How to Make Homemade Feed for Your Animals

Feeding your animals the highest quality ingredients possible helps them stay healthy. Unfortunately, mass-produced feeds are usually expensive and the ingredients are often questionable. You can make your own animal feed, which requires just a little effort on your part, but ensures high-quality food for your animals at less cost to you.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 lbs. alfalpha hay cubes
  • 5-gallon bucket
  • 2/3 lbs. wheat bran, rolled oats or oat hulls
  • 1 lbs. all-purpose flour
  • Microwave-safe baking dish
  • Microwave
  • Cooling rack
  • Airtight container
  • 50-gallon bucket
  • 3 lbs. millet
  • 3 lbs. hard red winter wheat
  • 2 lbs. whole corn kernels
  • 2 lbs. sunflower seeds
  • 1 lbs. hulled barley
  • 1 lbs. oat groats
  • 1lbs. wheat bran
  • 1 lbs. dried split peas
  • 1 lbs. dried lentils
  • 1 lbs. quinoa
  • 1 lbs. sesame seeds
  • 1/2-lbs. food grade diatomaceous earth
  • 1/2-lbs. chopped peanuts
  • 1/2-lbs. dried kelp
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Instructions

  1. Rabbits

    • 1

      Place 3 lbs. of alfalpha hay cubes in a 5-gallon bucket with 3-3/4 cups of water to soften the cubes. After soaking for 10 minutes, use your hands to break it up. Squeeze the alfalpha with your hands to soak the water in.

    • 2

      Stir in 2/3 lbs. wheat bran, rolled oats or oat hulls. Alternatively, use a combination of the three.

    • 3

      Sprinkle in 1 lb. all-purpose flour or wheat flour into the mixture in five separate additions. Stir the mixture with your hands after each addition. After the flour dissolves, press down on the top of the mixture. If it springs back, add an additional 1/4 cup water and try again. Add additional water until the mixture is saturated, yet not pooling water.

    • 4

      Transfer the mixture in batches into a microwave-safe baking dish. Press 5 to 6 cups of the mixture into the base of the pan at a time, so it is 2 inches thick and compacted. Microwave the mixture for 2 1/2 minutes per batch before turning the pan over onto a cooling rack and letting the mixture cool 2 to 3 hours. During dry summer days, bake the mixture outdoors using the heat of the sun.

    • 5

      Break the cooled mixture into 2-inch chunks. Keep finished feed in an airtight container.

    Chickens

    • 6

      Add 3 lbs. millet and 3 lbs. hard red winter wheat to a clean 50-gallon bucket.

    • 7

      Stir in 2 lbs. whole corn kernels, 2 lbs. sunflower seeds and 1 lb. each of the following: hulled barley, oat groats, wheat bran, dried split peas, dried lentils, quinoa and sesame seeds.

    • 8

      Add and mix in a 1/2 lb. each of the following: food-grade diatomaceous earth, chopped peanuts and dried kelp.

    • 9

      Use your hands or a paddle to stir mixture before each feeding. Keep the feed covered when storing.