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Update: Download the Garden Betty Chicken Feed Calculator to easily manage costs, calculate protein content, and formulate your feed on the fly!
I get a lot of emails about one of my most popular posts, Garden Betty's Homemade Whole Grain Chicken Feed.
Since I started feeding my chickens a whole grain diet in December 2011 (when our first generation of hens were still pullets), they've been as happy and healthy as ever, and our most productive layers give us 6 to 7 eggs per week with no anomalies like shell-less eggs.
My homemade chicken feed has now been fed to three generations of hens, all with amazing results. Their feathers are soft and glossy, their wings strong and quick, their combs and wattles meaty and well-formed.
They are also the most active, affectionate, and sociable chickens, and they come bounding through the yard as soon as they see us approaching with their food. (We usually ferment their chicken feed.) I love their little personalities!
I've made small changes to my DIY chicken feed here and there, depending on what ingredients were in stock at my co-op. I still swear by a whole grain diet (considering how easy and accessible it is in my area), and it seems like many of you are looking to go this route as well.
If you've ever wanted to find out how to adapt my feed to baby chicks, or what kind of substitutions can be made to the original recipe, the comments on that page (which I actively monitor and respond to) are a great place to start!
In this post, I'm sharing how I updated my homemade chicken feed recipe with a version I've been successfully using for the last several years.
Why a corn-free chicken feed may be a better feed for your flock
One of the most common questions I always get is: How do you make your chicken feed recipe corn-free?
Chicken-keepers want a corn-free feed for any number of reasons, the main one being that corn has little nutritional value compared to many other grains and seeds.
Field corn (the type of corn grown as livestock feed and processed into things like high fructose corn syrup) is also one of the most genetically modified crops in the world.
GMOs weren't a concern for me as I used human-grade organic corn in my original recipe, but I ended up making a corn-free chicken feed because my original flock stopped eating corn, as well as lentils and kamut. (What can I say? They're picky little ladies.)
Eliminating corn from the recipe wasn't a big deal, but I did need to find a protein-rich replacement for the lentils and kamut.
Here's what I've been using…
Disclosure: If you shop from my article or make a purchase through one of my links, I may receive commissions on some of the products I recommend.
High-protein ingredients for homemade corn-free chicken feed
Triticale, a hybrid of wheat and rye, contains 17 percent protein and is an excellent source of energy. It used to be carried by my delivery co-op, Azure Standard (where I buy most of my other bulk grains), but has been hard to find in recent months.
I now source organic triticale from an Oregon supplier, but you can also find conventionally grown triticale from a Florida farm that specializes in pasture seed. Rolled triticale (which can be used interchangeably with triticale berries) is also offered on Amazon occasionally.
My other new ingredient, rye, contains 13 percent protein and something in it makes my chickens go crazy! They gobble the grains out of my hand like it's candy.
Rye is fairly cheap and easy to find, though the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture suggests feeding rye only to laying hens at peak egg production. (You can substitute many other grains for it in the meantime.)
I also increased my sesame seed serving to 2 cups, and kept the rest of the recipe the same.
For many chicken-keepers, the easiest and cheapest source of (non-soy) protein is split peas and field peas, which I would wholeheartedly use if my chickens actually ate legumes. (They're 50/50 on them, so I usually modify their feed every few months to keep things interesting.)
If your local supplier doesn't carry soft white wheat berries, you can simply use 6 cups of the more common hard red wheat berries instead.
My updated corn-free chicken feed recipe is still within the 17 percent protein range for layers and still costs the same to feed them.
If you're having difficulty finding any of the ingredients below, keep in mind that plenty of other grains, seeds, and legumes can be substituted and this recipe is not meant to be a rigid diet for your flock.
You should still be giving your girls a variety of healthy treats, such as fresh greens, dried mealworms, or dried black soldier fly larvae, and spring is the perfect time to let them loose in your garden to help turn over mulch and soil.
Nutritional supplements for DIY corn-free chicken feed
For added vitamins and minerals, I use brewer's yeast and kelp granules. Both can be found at well-stocked pet stores and feed stores, health food places, or even online.
