038: The Quest for the Closed Loop Chicken

What happens if I can’t get chicken feed.  Are there alternatives to the feed store?  Do chickens have to eat layer pellets to lay eggs?  What are they putting in chicken feed?  Will the price of chicken feed keep going up? I can’t really give you an answer to all of those questions, but the fact that they need to be asked has really got me thinking.  In this solo episode, I talk about several ways in which I will be working toward reaching sustainability in regards to our flock of laying chickens.  TOPICS DISCUSSED: * Fermentation of commercial feed as a way to expand the volume and improve it’s digestibility. * Raising insects like mealworms, black soldier flies and silk worms to begin producing more of your chickens protein on the homestead. * The long term strategy of planting fodder trees around the homestead to help provide for a portion of their feed. * The pros and cons of free ranging and why I am in the process of significantly reducing the practice on my homestead. * Growing crops such as sunflowers and winter squash to provide food stores for the leaner times of the year * The philosophy of flock management and the necessity of a proper culling schedule GET THE FREE HOMESTEAD RESOURCES FOR 2023 DOWNLOAD: https://plansandprovisions.com/HR2023 LINKS:  BLACK SOLDIER FLY BIN TUTORIAL: https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/love-your-larvae/11184864 MODERN HOMESTEADING PODCAST EPISODE 181: https://redemptionpermaculture.com/growing-insects-for-small-livestock-feed/ PRESENTATION ON FODDER TREES:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yqm3qM0biU  VISIT THE PLANS AND PROVISIONS WEBSITE: https://plansandprovisions.com INTRO/OUTRO VOICEOVER PROVIDED BY: https://www.sweetteafilms.com