TABLE SCRAPS FOR CHICKENS go a lot further in an Instant Pot!

5-8-2018

More cooking with my Instant Pot.  I keep sharing with you what I put in my "Chicken Stew".  My table scraps go SO MUCH FURTHER doing it my way!

Of course its so easy to throw the girls scraps and watch them fight and devour it in seconds, but when you use chicken math, you know what I mean, there isn't enough scraps for everyone!! So here is my solution!  Lets make a stew!!

STAPLES:  I always put in beef or chicken broth bouillon, Italian Seasonings, Garlic Powder and Chili Powder.  I also always full the pot to the top with water before cooking.

Lets look and see what I found to put in the last couple Chicken Stew's I have made.

Left over mac and cheese, a fresh cut corn cob, some egg shells from that morning, some left over 3 bean chili.  I went through the pantry and found a bag of dried lintels and pinto beans, I through a little of that in too. Stir it up and TURN IT ON!!





The chickens love any stew I give them smothered on top of their protein.  I feel like it just gives them a warm, hearty taste, makes scrap food go a lot further and the garlic added has so many health benefits for them! I want to stress to you the importance of chicken's nutrition they get from their layer feed. I feed mine 20% from a mill in Missouri.  The main part of their diet should be their protein, and mine free range as well. I hope to add some flavor to their pallet with my stew, but not as much to increase their dress size! You really need to monitor how much carbs, fats and salt they get. In addition, you should never feed them chocolate or anything sugary or candy like.

As a backyard chicken farmer, I have researched so many options for the girls.  I have tried fermenting after watching Justin Rhodes do it. It seemed easy enough, it was just really messy. You have to watch it, cover with water, hope it doesn't spoil, get to hot or cold, scoop it out, etc...
The chickens didn't love it. They prefer pellets so we didn't continue this money saving tactic!




Sometimes I throw in eggs that had been punctured or dropped or egg shells from cooking. I have always baked my shells in the oven, then finely crush them into little pieces, almost a powder. Its really not that quick or convenient to do. I end up with little crushed shells on my kitchen floor, on the bottom of my foot, you get the picture.  I started throwing them in the instant pot and letting it cook. The shell seems to soften up a bit, so it doesn't crack and get brittle.  I'm sure it is infused with the broth.  They LOVE it so much!! I also give them crushed oyster at will but they don't seem to like it.




Below are photo's of the girls eating their stew and knocking it all over the place to get the most!




 






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