How to Make The Best Organic Chicken Feed For Your Farm
Do you seek information on how to make the best organic chicken feed?
Or let’s say you’ve heard so much about organic feeds, what are they?
Do chickens need it?
After our article on fermenting chicken feed, many of our readers sought answers to the question “what do chickens eat?”
Among other chicken feeds, we recommend organic chicken feed.
Therefore, in this article, we have brought you a strategic guide on how to make your own organic feed right on your farm.
And just in case you have no idea about what that is, you will get to find out.
Let’s get started…
What is an organic chicken feed?
An organic chicken feed is a feed that is certified to be free of additives such as hormones, pesticides, antibiotics or other ‘foreign’ substances.
Organic feed is a balanced diet. And the flock loves it.
Due to its high protein content, it increases how many eggs a chicken will lay in a week.
Actually, organic feeds are the healthiest chicken feed.
What you need to know about preparing organic chicken feeds?
Unlike other feed chickens eat, the organic chicken feed comes with a lot of processes and certifications.
Most farmers quit just at the thought of it.
Nevertheless, some farmers who are interested in the well-being of their flock still take the bull by the horn.
Here are some things you need to know about chicken feeds that are organic;
1. Seeds used to prepare organic feeds must be certified.
You don’t just pick up any feed and use it to prepare an organic chicken feed.
The Government as well as other appropriate agricultural bodies must certify the seeds and the land they grow on before the seeds can be used.
2. The farmer in question must possess an organic certification.
Whether you’re growing organic seeds or you own the farm where the seeds grow you must have a certification.
Now, this does not mean the farm, I mean you as a farmer must possess a certificate in order to grow and sell his product as organic.
3. It requires human labour.
Since no pesticides are used, human labour is more intensive.
And compared to the processes in fermenting chicken feeds, this is more herculean.
Preparing organic feeds is laborious. It will require more than “you” to do the job.
4. You do not process organic feeds together with conventional food.
The end product of this feed must be shipped and processed separately from conventional food.
Processing both together can lead to contamination.
And contamination can lead to an outbreak of a chicken disease in the poultry farm.
5. Preparing organic feeds requires extra ingredients.
To prepare organic feeds you need to mix other ingredients together.
Such includes more than the commercial or fermented feed contains.
What ingredients do I need to prepare an organic chicken feed?
As earlier stated, you need more than the regular ingredients to make the best organic chicken feed.
Below are the ingredients you need;
- Peas
- Corn
- Barley
- Lentils
- Quinoa
- Oyster shells
- Sesame oil
- Organic wheat
- Flaxseed meal
- Molasses fish meal etc
Mixing all these and other ingredients together will provide a balanced feed for the flock.
With all this goodness packed in one diet, chickens that lay large eggs will love it.
How to make the best organic chicken feed for your farm
Now that you have your ingredients set, how do you go about preparing an organic chicken feed?
Do you just mix it all together?
Not really.
Here’s a guide you can follow;
1. Get your organic feed mix ready
| Ingredients | Quantity |
| Whole corn | 2 |
| Soft white wheat | 3 |
| Hard red winter wheat | 3 |
| Hulled barley | 1 |
| Oat groats | 1 |
| Sunflower seeds | 2 |
| Peanuts | ½ |
| Wheat bran | 1 |
| Split peas | 1 |
| Lentils | 1 |
| Quinoa | 1 |
| Sesame seeds | 1 |
| Kelp | 1 |
| Diatomaceous Earth (not the kind you put in your pool) | ½ |
2. Mix the ingredients
Next is to mix the feed. It’s best if you use your hand so that you will mix it thoroughly.
As simple as it can be, you’re done!!!
Your organic chicken feed is ready for serving.
One more thing though…
Always remember to run your hands through the feed before feeding the chickens in case something settles.
Frequently asked questions about organic chicken feed
Are organic feeds better than commercial feeds?
Yes, they are.
And as far as purity of the product is concerned, organic feeds stand a better chance than conventional feed.
Is organic chicken feed worth it?
Most definitely. It’s worth all the stress and energy.
