What Do Chickens Eat

What Do Chickens Eat | Raising Chickens

Most feed chickens subsist on a diet of a mixture of grains and corn based feeds. There are several types of feeds and you should understand your breed before you buy your feed. If your chickens are allowed to roam around your land then they will typically fend for themselves and eat a variety of things they can peck at around your yard.

Types of Chicken Feeds

There are a variety of feeds you can purchase for your chickens. Do some research about the types of chickens you are raising and inquire at your local farm store about which feed is right for your flock.

Organic Chicken Feed

Why would you choose organic poultry feed?

The simplest of answer is that you want organic eggs to eat. Hens that diet on organic feed are believed to produce organic eggs which are said to be healthier do to the fact that there are no chemicals, pesticides or other unnatural substances.

What Makes Organic Feed… Organic?

“Organic” as a general definition means that you use biodegradable, all natural, and sustainable materials that promote balance and long term life. For a poultry feed to be considered “organic” it has to be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The Problems with NOT organic.

• The toxic levels of pesticides has increased, literally 10x in the bast half century.


• The more we use them the worse the problem gets. Pesticide use has increased by thousands of percent and during the increase in usage the crops that were ruined by pests has increased from 32% to 38%.


• These unnatural fertilizers can lower the quality of the soil used to grow crops.


• The pesticides can hang around for years after use.


• Genetically “Improved” crops have led to an increase in pesticide use. 
  

Soy Free Chicken Feed

Soy free chicken feed is a blend of chicken food that does not contain any soy or any soy based product. The reason you would want a soy based feed is that it is listed as one of the most common allergens in the US with about .2% of the population having the allergy. They are rich in protein but contain a high amount of phytoestrogen and phytic acid. Also many soy products are genetically modified.

Corn-Free Chicken Feed

They can be a potential allergen however the main reason why you may want to steer your flock away from corn based chicken feeds is that they are like drive-thru and candy to your birds. Corn is made up of simple sugars that convert quickly to energy. There are times where this can be handy for your chickens, such as when there is a particularly harsh winter. These corn based feeds can give your birds the extra calories they need to tough out a cold front but when the weather is warm corn-free feeds will keep the extra weight off your chickens.

Free Range Chickens

It is said that free range chickens are much healthier than flocks that are fed store bought feed. Eggs from free range chickens are some of the best in the world. Also your flock will yield more benefits than just eggs, in situations where you need to cull the flock you can slaughter a chicken for a delicious chicken dinner.

Free Range Chicken Eggs contain 2x the amount of vitamin E, 6x the amount of vitamin A, they have lower saturated fat and have 4x the amount of omega-3 fatty acids.

What Do Chickens Eat if Free Range?

Free Range chickens eat a variety of things they find in the backyard or pasture. If you are curious about what a chicken will eat when they are left to their own devices then the answer is… Just about anything. Chickens need a mixture of proteins and vitamins in order to be healthy and happy. They are omnivorous, like humans, and eat many different greens and meats.

Chickens will be more than happy to eat.

• Bugs & Insects


• Grasses, clover & various greens


• Small rodents


• Lizards


• Seeds


• Table scraps

Chickens tend to avoid foods they don’t like so don’t be overly concerned that you are giving your chickens things they shouldn’t eat.

If feeding scraps from your table, here are a few tips:

• Chickens will eat fruit, but don’t like the peels


• They love potatoes of all kinds, even chips, but avoid giving them the skins


• Egg shells provide calcium but should be ground down before feeding


• They will eat any meat


• Weeds and lawn clippings are a great source of chicken feed


• Remember that you cannot over feed chickens, if they are eating what you give them, then they are hungry

In most cases chickens can fend for themselves if they are left top free range. However, there are cases where the land you allow your chickens to graze on simply do not have all the foods your flock may require. In these rare instances you may want to supplement your chickens diet.

You can supplement their diet in a variety of ways including:

• Buying supplemental feed from the store


• Planting more plants in your yard that your chickens love


• If you have a compost heap, you can harvest the worms for your birds

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What Do Chickens Eat

New Resource for Those Living Off the Grid in Montana

Here is a handy resource for those that are either currently living off the grid in Montana or are wanting to live off the grid in Montana.

Find Survival stores, property listing and more from this guide brought to you by Live, Prepare, Survive.

http://livepreparesurvive.com/living-off-the-grid-in-montana/

How to Boil Water for Drinking

The United States E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency) claims that 9 out of 10 of all water sources on  the planet are contaminated in some way. There are many kinds of microscopic organisms that contaminate water sources and can cause potentially serious,  and sometimes deadly, illnesses when drinking water from the wild. Learning how to boil water for drinking and knowing how to clean the water for safe consumption is an essential skill to know.

The “good old days” of simply finding a stream and taking a drink from its waters are becoming a thing of the past… and even in the past there were many cases of disease that spread through fresh water sources.

You should always assume that water in the wild is contaminated in some way and you should be prepared with purification methods to make the water you come across in the wild as safe as possible in your conditions.

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How to Boil Water for Drinking – How Many Minutes Does it Take?

Biologically contaminated water is water that contains microorganisms such as “Giardia” (a common microorganism that, if not killed, leads to intestinal disorders), bacteria, or viruses that can lead to infections.

Ever heard of traveler’s diarrhea? Ever been afflicted while on a hiking or camping trip as a result of drinking water that you thought was perfectly safe? One word… “Giardia”.

