15 Proven Plants to Cut Your Chicken Feed Costs in HALF!
Raising chickens can be expensive but fortunately, there are many plants you can grow to help reduce these costs. Not only will these plants save you money, but also provide your chickens with nutritious and natural food.
I’ve listed 15 plants for the chickens to feed at less cost! Among them, Some of the best plants to consider include sunflowers and comfrey. Both are easy to grow and offer essential nutrients for your flock. Also, amaranth and buckwheat are excellent options, providing high protein content. Other great choices are alfalfa, pumpkins, and squash.
Want to know how such plants will cut costs? Lemme share it with you!
Table of Contents
List of 15 Plants to Save $$$ on Chicken Feed
Keeping chickens can be a real joy, but let’s be honest – the cost of feed can put a dent in your wallet. That’s why I’m excited to share these 15 plants that you can easily grow yourself.
1. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are incredibly easy to grow and super productive. I personally prefer this so I listed it as the best plants to cut your chicken feed costs
The large seed heads provide tons of protein, fat, and nutrients. Let your chickens free-range and pick up the fallen seeds, or dry and roast the seeds to mix into their feed. Sunflower seed cakes (leftover from oil pressing) are also an economical protein source.
A study on ScienceDirect found that diets with sunflower meal significantly reduced yolk color score and increased yolk cholesterol content.
2. Comfrey
Comfrey is a vigorous, spreading perennial that bounces back quickly after grazing. Its large, nutritious leaves are packed with up to 25% protein when dried. I chop and dry the leaves to add a vitamin and protein boost to my chickens’ feed. Comfrey also mines nutrients from deep in the soil.
3. Amaranth
Amaranth is extremely drought-tolerant and produces masses of protein-rich seeds and greens. The gluten-free seeds contain lysine, a valuable protein source. I broadcast the seeds into the chicken runs for continuous foraging. Young amaranth leaves are also edible.
4. Buckwheat
Buckwheat matures quickly, producing edible seeds in just 10-12 weeks. The seeds are nutritious and can be toasted or processed into groats to extend feed. Buckwheat’s leafy greens and honey-producing flowers are added bonuses for my foraging hens.
5. Alfalfa
Alfalfa contains upwards of 18% protein along with amino acids, fiber, and nutrients. Planting an alfalfa patch provides endless harvests for free chicken feed. Its deep taproot fixes nitrogen and mines soil nutrients. I hand-feed it daily or let the hens graze.
6. Pumpkins and Squash
Pumpkins and squash are fantastic.
The seeds provide protein and essential fatty acids, while the flesh contains vitamins A and C. My hens love the greens too! I rotate crop areas each year for built-in pest management and cure extra pumpkins for winter treats.
7. Clover
Clover is a nitrogen-fixing ground cover that doubles as free, high-protein forage. It renews itself continuously when grazed. My chickens aerate and fertilize the soil by scratching through it.
8. Oats
Oats are a cool-season crop providing fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Both the oats and greenery are palatable forage. The seeds can be fed whole or cracked into the feed. Spent straw from grain heads also makes nutritious litter.
9. Chicory
Chicory is highly productive in poor or dry soil conditions. The bright green tops, nutrient-packed taproot, and endive-like flowerheads are all edible for chickens. It’s a tasty way to add variety to their diet.
10. Millet
Millet is a truly versatile crop offering energy, protein, amino acids, and nutrients. This drought-resistant plant produces masses of small, easy-to-digest seeds. The leafy stalks are good forage too. An excellent supplemental grain for layers.
11. Wheat
Wheat provides a steady supply of carbs, energy, and nutrients. Chickens will naturally forage dropped grains from mature plants. The straw byproduct is also useful as coop litter and helps rotate garden spaces.
12. Barley
Barley, like wheat, offers protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Spring or winter barley grows well in many regions. I supplement the feed or allow foraging of spent barley plants.
13. Mustard Greens
Mustard greens grow quickly and provide vitamins A, C, and K. The peppery leaves are irresistible to chickens and regrow quickly after grazing.
