Raising chickens w/o feeding them grain.

[mopinko]

2. i know someone who feeds his 2 doz chix from dumpsters.

obv this is a city thing. but if i wanted to do it, there are restaurants and a fruit market w/in a couple blocks.

since chix are omnivores, meats scraps can bridge that gap.
both dog and cat food are fine, too. cheap dog food is about the same protein as regular feed. better grades are about broiler feed level.
if i have boys i plan to eat, i pen them together and raise them on dog food.
if i feel the girls arent getting enough protein, like they're picking feathers, i give them a little cat which is the highest pro, about double usual feed.

some folks raise maggots for their chix. black soldier flies are the preferred species, but you could rig some bait like a bit of old meat, and let common flies lay eggs.
i sometimes bring up worms for them. a piece of plywood or some such, either in a wet spot or after a rain, or run a sprinkler then turn it over. i have some big logs that i roll over now and again.
i'm sure there are other strategies for insect protein.