BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Stocking up on chicken feed?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Stocking up on chicken feed?

post #1 of 5
8/5/12 at 11:29am
Thread Starter 

I am. With all the stuff I have been reading about the drought and feed prices - I figure better safe than sorry...

 

I only have 6 chickens right now so stockpiling feed for them does not take up much space for me. Currently have 200 lbs on hand and plan to add more soon.

 

Right now the feed I buy is just over $14.00 for a 50lb bag (Dumor). I feel confident it will cost a lot more in the near future.

 

Any others have thoughts on this???

Reply
Reply

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
post #2 of 5
8/5/12 at 1:14pm
Problem is, it shouldn't be stored more than 6 months after manufacture. It degrades after that, being a grain product and not in an air tight bag.

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

Reply

== Easy incubator wiring chart: http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=65925 Installing a thermostat: http://cmfarm.us/WHTincubator.html
Love those Orps!

I don't care why the chicken crossed the road, as long as mine don't!

Reply
post #3 of 5
8/5/12 at 1:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by DobermanGuy View Post

I am. With all the stuff I have been reading about the drought and feed prices - I figure better safe than sorry...

 

I only have 6 chickens right now so stockpiling feed for them does not take up much space for me. Currently have 200 lbs on hand and plan to add more soon.

 

Right now the feed I buy is just over $14.00 for a 50lb bag (Dumor). I feel confident it will cost a lot more in the near future.

 

Any others have thoughts on this???

 

With only 6 chickens by the time you get through that 200 lbs of that feed it will be stale and lost a lot of its nutrition. 

 

Chris 

 

NPIP # 31-516
Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities http://sppa.webs.com/

Breeding Large Fowl Single and Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds to APA Standard


"I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman's cares." – 

George Washington

Reply

 

NPIP # 31-516
Society for the Preservation of Poultry Antiquities http://sppa.webs.com/

Breeding Large Fowl Single and Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds to APA Standard


"I know of no pursuit in which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman's cares." – 

George Washington

Reply
post #4 of 5
8/5/12 at 2:43pm
You can get pickle buckets from a local sandwitch shop, add 5 gallon Mylar bags and add oxy obsorbers, then you can store for a year. If you do this make sure you use a value to suck out the air from the Mylar bags, the oxy obsorbers will do the rest. You are smart storing up, many who can do not. I my self have 100 pounds and will be storing another 200 for winter. Using mylar bags and very large oxygen obsorbers will prolong the feed for much much longer.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VKLTUgfkcBs
Reply
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VKLTUgfkcBs
Reply
post #5 of 5
8/5/12 at 5:25pm

Buy whole grains for them! They store very well if kept cool and dry.

Really you don't want to store the cracked grains longer than 4 months!!!!!!!!

 

It will go stale and you should see all the vitamin deficiency-sick chickens posted on in the Emergencies section. It can make your chickens very ill.

 

I have tried to buy the commercial feed ahead of time and it doesn't stay fresh.

 

Here is an idea of other things you can feed and store:

http://www.mofga.org/Publications/MaineOrganicFarmerGardener/Summer2003/Chickens/tabid/1481/Default.aspx

http://www.ca.uky.edu/smallflocks/Feed_ingredients/Grains.html#Quinoa

 

I feed wheat, millet, rolled barley, rolled oats, cracked corn (org.), BOSS, split peas and unsalted peanuts sometimes, a little kelp meal, and am going to try Austrian peas.(All mixed - 1/3 starter, 2/3 of this mix.)

 

Offer them grit if serving whole grains (unless you are sure they can find sharp gravel in the soil).


Edited by ChickensAreSweet - 8/5/12 at 5:44pm

Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

Reply

Read about Egyptian Fayoumis here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/316739/egyptian-fayoumis-info and more here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/281062/fayoumi-bigawi-qarafa-and-old-egyptian 

Egyptian Fayoumis are one of the world's treasures and are magnificent creatures.

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Feeding & Watering Your Flock

Featured Stories on BackYard Chickens

Uncle Sam Expects You To Keep Hens and Raise Chickens!!
Poll: Why raise backyard chickens?
Have you ever wondered how a hen can lay an egg every day?
BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Feeding & Watering Your Flock › Stocking up on chicken feed?