Alternative Chicken Feeds

Reader Contribution by Anna Hess
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I was thrilled by the turnout for our comfrey giveaway, so we’re giving away another outside-the-box chicken feed on our blog this week.  Click here for a chance to win 100+ peace silkworm eggs, which can turn into tasty caterpillars for your flock.

While I’m on the topic of alternative chicken feeds, I thought I’d toss out a few other ideas you may not have heard of.  Chances are you’ve considered growing plants like corn and sunflowers for your flock, but how about … worms?  Or black soldier flies?  Or Japanese beetles?

Back in the vegetable kingdom, many books sing the praises of raising duckweed for your flock, but our spoiled chickens turned up their noses (or should that be beaks?).  We’re in the early stages of experimenting with tree fruits, and so far persimmons and mulberries both seem to have potential in the chicken pasture.

And then there are the crazy ideas I want to research in more depth this winter.  Like trapping or raising crawdads for our chickens.  Or maybe growing snails, slugs, or grasshoppers.  I’d be curious to hear your suggestions on the topic.

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