Feeding Farm Animals For Free

As some of you know I have grand plans for never having to buy animal feed ever again!

I hope that 18 – 36 months from now I won’t be buying any more animal feed for any farm animals (currently sheep, ducks, geese and chickens) on the land EVER!

I’ve been researching this topic for a long time now and going around in circles with different grains etc. But, the thing is this is not their natural food and I want my animals, land and of course us to thrive, not barely survive.

Then if you add in what they are doing to animal feed now and that if they all of a sudden decide not to sell (for whatever reason) animal feed then we and the animals are all screwed.

So, I have a ‘cunning’ (ha) plan, which I am sharing here with you. I am planting or have planted all the below future foods for them. Some like the water spinach will be ready very quickly, but most will take 18-36mths before the first harvests can happen.

A combination of all of these plants and flies (for the birds) will give the animals and land everything they need to thrive and in the most natural way for them.

They are of course also fed olive, vine and mimosa sometimes too.

Tagasaste Tree / Tree Lucerne – Rich in minerals and around 25% protein, fast growing, very deep rooted, drought resistant, amazing fire break, rebuilds soil and creates own fertilizer. https://www.olelantanaseeds.com.au/product/chamaecytisus-palmensis-tree-lucerne-tagasaste-seed-x500/
Comfrey, (particularly Bocking 14 variety) – Rich in vitamins and minerals https://gardensforlife.ie/product/comfrey-bocking-14/
Mulberry Tree (any variety) – Classed as a superfood for farm animals as it has sooo many nutrients in the fruits and leaves. I bought trees (red & white varieties) at local markets and (and additional seeds from Amazon)
Water Spinach – Around 30% protein, high mineral content, amazing chicken feed for afternoons in the long hot summer to reduce heat stroke/dehydration etc. I bought two varieties of seeds from Amazon
Siberian Pea Shrub (caragana arborescens) – Around 36% protein, plenty of fatty oils, vitamins and minerals too. I bought plugs at a local garden centre and additional seeds here – https://www.treeseedonline.com/store/p119/Siberian_Pea_Tree_(caragana_arborescens).html
Honey Locust Tree (only the heirloom variety with pods & thorns) – Rich in protein, high sugar content (great for long summers or winters) and high in minerals. I bought seeds from Amazon
Willow (any Salix variety – I have two different types) – Up to 25% protein and very high in many essential minerals. I bought two different varieties at local garden centre
Goumi Berry Shrub (elaeagnus multiflora) – Packed with plenty of vitamins and ready to harvest during long hot and dry summers. I bought seeds from Amazon
Grazing Seed Mix (deep rooted/high protein mix) Bought from Germisem (a bio local seed supplier)
Black Soldier Fly Larvae – A huge source of protein for free year after year for the whole of fly-season (which here in Portugal is from early spring until late autumn). Easy to build your own fly-catching boxes (which I’ll do a separate post about this soon).