. Companion Planting and Crop Rotation:

This was a game-changer for me!

I plant corn, beans, and squash together in a “Three Sisters” arrangement – an old Native American technique. The corn provides support for the beans, the beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and the squash shades the ground to retain moisture. I rotate my crops each season to prevent soil depletion and disease buildup.

For example, I might follow corn with peas to replenish the nitrogen in the soil. I’ve also found that planting marigolds around my crops helps deter pests naturally.

Guide 4. Preparing your growing area

Soil preparation is crucial. I start by testing my soil pH and nutrient levels each spring. Most feed crops prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). I amend my soil with compost I make from chicken manure and yard waste – it’s a great way to recycle nutrients!

For areas with poor drainage, I’ve had success creating raised beds. I till the soil deeply, removing rocks and breaking up clumps. Good soil preparation makes a huge difference in crop yield, so don’t skimp on this step!

Guide 5. Planting and growing techniques

Timing is everything. I keep a planting calendar and start my seeds indoors about 4-6 weeks before the last frost date for my area. For direct sowing, I use a method called succession planting – sowing small amounts every 2-3 weeks to ensure a continuous harvest.

I’ve found that mulching around my plants helps retain moisture and suppress weeds. For watering, I installed a drip irrigation system – it was an upfront investment but has saved me time and water in the long run. 

Don’t forget to thin your seedlings! It feels counterintuitive, but giving plants enough space improves overall yield.

Guide 6. Harvesting and processing

Timing your harvest is crucial. I’ve learned to watch for signs of readiness – for grains, I wait until the seeds are hard and the plants have turned golden.

For corn, I do the fingernail test: if I can puncture a kernel with my fingernail and it produces a milky substance, it’s perfect for chicken feed. I harvest early in the morning when it’s cool and dry.

For processing, I’ve invested in a small threshing machine for grains, which has been a real-time-saver. For corn, I let the ears dry on the stalk if possible, then store them whole. I’ve built a simple solar dehydrator using old window screens to dry seeds and grains thoroughly before storage. 

Proper drying is essential to prevent mold – I aim for about 13% moisture content.

Guide 7. Supplementing homegrown feed

While growing your own feed is great, I’ve found it’s important to supplement to ensure a balanced diet. I add oyster shells for calcium – crucial for egg production. Grit is essential for chickens to grind their food, so I provide small pebbles or coarse sand.

For extra protein, I cultivate mealworms in plastic tubs with oatmeal and vegetable scraps – the chickens go crazy for them! I also allow my chickens to free-range when possible, which provides them with insects and greens. 

Kitchen scraps are another great supplement – just avoid anything moldy, and steer clear of avocados, chocolate, and raw beans.

Guide 8. Cost analysis

When I first started, I tracked every expense meticulously. My initial setup costs included soil amendments, seeds, and basic tools, which came to about $200. 

However, the savings quickly became apparent. In my area, organic chicken feed costs about $30 for a 50-pound bag.

In my first year, I produced the equivalent of 20 bags – a $600 value – for my initial $200 investment plus about 2-3 hours of work per week. By the second year, my costs dropped significantly as I saved seeds and established my soil quality.

Now, I estimate I save about $500-$700 annually on feed costs, and that’s with a flock of 20 chickens.

Guide 9. Potential challenges and solutions

I’ve faced challenges over the years! Pests were a big issue initially – I lost a corn crop to raccoons one year ago. Now, I use sturdy fencing and netting to protect my crops.

For smaller pests, companion planting (like marigolds) and neem oil have been effective. Weather can be unpredictable! So, I’ve installed a simple irrigation system for dry spells and used row covers for unexpected cold snaps.

Disease can be an issue, especially with humid conditions. I’ve found that good air circulation, proper spacing, and selecting disease-resistant varieties have helped tremendously.

Time management was tricky at first, but I’ve learned to integrate garden tasks into my daily routine. Just 15-20 minutes a day, with a couple of longer sessions on weekends, keeps everything on track.

Related Articles:

• 9 Simple Hacks to Make Chicken Feed Garden
• Organic Homemade Chicken Feed on a Budget

FAQs

Thinking about more tips on growing chicken feed? The Q&A section may help you out!

Q. Can I really grow my own chicken feed for next to nothing?

It’s unlikely you’ll get the cost down to literal pennies, but you can definitely reduce feed costs by growing some of your own ingredients.

Q. Is it always cheaper to grow my own feed?

Not necessarily. Factor in the cost of seeds, water, and your time investment. Sometimes buying in bulk commercially can be more cost-effective.

Q. Can I substitute all my chickens’ feed with homegrown options?

No, a balanced commercial feed is essential to provide all the nutrients chickens need for optimal health and egg production. Homegrown options are best used as a supplement.

Final Word

Raising chickens and growing some of their food yourself is like a fun project, you know? It’s not gonna be a breeze, but trust me, it’s worth it. You’ll save some cash, your chickens will be healthier, and you’ll learn a bunch about gardening and being more self-sufficient. Pretty cool, right?

Just remember, this homegrown stuff is like a bonus for your feathery friends, not their whole meal. Start small, learn from your mistakes, and most importantly, have fun with it!