How to reduce chicken feed costs?

Joining a local buying co-op or ordering directly from a feed mill cuts per-bag costs 25-40% compared to retail farm stores. Many mills also custom-mix layer rations to your specifications.

Most kitchen vegetable scraps, fruit peels, and garden trimmings are safe and nutritious chicken food. A household of 4 generates enough daily scraps to offset 10-15% of a small flock's feed bill.

Sprouting whole barley, wheat, or oats in trays for 7 days turns $0.50 of dry grain into 3-4 lbs of fresh green fodder. The sprouting process increases protein content, creates vitamins, and chickens devour it.

Letting chickens forage on grass, insects, and seeds supplements 20-40% of their diet in warm months. Rotating them through small paddocks prevents overgrazing and keeps the forage productive.

Soaking commercial feed in water for 24-72 hours triggers lacto-fermentation, making nutrients more bioavailable and increasing the feed's volume. Hens eat less because they absorb more from each bite.