FREE Food for your chickens

[Stubbornhillfarm]

For the last two weeks, every time I go into the supermarket (which may be 2 to 3 times a week) I ask the produce people if I can have the bag of corn husks that everyone throws away. Around here, they have a big bucket near the corn on the cob and many people shuck it before they take it home. Sometimes there are even full ears of corn that people didn't find appealing for one reason or another. They gladly give it to me. I take it home and throw it in the chicken run. They eat what they want, scratch around the rest and it will turn to compost eventually.

Yes, I am not a proud girl! One mans trash is another mans treasure, right? And it saves the store money on garbage removal.

 

[baymule]

Stores here won't give the old produce away. They are afraid people will eat it, get sick and sue them.

 

[thistlebloom]

I haven't tried getting old produce here, but I wanted to add that the goats love corn husks.
Actually my husband says there's nothing they don't like, but that's not true.
Anything the horse has slobbered on gets shunned.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

I think around here it is similar in regards to the old produce. I think the difference for them is that it's not like anyone is going to be boiling down some corn husks to eat themselves. At least I think not?

 

[bj taylor]

i'm going to find out if our grocery store will let me have some of this cast off. that would be good

 

[ducks4you]

If you supply grit, you can hand pull grass for your birds. Mine love it and eat it like we east spaghetti noodles. You need to grab and pull like a horse does so you don't pull them out by the roots. We've had SO MUCH RAIN this month that I have a jungle of grass right now!!

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

i know that our local Hannaford's usually will give out any scraps if they know it is going to feed animals and not for humans. usually i'm too late to get what they had available. :/ the other grocery store usually marks the stuff down that is getting really close to it's shelf life.

 

[lesa]

I thought you were going to mention my favorite free chicken food- weeds! I enjoy weeding more when I imagine all the beautiful dark yolked eggs, I am going to get from the girls!

 

[secuono]

Stores here won't give the old produce away. They are afraid people will eat it, get sick and sue them.

Same here. Huge pain in the butt.
I just free range my birds 24/7 on 5 acres, they find enough food on their own.

 

[desertlady]

DUMPSTER Diving ! Bring a small rake and pull all the good stuff for you chickens ! I do this when I have a chance ! My chicken enjoy salad every night ! Our store wont give away veggies. its against their store policy and health department. Im sad that they dont donate some good fruits and veggies to the zoo or some kind of animal shelter.