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Call me autistic but I would love to be able to feed my chickens 100% off of stuff I grow and forage myself. Be it for larping as totally self sufficient or even just as preparation for shtf and I can't buy chicken feed.
Calcium is easy. One trip to the beach can get me as many oyster shells as I need for 10 years. I bet the shells of invasive zebra mussels would also work for those inland.
Next important thing is protein, besides for insects they get free ranging, growing some kind of legume seems to work best, but I'm confused as to whether they need some kind of treatment for anti nutrients. Other than that, my chickens love all kinds of nuts especially hickories and black walnuts, they can't get enough. Apparently black walnuts are the highest nut in protein at about 16% putting it about the same content as commercial layer feed. Seems like a good option. I can just crack them and the chickens peck out the nut meats. Pic rel, they're going through these nut shells, trying to find a morsel of shagbark hickory.
Hackberries (kind of a fruit/nut combo) are apparently super important for wild turkey (idk the nutrition content) and I thought they would also be good for chickens, but my hens for some reason won't touch them.
I also grow a small amount of grain corn just for fun and can theoretically grow more for the chickens.
Anybody have some ideas on homegrown, nutritionally complete chicken feed?
