You’re going to LOVE this homemade high protein grower blend for your mixed flocks! At roughly 18% protein and 4.98% fat, this falls in the perfect range for laying hens and growing juvenile chickens. There’s no fish meal or weird ingredients. Just whole wheat berries, oats, cracked corn, split green peas, lentils and dried meal worms. Here’s our favorite 18% protein chicken feed recipe:
The recipe in this article was invented by, hand crafted by, and calculated by Tay Silver at the Silver Homestead. The recipe, in whole or in part, and all images are not to be used elsewhere online unless linking directly to this page. It is okay to pin the images to Pinterest.
Homemade Chicken Feed
If you’re new to making your own chicken feeds, read our article on the 16% protein feed recipe which uses the exact same ingredients as this one but in a different (and less expensive) ratio. The lower protein is “safer” if you’re worried about homemade feeds and there’s a lot of good advice on how to tell if your flock is thriving. In this article, we’re going to jump right into our higher protein recipe!
18% Protein Chicken Feed Recipe:
2 and 1/3 pounds whole wheat berries
2 and 1/3 pounds whole oats
2 and 1/3 pounds cracked corn (organic cracked corn is an option)
1 and 1/8 pounds split green peas
1 and 1/8 pounds brown lentils
1 pound dried meal worms
Directions: Use a scale to weigh out each ingredient, which is required to ensure you obtain the correct protein percent. Combine the ingredients in a large feed bin that can hold at least 15 pounds of feed. I find it easiest to pour in a small portion of each ingredient and stir to combine with a long handled spoon. When I feel it is well combined, I add another pour of each ingredient and continue stirring. Once everything has been poured in and is well mixed, scoop out as needed to feed your hens. Will keep up to 6 months in an airtight container so long as none of the feed grains are contaminated with weevils. Best if used within 3 months. Makes about 10.25 pounds of an 18% protein and 4.98% fat chicken feed mix.
Small Batch Feed Recipe:
Here’s a smaller batch “sampler” recipe that makes roughly 2.31 pounds of the same 18% protein feed:
1/2 pound (8 ounces) whole wheat berries (about 1 cup)
1/2 pound (8 ounces) whole oats (about 1.5 cups)
1/2 pound (8 ounces) cracked corn (about 1.5 cups)
0.28 pounds (4.48 ounces) split green peas (about 1/2 cup)
0.28 pounds (4.48 ounces) brown lentils (about 2/3 cup)
1/4 pound (4 ounces) dried meal worms (about 2.25 cups)
While measuring by weight is the most accurate, I have made this small batch recipe and given the US cup measurements for those who want to mix up this sample blend quickly.
Pasture Ranging or Garden Scraps Suggested
This gorgeous feed has the correct macronutrients (protein and fat) but the amino acids present in the grains may vary. Giving your hens pasture ranging time or everyday access to fresh garden clippings and kitchen scraps can help the hens balance their own diets. She will naturally crave foods with the vitamins she may be a little low on, which is true whether she’s being feed commercial or homemade feed. A highly varied diet is helpful to laying hens!
What Age Juveniles Can Eat 18% Homemade Feed?
Chicken chicks 6+ weeks old can be given 18% protein feeds. But this whole grain blend with it’s large lentils, split peas, and whole oats may be smidgen too big for chicks less than 9 weeks old to swallow. You can crack these grains (or all the grains) a cup at a time in a blender after you have measured out the correct weight for each whole ingredient and before you add any meal worms. If you end up with cracked grains that are too powdery, you can add water to make a wet mash that the chicks will eat from a shallow ceramic or stainless dish. Wet mash needs to be replaced daily with fresh mash in a clean dish.
Once juveniles reach 9 to 10 weeks old, they should be able to swallow all of the grains whole. Adults will have no problem with the whole grains in this blend.
Grit is Required!
Chicks and juveniles MUST be provided with chick grit (from hatch to 8 weeks old) or full size chicken grit (after 8 weeks old) in order to digest grains. Failure to provide grit can cause digestion issues and potentially death. This is easily prevented by making sure the birds have grit. Oyster shell is not grit but providing flaked oyster shell for point-of-lay pullets and all adult hens is a good idea. (Afflinks)
What if My Birds Eat Only the Meal Worms?
Your chickens are going to do this initially…and probably every time you refill the feeder! They cannot help but eat the best bites first. Once the meal worms are gone the still-hungry hens will consume the grains, which they enjoy. In this mix, there are 9.25 pounds of grains to every 1 pound of meal worms. The meal worms are not treats, they are required to provide the proper protein and fat content, but they only make up 10.8% of the total feed.
Spilled Grains Will Sprout!
One of the best things about feeding a homemade whole grain feed is that all of the grains (except the meal worms and cracked corn pieces) will sprout! When a missed grain or legume comes in contact with ground moisture, it will begin to swell and then sprout into an edible microgreen. Chickens love these swollen grains and will hunt for them. Being able to scratch and peck for some of their food is fulfilling for hens, who want to engage in this instinctive activity. Whole grain feeds and scratch blends are a wonderful way to encourage that chicken boredom-busting behavior.
Supplement with Green Foods
Chickens need certain amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that may be missed if they are only picking out their favorite bits from a feed blend. If you cannot give your hens any free ranging time where she can balance her diet herself, providing sprouts, fresh greens, garden clippings and kitchen scraps is the perfect way to ensure your hens are getting all the essential nutrients they need.
100% Real Homemade Feed Recipes
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