Animal-grade supplements are more cost-effective than human-grade, so I recommend going that route if it's available. You do not need to spend a lot of money to make quality feed!
If you're not able to source these nutritional supplements for your homemade poultry feed, you can order Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer from Azure Standard, Amazon, or your local feed store, or ask if they carry any other vitamin/mineral premix. (Just follow the directions on the package for proper serving sizes.)
It also might be a good idea to find other chicken-keepers to go in on an order with you, as a 10-pound bag of Nutri-Balancer would last forever unless you have a very large flock.
The girls still get grit and oyster shells in separate containers to peck as they please… but these days, I've also been washing and crushing up their eggshells to use in place of the oyster shells when I can't make it to our local feed store.
With six hens now, there are plenty of eggshells to go around! (We even crush up eggshells to put in our tomato planting holes.)
For more recommendations, as well as information on how all of these grains are beneficial for your flock, check out my original homemade chicken feed recipe and its comments.
Happy formulating!
Homemade Soy-Free Corn-Free Chicken Feed With Whole Grains
Makes 8 1/2 pounds (fills 10-pound feeder)
4 cups oat groats
4 cups black oil sunflower seeds
4 cups hard red wheat berries
2 cups soft white wheat berries
2 cups triticale berries
2 cups rye berries
2 cups millet
2 cups sesame seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup brewer's yeast
1/4 cup kelp granules
Free-choice oyster shells (or crushed eggshells)
Free-choice grit
Combine all of the ingredients, except the oyster shells and grit, in a small bucket. Pour the mixture into a feeder.
Put the oyster shells and grit in separate containers and offer them free-choice to your chickens to eat as they wish.
Homemade Corn-Free Soy-Free Chicken Feed With Whole Grains
Garden Betty's homemade whole grain chicken feed just got better. This new recipe is corn-free (as well as soy-free) and makes the perfect feed for your favorite layers.
- 4 cups oat groats
- 4 cups black oil sunflower seeds
- 4 cups hard red wheat berries
- 2 cups soft white wheat berries
- 2 cups triticale berries
- 2 cups rye berries
- 2 cups millet
- 2 cups sesame seeds
- 1 cup flax seeds
- 1/2 cup brewer's yeast
- 1/4 cup kelp granules
- Free-choice oyster shells (or crushed eggshells)
- Free-choice grit
- Combine all of the ingredients, except the oyster shells and grit, in a small bucket.
- Fill your feeder with the mixed-grain feed, or store the feed in a pet food container or a galvanized steel bucket with a lid.
- Offer the oyster shells and grit in separate small feeders for your chickens to eat as they wish.
This post updated from an article that originally appeared on April 15, 2013.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Some of the common ingredients in a Seafood Chowder may include clam broth, potatoes, clams, shrimp, fish, celery, butter, milk or cream, sweet peppers, onions, herbs, spices, and flavorings. Russet potatoes are most often used as a thickener for Seafood Chowders since they contain higher levels of starch but are low in moisture content. As an alternative, a roux can also be used to thicken this type of soup. Seafood Chowders will vary in flavor and ingredients throughout the world, but regardless of where the Chowder is made, it most often provides a savory mixture of seafoods that are very rich in flavor.


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Sesamoiditis is a condition that affects the joint that is just behind the big toe in the area known as the ball of the foot. It is most common in younger people and people who have just begun an exercise program. Since the sesamoid bones are like a pulley controlling the big toe, they can rub against each other and cause a gradual onset of pain. Pain may also be caused by the inflammation of tendons surrounding the bones. If ignored, sesamoiditis can lead to other, more serious problems such as severe irritation and fractures of the bones.
The cause of sesamoiditis is sudden increase in activity. The ball of your foot acts as a springboard to help you lift off when you are jogging or running. Sudden increase in the use of these bones or the tendon that controls them can cause irritation. The tendon then begins to develop inflammation and the joint begins to swell. People with smaller, bonier feet or those with a high arch are typically more susceptible to this condition.
