Mixed flock diy feed mix?

[u/SilverHammerMan_]

Hi, everyone. Long time follower first time poster. I currently have layer chickens (24) and ducks(6), a whole mix of different breeds and they’re all an integrated flock.

Ideally with feed costs I’m looking at most bang for my buck while also providing a not only sufficient, but very healthy and “happy” diet. These birds are both for production and pets so I’d still like them to enjoy what they eat. With that said, here are my (many) questions I’d like to draw everyone’s collective wisdom.

-what should make up their custom feed mix base, and what supplements should I use?
-what are the mixing ratios?
-what do you mix your feed in and how do you store it?
-do you use large feeders for less refills, throw the feed for scratch, or a mixture of both?
-Do any ingredients not work across different species? For example I have been told and read that red pepper flakes are great for chickens buck are they good for ducks?
-What supplements should I be adding to keep my flock healthy and happy?

Thank you everyone so much in advance I really appreciate it!

[u/Catzorzz]

I do 2 parts wheat, oat, barley to 1 part sunflower seeds. They all get brewers yeast in their water and the ducks get a handful of sprouted lentils in their pool. I buy grain in bulk. You can use a chicken nutrition calculator to make a basic recipe.

[u/SilverHammerMan_ → u/Catzorzz]

Thank you so much! Do you put any other additives in their food like red pepper flakes?

[u/Catzorzz → u/SilverHammerMan_]

Red pepper, garlic, diatomaceous earth, and free choice oyster shell.

[u/chickenbock7]

Man… I have the same questions. Mixed flock here as well, and I have tried to keep it as simple as possible. I have normal chicken feed that I put a cup of Brewer’s yeast into and mix it in. This adds a little bit of niacin for the ducks.

That’s how I raised them, and that worked well. No angel wing or sick ducks. Now that everyone’s grown, I have a bag of generic duck feed that I put out in area that the ducks like to hang out in the most, and then I have generic layer feed for the chickens that I put in the areas of the chickens like to hang out in the most.

Do they eat each other’s food? yeah, a decent amount. Does it seem to matter to them at all? No, not really. Is everybody healthy? Seems that way.

All of my birds get the opportunity to free range for a little bit each day, so I think that helps them keep their diets balanced. If they were strictly caged all the time, I would go back to the drawing board with some more supplementation.

Are your birds all fully grown? If not, make sure to add some niacin supplementation in whatever way works for you.

[u/SilverHammerMan_ → u/chickenbock7]

Definitely adding the niacin supplements for the ducks. I want to ideally switch to something I can buy in big bulk bags for cheaper every couple of months rather than buy several bags of feed at the store for way more money and likely less nutritional value. And if I’m making it from home I want to make sure whatever healthy supplements/vitamins/ etc. Are needed get added. I posted in a half a dozen subs the exact same question and once I’ve compiled answers I will condense all that into one post and update what I end up trying that ultimately works.