Here are the benefits 9f feeding your chickens organic feeds;
1. You have complete control over everything that your chickens consume.
2. Organic feed keeps the birds healthy and active.
3. By feeding the flock organic feed, it will result in organic eggs and chickens (if you choose to butcher them).
4. Also, it’s fresher and more nutritious than commercial feeds.
5. Chickens like Australorps, Cochins, New Hampshire, Faverolles, Naked Neck chickens and other birds love organic feed.
6. Organic chicken feed contains all the nutrients fit for all chicken ages.
Is preparing organic feeds simple?
Without mincing words, it’s a laborious process.
Although this process may sound a little bit simple, it is a very labour intensive endeavour.
Since you have to source only certified seeds and garner to buy the ingredients, it will take some time to find one in your neighbourhood.
Is it easy to get organic chicken feed?
This depends on your location.
However, it’s actually nearly impossible to get organic chicken feed.
And if you do find it, it can be very expensive.
Therefore, that’s why we recommend you make your own organic feed for your chickens.
Is it cheaper to make your own chicken feed?
Homemade chicken feed not only improves the health of your flock but is usually slightly cheaper than buying pre-made feed.
This option is particularly cost-effective if you are able to find grains and seeds in bulk from local grocery and bulk food stores.
How do you feed chickens organically?
To feed your chickens organically, you need to feed them organic feed.
What does this mean?
It means that you do not feed your chickens any form of feed that contains inorganic ingredients.
Also, the organic feed should come only from plants that are organically grown.
Should I just mix anything together to prepare an organic feed for the chickens?
Absolutely not!
You do not just mix anything together. Although chickens are omnivores, “anything” is not just ideal to make an organic chicken feed.
In all your mixes avoid soy and fish meal.
A pro study shows that soy has a high concentration of phytoestrogen which is a concern to some people.
Fish meals, on the other hand, have a high level of mercury. And mercury is not good for the chickens and humans as well.
Also, avoid vegetables that were sprayed with unhealthy chemicals.
Besides these, any addition is good to go. Or you can simply follow the guide we gave above.
Where can I buy the ingredients used in making organic chicken feed?
Sourcing for organic varieties of the ingredients you need to prepare an organic chicken feed can be quite a task.
However, there are places where you can get them as soon as possible.
You find some of the above ingredients in an organic variety in the grocery and health food stores.
Also, you can find some in the local feed store.
Just in case you didn’t find the organic ingredients in these places, you can always buy from Amazon or on Azure.
All you can do is place an order!
How much of the homemade organic chicken feed should I make?
Considering how laborious this venture can be, you might be tempted to make a lot at a time.
Please do not.
Or you have a lot of resources and energy going down the drain.
It’s ideal you just make enough for two days consumption max.
But just in case you have some spillovers, you can preserve them.
How do I keep my organic feed fresh?
You don’t just go through all the labour and let your feed waste.
You can preserve a homemade organic chicken feed by completely controlling everything that goes into it.
And also, store it in an airtight, covered container.
Kindly note that fresh organic feeds are better than commercial feeds.
While it’s fresh, it retains all the necessary nutrients for the chickens.
Why are organic feeds more expensive than conventional feed?
It is really really expensive!
Organic feeds are more expensive than conventional chicken feed because;
1. It requires more intensive labour costs.
2. Organic food has high distribution costs because it requires separate transportation from conventional food.
3. Also, organic feed requires separate processing from conventional food.
4. For one to sell feed as organic, s/he will require government certification.
5. Organic chicken feed supply is limited.
All these rules, regulations and certifications make feeding chickens organically a costly venture.
What’s the cost of making an organic feed for chickens?
According to Gardenbetty, homemade chicken feed actually costs the same as the commercial feed.
But this might not be the same for all regions.
The average cost of a premium bag of soy-free, organic layer pellets is about $0.70 per pound.
Whereas soy-free, almost organic, whole grain feed costs $0.69 per pound.
Conclusion: How to make the best organic chicken feed for your farm
In this piece, you must have come to terms with what an organic feed is.
Having known how important it can be for the flocks, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give it a try.
Feel free to explore other articles on this website for details on how to have the best farm.