Sesamoiditis is fairly simple to diagnose since the symptoms have a gradual onset rather than a sudden impact. The symptoms begin with slight irritation around the joint shortly after the increase in activity. The discomfort eventually turns to pain with light swelling and possibly redness. Although redness or bruising are rare, this may be a symptom. After each session of exercising, the aggravated joint becomes more irritated and increases into a very intense throbbing.
Treatment for sesamoiditis can vary depending on the severity of the situation. However, treatment is almost always approached in a noninvasive way. For a case that is just beginning the doctor may recommend a very strict rest period that will limit the activity allowed on the joint. If you must be active, a recommendation for as modified shoe or insole, along with bandaging and immobilizing the big toe will be made to ensure that pressure is not placed on the joint. For severe cases, it is typically recommended that the joint and the big toe be completely immobilized to allow adequate time to heal. Ice and an over the counter anti-inflammatory may can help with the pain and discomfort while you are at rest.
When you return to your regular exercise activities, it is recommended that you use an insole that will allow even distribution of impact to your entire foot, rather than just the balls of your foot. This will prevent further aggravation of the injury.


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BRITA FLOW water filter tank (with 1 filter element) + 12 filter elements (blue) [Original Licensed]
- German Brand - BRITA
- Can effectively filter harmful metals such as lead and chlorine, while still retaining minerals in water
- Passed the German authoritative inspection agency TÜV quality certification
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- Purchase special filters separately: BRITA MAXTRA+ Ready-to-Use Water Filters - White (Pack of 12)
Deliver within 4 to 10 working day(s)
Purchase Exceed $500 EnjoyFree Shipping
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BRITA Flow filter tank
- Use comfortable push-on tap accessories.
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- Total water storage up to 8.2 liters and can store up to 5.2 liters of filtered water
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- Know when to change the filter element with the BRITA Memo with timing function
Filtration with MAXTRA+ filter element
- MAXTRA+ MicroFlow Technology reduces: limescale, build-up of metallic chlorine such as lead and copper, and other substances that affect the taste of drinking water
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BRITA Flow filter tank: quenching thirst for all
- Equipped with a comfortable push-button faucet for easy pouring
- Open the top cover and pour water easily
- easy to clean
- easy to carry
Product Specifications:
- Capacity: 8.2 liters (5.2 liters filtered water)
- Dimensions: 30.7 x 23.6 x 33 cm (L x H x D)
- Weight: about 3.5 kg
- Free delivery for purchase of HK$500 or above.
- Circle-K (Check the Circle-K address) or Alfred Locker.
- For all order ship to special area, an extra cost will be requested by delivery man, reference by here
- Tung Chung / Chek Lap Kok Airport / Lantau Island / Ma Wan / Discovery Bay / Islands, etc., additional $120 shipping
- Purchase for less than HK$500, a delivery fee of HK$60 will be charged.
- Shipment will be arranged within 4-10 working days after order confirmation.
- Delivery time will be affected by the festival. When Gale Signal No. 8 or Black Rainstorm Warning is in effect, delivery time will be delayed. Closed on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd day of the lunar calendar (no delivery), please pay attention.
- All orders are subject to final confirmation depending on the availability of the product. If the supplier fails to provide any products on the order, health.ESDlife has the right to refuse to accept the order and will notify the customer by phone /WhatsApp or email before making the arrangement.
- If due to force majeure (including but not limited to natural disasters, fires, floods, accidents, riots, wars, government policies, strikes or any situation beyond your control), you cannot accurately provide the products or services you need, Shieldton and health.ESDlife assume any liability or compensation.
- Shieldton will make every effort to ensure that the products are delivered to the address before the delivery date according to the address provided by you. If the products are not successfully delivered 60 days after the delivery date due to your reasons, Shieldton reserves the right Including any right to refuse a refund request.
- Customers must check whether the ordered products are damaged when receiving the products. If the product is found to be damaged (excluding intentional damage), the customer is requested to notify the Shieldton customer service department within 7 days from the date of delivery to arrange the replacement of the product.
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> In case of any disputes, Shieldton and health.ESDlife reserve the right of final decision.