ALL natural feed for chickens and quails?

[Steinagarden]

So... I am not pleased with the manufactured chicken feed you get in the stores... Their main protein source are based on plants, and basically contains alot of corn, soya and low quality grains. And it is expensive - even though it of course make the feeding easier. It gives me a bad feeling of eating eggs and meats based on what I know my birds eat, because this will transfer further to us in the food chain.

I already give them alot of supplements of seed sprouts, by letting them grow for about 4-5 days before serving. The chickens go crazy for it, and it's all natural. This food contains no soya, and the sprouts are really nutritious by serving them in this method. I also supply mealworms and fish for a better protein source.

My question is; is it okay to give them just this food? And remove the manufactured pellets? To try to make a food similar to what they would eat in the wild; greens and bugs? Of course they also will have shell sand for their calsium and digestive system. In the winter time I also was considering giving them quality hay to make the feeding easier when there is less access to greens, I see the chickens also eat the hay I have in nesting boxes.

Is there anything else I should consider giving them to make sure they have everything they need in supplements? Thank you!

 

[Perris]

So... I am not pleased with the manufactured chicken feed you get in the stores... Their main protein source are based on plants, and basically contains alot of corn, soya and low quality grains. And it is expensive - even though it of course make the feeding easier. It gives me a bad feeling of eating eggs and meats based on what I know my birds eat, because this will transfer further to us in the food chain.

I already give them alot of supplements of seed sprouts, by letting them grow for about 4-5 days before serving. The chickens go crazy for it, and it's all natural. This food contains no soya, and the sprouts are really nutritious by serving them in this method. I also supply mealworms and fish for a better protein source.

My question is; is it okay to give them just this food? And remove the manufactured pellets? To try to make a food similar to what they would eat in the wild; greens and bugs? Of course they also will have shell sand for their calsium and digestive system. In the winter time I also was considering giving them quality hay to make the feeding easier when there is less access to greens, I see the chickens also eat the hay I have in nesting boxes.

Is there anything else I should consider giving them to make sure they have everything they need in supplements? Thank you!

I felt the same way a few years ago, and started making my own. It is easy and economical despite what a lot of people (who usually haven't tried it, so who knows why they think they know) here may say.
If you are interested, this is the original version
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...eat-tears-a-calculator-or-deep-pockets.78655/
and this is the improved version from the following year
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/wholesome-homemade-feed-2.79307/
Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Steinagarden]

I felt the same way a few years ago, and started making my own. It is easy and economical despite what a lot of people (who usually haven't tried it, so who knows why they think they know) here may say.
If you are interested, this is the original version
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...eat-tears-a-calculator-or-deep-pockets.78655/
and this is the improved version from the following year
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/wholesome-homemade-feed-2.79307/
Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you so much for this!! Really interesting. Especially regarding loss rate and how many who grows up to be healthy and all that.

What are your experience with coccidiosis and marek's disease after changing to natural feed? I struggle with both, coccidiosis in the summer with chickens during summer temperature and the marek's when they are older, especially when hatching from eggs that are not from my own flock. We dont vaccinate in my country, so I breed for natural resistant in my flock. Big difference in resistant regarding breed too, but it would be great if better food would also give them more to fight off the virus.

I have read most of both articles now. And I have already called my local supply shop to try to find 25 kgs bags with whole wheat as you recommended in the second article!

The pigeon feed mix I am using now for sprouts are reallyyyy expensive and also contains corn, so it would be great to find a better alternative to this.

Regarding the feeding procedure for small freshly hatched chicks; Is it OK to give them the same feed as the adult chickens? Sprouts and mealworms? I see you give boiled eggs... I disagree about giving eggs for small chickens as the hen never would give this to their chickens herself. They would just eat the same food as her; greens and insects, I recon?

 

[Perris]

What are your experience with coccidiosis and marek's disease after changing to natural feed? I struggle with both, coccidiosis in the summer with chickens during summer temperature and the marek's when they are older,

Those that lack natural immunity have spells when they are under the weather; resistance builds with infection in the case of coccidiosis; typically 1 of a brood of say 5 shows symptoms and falls behind for a while, but they recover and catch up, and are fine henceforth (acquired immunity).

I can't say regarding Mareks, since I've not had any displaying the symptoms nor had any tested. So maybe they've not been challenged by it, or have natural immunity.

I breed for natural resistant in my flock

I do too. In a sense it happens automatically, since ill birds don't breed, while healthy ones go at it vigorously!

Regarding the feeding procedure for small freshly hatched chicks; Is it OK to give them the same feed as the adult chickens?