Toxic water sources however contain chemical contamination from sources like pesticide runoffs, direct dumping or indirect leaching, mine tailings, and so on.

Boiling, filtering, or chemically treating water can remove or kill microorganisms,

but it will not remove chemical toxins.

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Boiling Water is the Most Certain Way to Remove Microorganisms

If you were to ask the Wilderness Medical Society about safe water boiling times - 

Water at 160 degrees F will kill contaminants in 30 minutes.

Water at or  above 185 degrees  F (85° C) kill most contaminants in a few short minutes.

You can safely say that by the time your water reaches its point of boil at 212 degrees that it is safe for drinking.  Water is instantly purified at a roiling boil, even if you live at high altitudes.

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There are a Couple Things to Consider When Boiling Water for Drinking

If there are chemical toxins present in the water, boiling it will not remove them all. In order to remove chemical toxins, there are a number of methods you can use that are safe. A solar still is a good choice. Or collecting the steam that comes off of boiling water is another good way.

If there is any organic matter or dirt in the water, then you should filter them out first. You can use a simple cloth like a bandanna or bed sheet to remove most of the dirt and organic matter from the water prior to boiling.

If you have heard that it takes several minutes of boiling to purify water, then you have heard wrong. Save your fuel and fire and understand that once water reaches its boiling point… it is as clean as it is going to get by boiling.

If you employ the use of a thermometer then you don’t even have to wait for the water to reach a boiling point to be safe for drinking.  To be safe though… I would error on the side of caution and just wait for the first signs of a boil.

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Boiling Times to Purify Water for Drinking

• 30 minutes at 160° F


• 3 minutes at 185° F


• Instant at 212° F

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How to Boil Water for Drinking

AR15 Modification Satisfies Gun Restrictions in New York

AR15 Modification Satisfies Gun Restrictions

After New York State banned certain characteristics of many firearms, those who value the Second Amendment and refuse to yield to the arbitrary hurdles put forth by gun control extremists have had to get creative in how they will legally circumvent the draconian laws of the Empire State.

Gun owners have witnessed the pattern of lunacy for decades. Oftentimes, when a government bans certain cosmetic features of a firearm, a panic unleashes amongst gun rights advocates. Soon, however, creative stocks, barrel shrouds and other assorted alternative parts emerge that dutifully obey the law but undeniably violate the spirit of the law.

New York State and various other freedom-hating states have created bans over the years that are specifically-tailored to apply to certain frightening-looking semi-auto firearms that resemble military weapons. Specifically, the AR-15 rifle.

In 1994, when the federal assault weapon ban took effect, certain cosmetic features were banned such as bayonet lugs, flash suppressors and rifles with pistol grips. As Democrats gleefully rejoiced at having finally banned the AR-15, AK47 variants and other assorted “nasty” firearms, gun manufacturers and gunsmiths nationwide got to work modifying the designs. What emerged were AR-15’s without bayonet lugs (a feature that is rarely, if ever, used by the average gun enthusiast) and AK47 variants with a thumbhole stock- a stock that merely connected the bottom of the pistol grip to the rest of the stock offering the shooter the exact same hand position but satisfying the requirements of the law.

American ingenuity had checkmated attempted liberal tyranny.

Now, in response to New York’s SAFE Act which banned adjustable stocks, flash suppressors and pistol grips, New York patriots are developing prototypes of AR-15’s that have modifications that satisfy the New York requirements but still maintain the rifle’s effectiveness.

The Clash Daily Reports:

Prototypes for the newly designed AR-15 are hitting gun shops across New York, as gun shops and machinists have designed a rifle that complies with the anti-gun law. At least one gun shop has received a letter from state police saying that the new AR-15 style rifles should be legal in the state as long as they don’t have some of the features that the law prohibits.

The new gun law bans all kinds of semi-automatic rifles that have been labeled with the “assault” term even though these are very common rifles and are no more powerful than the average hunting rifle.

Features like adjustable stocks, pistols grips, and flash suppressors has been deemed to be unlawful on these rifles, mainly because it makes them LOOK mean. And we all know how little these anti-gun lawmakers really know about guns, as the “Ghost gun” video illustrated.

The new AR-15 design did away with the pistol grip which gives the gun an odd paintball gun look. The stock is fixed as well, but at least New Yorkers now have a legal way to own an AR-15, a fact which is still driving some gun control activists mad.

The rifle- which is, admittedly, a bit odd-looking- should ruffle the feathers of liberals who are likely to feel as if they’ve been thwarted yet again by gun rights supporter. However, conservatives are likely to rejoice as the rifle, much beloved by the gun rights community, has endured a minor cosmetic overhaul but has retained the accuracy and performance for which the AR-15 is known.

Original article at: http://www.tpnn.com/2014/02/10/freedom-lovers-push-back-new-yorkers-make-cosmetic-changes-to-ar-15s-to-skirt-safe-act-requirements/#sthash.FOi2vB9k.dpuf

AR15 Modification Satisfies Gun Restrictions in New York

VIDEO: Atlanta Taking No Chances With Coming Snow

After a minor winter storm wreaked havoc in Atlanta earlier this month, officials are taking no chances with new snowfall expected across the south. Cameron McWhirter reports on the News Hub. Photo: AP.

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VIDEO: Obama Issues Executive Order to Combat Climate Change

The President encouraged federal and state agencies to prepare for the potential adverse effects of climate change.

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