Free Feed: Weeds! Yes...really!

I’m back, with more ideas on cutting your flock’s feed bill by using free chicken feed sources. Layer feed can get expensive so I try to cut costs as much as possible by finding various ways to feed my chickens, ducks and guinea fowl. We've talked about Garden Rejects and cooking damaged or dirty eggs as frugal feed sources for your chickens. This time we’re looking at weeds. Yes, really!

free chicken feed source

Not only are many weeds highly nutritious and completely edible, but it’s an awesome motivation to start weeding that garden! There are literally dozens of weeds that you could be feeding your chickens and they will love you for it. Here are a few that I feed to my chickens on a regular basis and they grow just about everywhere.

Weeds chickens can eat:


Smartweed: This one is pretty easy to spot because of it’s pretty pink seed like flowers. I’ve always called it Lady’s thumb, but its actually called smartweed and the chickens go nuts for it. This is another one that is extremely easy to pull, it comes out by the handfuls with very little effort. (upper left corner)

What to expect at a chicken swap (you might be surprised!)

By now you must have seen the signs: "Chicken swap this weekend" is what they usually say. They've been popping up all over the country, more so in part by Tractor Supply Company's and other feed stores willingness to host such swaps in their parking lots. Some auctions even host chicken swaps. 

The name can be deceiving though. After all, if you swap something with someone that indicates a trade. To swap one item for another is sorta like replacing it....ie: I swapped the dahlias for roses. I think this puts a lot of people off, so I'd like to explain exactly what a poultry swap meet is.

What is a chicken swap?

Wood ash and DE, the dust bathing dream team

Chickens love to dust bathe. They find a dry spot in the dirt and roll, fluff, and flap to their heart's content. Then, if it's a sunny spot they just sorta fall asleep. In fact, if you're new to chickens and you see them all sprawled in one spot looking half dead, you might just think the worst happened. Not to worry, it's just a spa treatment chicken-style. 

3 ingredient dust bath recipes for chickens

Did you know that you can make a dust bath for chickens that can help control parasites? I'll let you in on the 2 main ingredients and tell you exactly why you (not them) should control where they dust bathe. It's a simple chicken dust bath recipe with wood ash and Diatomaceous Earth and it works like a charm...

Why do chickens roll in dirt?


Chickens use dirt baths to get their feathers clean. Completely opposite of being a human....or well, almost any other animal! It works for them though. The dirt they fluff up under their feathers helps to absorb excess oil from their skin. They do the vertical wing shake to get the dirt all the way down to their skin. 

Dust bathing helps to control any parasites they may have. It's also great for getting rid of mites and lice. They also dust bath when it's hot out to cool down. Plus, it just plain feels good!