In 2024 I made barely any special food for chicks; their broodies get them foraging straight away, and take them to the adult feed bowls, but I did make sure they got some fermented feed soaked breadcrumbs to prime their GITs in the first day. And thereafter when I found them apart from the rest of the flock offered them plenty of mealworms, as altricial baby wild birds would get from their parents. Since reading more in ornithology, I plan to give chicks as many mealworms as they want for the first few weeks, and not restrict their access to them at all.

The pigeon feed mix I am using now for sprouts are reallyyyy expensive and also contains corn, so it would be great to find a better alternative to this.

I have found the pigeon feed mixes very variable in content and price. A feed store owner near here is a pigeon fancier and breeder, so carries a huge range, luckily for me and my chickens

 

[Steinagarden]

@Perris

I need some input from you! I started feeding my chickens all natural feed about 2-3 weeks ago. I slowly faded out the pellets.

For these two weeks they have been given dried mealworms (my factory is not up working yet, so I bought big bags of dried ones), sprouted seeds (wheat, oats, barley and a pigeon mixture; a big variety of seeds I recon would cover all their needs), green cabbage, food scraps of different types of meat, and some sun flowers. I also made some fermented feed from the same seeds. And they have had shell sand for their digestive system and for their calcium.

So... My egg production has gone from about 18-20 eggs a day (I have about 30 egg laying hens) on pellets with supplements of natural feed. Today I got 7 eggs from the chicken coop on all natural feed... And it has been like this the whole week

I am so confused!! I have different breeds and different ages, most of them are not even 12 months old. I find it very strange that all of them would molt at the exact same time, being in different ages and being different breeds.

I am wondering if the feeding changes made them go into early molt?? Or maybe the dried mealworms wasn't good enough in protein quality? All my chickens seemed really hungry all the time, even though I fed them a good amount two times a day, making sure it should be enough. But maybe it was to little compared to the amount they are used to with the pellets. I have no idea, I am just really stressed out that I have made them stop laying because they have some nutrition deficiency from this few weeks.

I panicked and got some pellets again, and vitamin and minerals supplements just to really boost them if I made a terrible mistake removing something important from their diet that I am not able to understand what is yet...

 

[Perris]

My egg production has gone from about 18-20 eggs a day (I have about 30 egg laying hens) on pellets

That's an abrupt drop. Was the change of feed as abrupt?
That apart, pellets are specifically designed to encourage birds to overeat. A more natural diet should lead to the same number of eggs over a longer productive lifetime, and reduce if not eliminate premature deaths from reproductive disorders.

Today I got 7 eggs from the chicken coop on all natural feed... And it has been like this the whole week

A week is much too short a time for the benefits of the change to show. The birds' digestive tracts will be changing to suit the new diet - the villi will be growing longer, the caeca will be developing, the populations of (mostly beneficial) microbes in their guts will be changing. It takes time. Either backtrack a bit and transition to the new feed according to some gradual schedule, or stick with it and accept that egg production will be down for a bit before it gets better. I have had 568 eggs so far this calendar year from 18 hens and pullets aged between 6 months and 8 years - more than enough to pay their way.

I find it very strange that all of them would molt at the exact same time

Is there any evidence of moult?

I am wondering if the feeding changes made them go into early molt??

First let's establish whether or not they are moulting.

Or maybe the dried mealworms wasn't good enough in protein quality?

Quite possibly.

All my chickens seemed really hungry all the time

This is a clear sign that they are missing something, probably protein. Give them some proper real (not processed) meat or fish; tinned sardines are my go to, but wet cat food works for some people. Dog food is usually plant based these days so will not serve this need. You want real animal protein. Dairy products count - milk, yogurt, cheese etc. Keep offering till they've had enough. They may have some catching up to do, so don't assume that they will continue to need as much as they need now in order to rectify the recent shortfalls. Feed little and often till you find the right balance for them all (their needs will differ individually).

But maybe it was to little compared to the amount they are used to with the pellets

It certainly sounds like insufficient from what you said earlier.

I am just really stressed out that I have made them stop laying because they have some nutrition deficiency from this few weeks

This is how we learn. It's a process not an event. Their needs will change; flexibility and variation are valuable when it comes to chickens' diets, so don't beat yourself up over a short term hiccup. Far worse happens in nature, and most species can handle it. Chickens have millions of years of evolution behind them; they have in built systems to cope with short term deficiencies.

 

[Steinagarden]

That's an abrupt drop. Was the change of feed as abrupt?
That apart, pellets are specifically designed to encourage birds to overeat. A more natural diet should lead to the same number of eggs over a longer productive lifetime, and reduce if not eliminate premature deaths from reproductive disorders.

Thank you for your fast reply!!

I don't think the feed change was abrupt, no, because they have been eating the natural feed for a year, with addition of pellets.