14. Quinoa
Quinoa is a complete protein, perfect for supplementing vegetarian or grain-free feeds. The seeds are nutrient-dense and can be fed whole, sprouted, or ground into a meal. I harvest the seeds and use the plant litter as scratch litter. Have to say it loud! Quinoa is great for chickens!!!
15. Beets and Beet Greens
Beets and beet greens are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. The roots keep for months, making them an ever-ready treat. I rotate crops to leave the greens for foraging.
How These 15 Plants Lower Chicken Feed Bill?
I am sure you might be thinking about how these plants cut the cost of feed bills, right? Well, here are the reasons to check –
Direct Supplements
Sunflowers, amaranth, buckwheat, millet, wheat, barley, and quinoa all produce high-protein seeds and grains. These can directly supplement or even replace more expensive protein sources in commercial feed.
I’ve found that my chickens love these seeds, and it makes their diet more varied and nutritious.
Reduce the Need for Additional Nutritional Supplements
Comfrey, alfalfa, clover, and chicory are nutrient-dense leafy greens high in protein, vitamins, and minerals. These plants reduce the need for additional nutritional supplements. My chickens graze on them happily, and they stay healthy and energetic.
Makeup Deficiencies in Basic Need
Pumpkins, squash, and beets provide extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants through their seeds, flesh, and greens. These can make up for deficiencies in basic feed. I rotate these crops, and my hens love the variety and the extra nutrients.
You’ll Need less Fortified Layer Feed
Oats and mustard greens are excellent sources of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This allows you to use less fortified layer feed. My chickens enjoy these plants, and it helps keep their digestive systems healthy.
Reduces Water Needs
Many of these crops, like sunflowers, amaranth, millet, and quinoa, are very drought-tolerant. This reduces water needs and costs. It’s been a relief knowing these plants can thrive even in dry conditions.
Fulfill the Need for Free Fresh Greens
Fast-growing, prolifically producing plants like comfrey, amaranth, buckwheat, and mustard greens provide a constant supply of free, fresh greens. These plants are a staple in my garden, and they keep my chickens well-fed year-round.
Contribute to Overall Cost
Clover and alfalfa are nitrogen-fixers that improve soil fertility. This reduces overall input costs. Planting these has improved my garden soil and provided my chickens with excellent forage.
Allowing chickens to free-range and forage crops like sunflowers, buckwheat, and wheat reduces total feed needs. My chickens love exploring and finding their own food, which keeps them active and happy.
Inexpensive seeds from grains like wheat, barley, and oats stretch bagged feed rations. I’ve noticed a significant reduction in my feed bills by incorporating these grains.
Work as Byproducts
Byproducts like sunflower seed cakes, spent grains, and straw from harvest provide low-cost, nutritious litter and scratch materials. These byproducts are a valuable addition to my chickens’ environment.
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Want to know more? Here’s a video to help you know how to feed plants with less money!
FAQs
The given plants are cost-effective food for chickens. However, if you have more questions in mind, the FAQ section may help you out!
Q: How much money can I really save by growing my own chicken food?
The amount you save depends on the size of your flock and how much of their diet you replace with homegrown food. However, some chicken keepers report reducing their feed costs by 25-50% using this method.
Q: Do I need a lot of space to grow my own chicken food?
No! You can grow many chicken-friendly plants in containers or raised beds. Even a small balcony garden can provide some fresh food for your chickens.
Q: Can I grow anything besides plants to feed my chickens?
Yes! Chickens love leftover fruits and vegetables from your kitchen (avoid citrus and avocado). You can also supplement their diet with mealworms or kitchen scraps like eggshells.
Summary
Don’t let the cost of commercial feed discourage you from keeping chickens. By incorporating homegrown plants into their diet, you can slash expenses while giving your feathered friends a healthy, natural boost. It’s a win-win situation for both you and your flock!
With a little effort and these 15 versatile plants, you’ll be well on your way to happier, healthier chickens and a smaller feed bill. So, start planting today and enjoy planting and petting!
