What do your backyard chickens drink? Water, sure, but that doesn’t meet all of their nutritional needs. Part of sustaining a hatchery includes using the crops from our own farm. We find joy in creating recipes not just for ourselves, but for the chickens we’re selling to great folks like you.
In Agricultural Zone 5B, we are growing beets, carrots, and Thousandhead Kale from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Kale is fantastic for salads at the Farmhouse, but we also want to continue to add nutritional value to our chicken feed.
What Do Graywhale Farms Chickens Eat?
We feed our day-old chicks, pullets, and gorgeous hens a hearty meal supplemented with 22% protein for our rare bird species and 28% protein for the game birds. Because of the mineral deficiencies here in Door County, we also supplement their diet with Selenium, Calcium, and Vitamin E. We also add a couple of ounces of apple cider vinegar to our chickens’ water, too.
We’re raising our birds so that they can produce viable chicks. Your egg-laying backyard chickens only need a 16% protein mix. With this Thousandhead Kale and Apple Feed, we’re supplementing our flock with Vitamins A, C, and K, Fiber, Protein, B6, Folate, Magnesium, and Potassium, as well as antioxidants.
“Although technically a non-kale cabbage, this ancient crop that originated in France is too impressive to leave off this list.”
Healthline
Thousandhead Kale & Apple Chicken Feed Recipe
When mixed, we distribute about ¼ cup per chicken – a good portion size for a backyard chicken flock.
- Harvest Thousandhead Kale from your organic garden.
- Wash and clean the kale. We had a good handful.
- Roughly chop the kale.
- Chop and process the apples. Our apples come from our trees here in Door County. Don’t include the core since the seeds can be poisonous.
- Mix the apples and Thousandhead Kale with chicken feed.
How are you adding nutrition to your backyard chickens’ diet?