A week is much too short a time for the benefits of the change to show. The birds' digestive tracts will be changing to suit the new diet - the villi will be growing longer, the caeca will be developing, the populations of (mostly beneficial) microbes in their guts will be changing. It takes time. Either backtrack a bit and transition to the new feed according to some gradual schedule, or stick with it and accept that egg production will be down for a bit before it gets better. I have had 568 eggs so far this calendar year from 18 hens and pullets aged between 6 months and 8 years - more than enough to pay their way.

Is there any evidence of moult?

No, I can't see any extra feathers on the ground yet. And all of my hens are too young to moult now, but I read they could go into early moult with a feed change...

First let's establish whether or not they are moulting.

Quite possibly.

This is a clear sign that they are missing something, probably protein. Give them some proper real (not processed) meat or fish; tinned sardines are my go to, but wet cat food works for some people. Dog food is usually plant based these days so will not serve this need. You want real animal protein. Dairy products count - milk, yogurt, cheese etc. Keep offering till they've had enough. They may have some catching up to do, so don't assume that they will continue to need as much as they need now in order to rectify the recent shortfalls. Feed little and often till you find the right balance for them all (their needs will differ individually).

It certainly sounds like insufficient from what you said earlier.

Yes, I think they actually had too little protein for these few weeks. The dry mealworms are just shell almost... So I am thinking the protein source was to poor in quality. I gave them minced meat (beef) and shrimps for two days now, and actually saw and increase in eggs (even though very small) already.

This is how we learn. It's a process not an event. Their needs will change; flexibility and variation are valuable when it comes to chickens' diets, so don't beat yourself up over a short term hiccup. Far worse happens in nature, and most species can handle it. Chickens have millions of years of evolution behind them; they have in built systems to cope with short term deficiencies.

Thank you for your kind words. I am so dedicated for giving my chickens the best they can get, so this really shook me up... I have read your post from earlier once more, and I realised that you free range yours alot more than I can. I have some groups free ranging some areas, but not nearly enough for them to be able to find insects in the amounts they should to cover their protein needs.

And I am not able to keep all of my chickens at free range, because I have several flocks with different roosters, and it's not responsible to mix them, or to let them free range while I am away at work.

I think my solution will be to keep some of the pellets, and feed alot of natural feed at about 70%. I actually found a feed that doesnt contain any soya, or antibiotics (antibiotics is not allowed here in Norway for animal food anyways), and that has fish as a protein source. So it's a better pellets than the previous food I have been giving, even though I don't like the idea of mass produced pellets.

 

[Perris]

pellets are not going to provide the protein you are seeking; they are mostly carbs, and the protein in them is often of poor quality and/or dubious origins (in some countries it includes poultry litter, i.e. other chickens' poo ). You would be far better off giving them real meat or fish a couple of times a week - you might be able to get fish trimmings from the fishmonger for a very good price in Norway.
(I have been to Bergen and can still picture the fish market on the quay in my head!)

 

[Steinagarden]

pellets are not going to provide the protein you are seeking; they are mostly carbs, and the protein in them is often of poor quality and/or dubious origins (in some countries it includes poultry litter, i.e. other chickens' poo ). You would be far better off giving them real meat or fish a couple of times a week - you might be able to get fish trimmings from the fishmonger for a very good price in Norway.
(I have been to Bergen and can still picture the fish market on the quay in my head!)

Well, based on what happened now with such an decrease in egg laying, and I also have one hen that actually looks almost sick (she is pale in her comb, was laying fine until 1 week ago). She got a vitamin shot and some probiotics and oregano oil (her poo was really loose), in addition to protein boost, she looks better today and her comb is less pale.

There must be something they have been missing these weeks, maybe both quality protein and vitamin or minerals... I don't know. But I can't gamble before I know more of why...

This is from the pellets I have bought now (though in Norwegian):

BUT! I am sure giving them alot of pure meat, and also fish. I fish my own fish, so I don't need to buy, and they also have alot of shrimps. I have to cook the fish though, they dont like it raw.

They prefer the natural food, I don't have to refill the pellets for 3-4 days because they eat mostly natural (and I have small feeding stations). For now I am more sure that they won't go into any shortcomings in their diet at least...

 

[Perris]

Sounds good. If they have a variety of foods available and there's enough that they can afford to be choosy, they will each select what they need in the quantities they need, so that's a sound method to follow.

It appears you have this, and just a little reassurance is all that's really needed Remember that wild birds get all the vitamins and minerals they need from their natural diet, i.e. what they find in their environment. (To forestall the usual response to that from die-hard fans of the commercial sector, indeed wild birds are not laying hundreds of eggs a year, but then neither apparently are most backyard chickens I read about on BYC. Fwiw, most people posting about this on BYC seem to get less eggs than they would like from their chickens rather than more, despite feeding the widely recommended pellets supposedly designed to deliver them.)