How many to kill, how many to keep... feeding a huge flock pellets all winter is a painful hunk of money... but the more I eat, and the smaller the flock, the more susceptible they are to predation.
We are still letting them out every day. They work hard trying to find little bits to eat.
Well, in spring -- that's july for you -- you can plant some grasses, milo & sunflower to harvest seed and they won't cost so much maybe raise some grasshoppers in the barn? Good protein. Catch, dehydrate fish...break it up to feed.
I'm thinking most feed is brought in by boat, truck, etc, right? I'm not thinking there's a lot of crop product in Alaska. Am I way wrong? Do you still garden now, with most of the boys moved out? I just remember pics of snowed in & thinking WOW!!! Hope they have well stocked pantry.