As the weather cools, the focus has shifted to harvesting crops for both humans and chickens. The video discusses low-tech ways of storing sunflower and millet for the winter. The crops are being harvested and hung in the chicken yard to provide enjoyment for the chickens. Some will be dried and stored for later use, while others will be left for wild birds. The process is experimental and aims to provide a boost in feed for the upcoming cold months. Overall, it’s a fun and sustainable way of preserving and utilizing the harvest.
Maximizing Harvests: Sunflower and Millet for Chickens
As the weather cools down, our focus shifts to harvesting crops not just for ourselves, but also for our beloved chickens. In this post, we’ll delve into our recent harvests of sunflower and millet, along with our low-tech methods of storing them for our chickens’ enjoyment during the winter months.
New Garden, New Harvests
This year, we’ve been fortunate to garden in a new area, where we’ve planted an abundance of sunflowers, millet, corn, and butternut squash. Now, we’re bringing these bountiful crops back to our hens and exploring the best ways to ensure they can enjoy them now and in the colder months ahead.
Simple Harvesting Techniques
One of the easiest ways to provide our hens with sunflower heads is to simply cut them and drop them on the ground. Our hens eagerly peck at the seeds, making the process efficient and enjoyable for them. For millet, we’ve been cutting the plants at around six to eight inches high, leaving potential for more grain to come before the frost sets in.
Creative Storage Solutions
To store our sunflower heads, we’ve bundled them in groups of roughly 20 and hung them in a high tunnel. This not only allows them to dry effectively but also provides a visually appealing display in our chicken yard. Similarly, we’ve been experimenting with hanging sunflower heads in our greenhouse to dry, offering a potential source of roasted seeds or oil in the future.
Chickens Enjoying the Harvest
Our hens have been having a blast with the sunflower heads and millet we’ve provided them. Watching them peck away at the seeds brings us joy and satisfaction, knowing that they’re benefiting from our harvests.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to experiment and play with our low-tech storage methods, we’re excited to see how our chickens will benefit from the abundance of sunflower and millet. While there may not be enough hours in the day to collect and cure all the food we’ve grown this summer, we’re content in knowing that this part of the process is complete.
Share Your Thoughts
Have you tried similar methods of storing and providing crops for your chickens? We’d love to hear your experiences and any tips you have for maximizing harvests. Feel free to share your insights in the comments below!
Final Thoughts
By creatively storing and providing our chickens with a variety of crops, we’re not only ensuring their enjoyment but also maximizing the fruits of our labor. As we head into the colder months, we look forward to seeing how our chickens thrive on the sunflower and millet we’ve harvested for them.
