Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Alexandra Doss. Alexandra Doss is a Poultry & Livestock Expert expert based in Ruskin, Florida. She owns and manages Stellar Game Birds, Poultry, Waterfowl LLC, a selective breeding operation with game birds, poultry, and waterfowl. With over 14 years of experience, she produces strong genetics and health in her hatching eggs, eating eggs, and live birds. The farm is FWC game farm licensed, FDAC licensed for quail, chicken, and duck eating eggs and meat, and NPIP certified. She is known as the Quail Lady and has published several books on raising Coturnix. Her work has been featured in Mother Earth News, Backyard Poultry, Grit, The Chicken Whisperer Magazine, and Community Chickens. She also has a career as a Workforce Management Supervisor and has a certificate in project management. She received a BS from Oregon State in Animal Sciences.
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Making your own chicken feed is a great way to save money and allows you to know exactly what you’re feeding your chickens. If you want to feed your chickens organically, use organic ingredients in these recipes. Try the chicken feed recipe for laying hens, or make the broiler feed if you are raising broiler hens. Both recipes are rich in protein and nutrients and will help to nourish your chickens.
Ingredients
- 107 pounds (49 kg) of whole maize meal
- 41 pounds (19 kg) of soya
- 28 pounds (13 kg) of fish meal
- 31 pounds (14 kg) of maize bran
- 13 pounds (5.9 kg) of limestone powder
Makes 220 pounds (100 kg) of chicken feed
- 250 pounds (110 kg) of cracked corn
- 150 pounds (68 kg) of ground roasted soybeans
- 25 pounds (11 kg) of rolled oats
- 25 pounds (11 kg) of alfalfa meal
- 25 pounds (11 kg) of fish or bone meal
- 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of aragonite (calcium powder)
- 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of poultry nutri-balancer
Makes 500 pounds (230 kg) of chicken feed
Steps
Measure the ingredients into a container. Add 107 pounds (49 kg) of whole maize meal, 41 pounds (19 kg) of soya, 28 pounds (13 kg) of fish meal, 31 pounds (14 kg) of maize bran, and 13 pounds (5.9 kg) of limestone powder into a container. This recipe makes 220 pounds (100 kg) of chicken feed, so you will need a large bucket or barrel to mix and store the feed in.- Use organic ingredients if you want to make the chicken feed organic.
- Purchase the ingredients from a bulk goods store or a farm shop.
Mix the ingredients until they are thoroughly combined. Stir the feed with a shovel until all the ingredients are evenly dispersed throughout the container. This ensures that the chickens will receive the nutrients from the different ingredients when they are fed.- Make sure that you mix the ingredients that are in the bottom of the container.
- This may take a few minutes if you have made a large batch. Allow 2-3 minutes to mix a large bucket.
- If you have made a very large batch of chicken feed, use a spade to mix the ingredients.
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Give each chicken 0.28 pounds (0.13 kg) of feed per day. Multiply the feed needed per chicken by the number of chickens that you have. For example, 6 chickens x 0.28 pounds (0.13 kg) = 1.68 pounds (0.76 kg) of feed in total. Place the food into a feeder or sprinkle it on the ground in front of them.- If you are using a feeder, simply pour the feed into the hole at the top and let it trickle down into the feeding plate. Purchase a feeder from a farm store or make your own chicken feeder.
Store the chicken feed in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months. Garages or barns are ideal places to store chicken feed. Check the feed for mice, bugs, and mould before you give it to the chickens. If the feed has been contaminated, it is safest to throw it away.- If you don’t have a shed to store the feed in, put a lid on the container and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Mix the cracked corn and ground roasted soybeans in a container. Measure 250 pounds (110 kg) of cracked corn and 150 pounds (68 kg) of ground roasted soybeans into a large container, such as a barrel or feed container. Mix the ingredients with a shovel until they are thoroughly combined.[1]- Choose a container that has a lid. This will make it easier to store the feed.
- If you don’t have a big enough container, halve the recipe.
- This feed works well for broiler chickens as it has lots of protein to help the chickens grow.
- Use organic ingredients if you want to make organic feed.
Stir the rolled oats, alfalfa meal, and fish or bone meal into the mixture. Measure 25 pounds (11 kg) of rolled oats, 25 pounds (11 kg) of alfalfa meal, and 25 pounds (11 kg) of fish or bone meal into the container. Mix the ingredients into the cracked corn and soybeans until all the ingredients are evenly distributed in the container.[2]- Purchase the ingredients from a farm store or a bulk foods shop.
Add the aragonite and poultry nutri-balancer to the container. Measure 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of aragonite (calcium powder) and 15 pounds (6.8 kg) of poultry nutri-balancer into the feed. Mix the ingredients thoroughly so that the powders are thoroughly distributed through the feed. The poultry nutri-balancer is an important addition to the feed, as it ensures that the chickens receive the nutrients that they need to grow quickly.[3]- If you can’t find these ingredients at your local farm shop, look online or ask your vet to recommend a distributor.
- Aragonite is mineral found in limestone and is a great source of calcium.
Feed each chicken 0.6 pounds (0.27 kg) of the mixture each day. Multiply the amount of feed per chicken by the number of chickens in the coop. Place the feed into a feeder or throw it on the ground once per day.- Use 3 pounds (1.4 kg) of feed for every 5 chickens.
- It is important not to over-feed this mixture to cornish boilers as this can cause fatal heart attacks. This is uncommon as the chickens do not tend to eat more food than they need.
Store the chicken feed in a covered container for up to 6 months. Place a lid over the container of feed and place it in a cool and dry area, such as a garage or barn. This will help to stop the feed from going mouldy or being contaminated by bugs.[4]- If you see any signs of mice or bugs in the feed, it is best to throw it away and make a new batch.
Community Q&A
- QuestionIs this recipe for broiler starter or broiler finisher?
DonaganTop AnswererNeither. It is for raising healthy broilers. - QuestionHow do I reduce the death rate of my chickens?
Community AnswerMake sure they have proper living conditions, such as fresh water, food and a place to rest. You should also get a chicken pen to protect them from any potential predators, and vaccinate them to reduce the number of chickens falling ill. - QuestionCan I feed my broilers cracked maize meal and cracked roasted soybeans (not organic) from day one till market stage?Community AnswerNo, baby chicks need special nutrition for the first year. You can find many resources to help guide you through chicken nutrition from baby chicks, under 1 year and also 1 year old and older on the internet, books and you local agriculture institutions.
Tips
- As a rule of thumb, all chicken feeds need these basic components; protein, amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, and fibre.Thanks
- Commercial layers feed generally consists of an increase in calcium, with broiler feed consisting of an increase in protein.Thanks
Tips from our Readers 
- Add garlic or ginger to your feed to improve your chickens' overall health and performance.
- To prevent contamination, keep your feeders separated from your drinkers.
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about chicken feed, check out our in-depth interview with Alexandra Doss.
References
About This Article
To make feed for laying hens, start by mixing whole maize meal, soya, fish meal, maize bran, and limestone powder into a large bucket or barrel. Once you’ve added all the ingredients, stir them with a shovel until they’re well mixed so the chickens get nutrients from all the ingredients at once. To feed your hens, give them 0.28 pounds of feed per chicken per day. When you’re done feeding them, store the chicken food in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months to keep bacteria out. For more tips, including how to make feed for broiler chickens, read on!
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