Tips to Reduce Feed Waste

We love our feathered friends, but don’t want to waste money on excess feed. Below are some tips to reduce waste and hopefully help you save money on feed:

• Don’t buy too much at one time. 
• Fresh feed ensures the best nutritional potency and absorption.
• To avoid spoilage, don’t purchase more than you can use in about 2 weeks, particularly in hot, humid weather.
• Store Feed Properly
• Keep cool and dry to avoid mold.
• Use well-sealed, rodent-proof containers. (Metal trash cans are great.)
• Use a hanging feeder with a grill when you can.
• This type of feeder can reduce waste by minimizing spillage and keeping feed from being kicked or scratched out.
• It allows you to easily raise it up more at night to keep rodents from eating your flock’s feed. 
• Watch the portions versus the time to consume.
• What time of day is the feeder empty?  Early in the day? You’ll probably want to increase the amount you feed them in the morning.
• Late in the day? You may need to reduce the amount you feed in the morning.
• Ferment Feed
• Poultry tend to eat up to ⅓ less when feed is fermented.  
• Feed isn’t kicked out of feeders.
• Helps keep the flock hydrated.
• Releases nutrients.
• Use pellets rather than mash.
• Mash is often the cheapest to buy, but is easiest for your flock to waste.
• Crumble generally has less waste than mash.
• Pellets, often priced the same or very similarly to crumble, usually have the least amount of waste of the 3 most common feed forms. 
• Keep the Correct Flock Size for Your Family’s Needs.
• Too many birds can cause you to use and spend too much on feed.
• May lead to a waste of eggs during warmer months when the flock is at peak production. 
• Offer Alternatives
• Allow the birds to free-range when safe.
• Feed kitchen scraps. Don’t toss these in the garbage. Allow your flock to have them. You might be surprised what they consider a treat! Be aware that there are a few things chickens should not eat. Avoid them. You can find at least a partial list by viewing: What Chickens Can and Cannot Eat.
• Take your pesticide- and herbicide-free weed bucket to your flock. They will be happy to pick through these for tasty, nourishing morsels. This helps you use less feed.