How much feed to buy at a time?

I won't be getting my babies till May or June (haven't decided if I want to get them sent right after I return from my sister's wedding in May, or wait till my birthday in June and call them my present to myself). So I've got half a year, but I'm trying to get my budget organized in advance.

I'll be getting four chicks that are all supposed to be standard-sized birds when full grown. There are two feed stores in my immediate area that sell organic chick starter and laying pellets for about the same prices for similar size bags as the ones available from mypetchicken.com. I had thought to order some starter with the chicks, but it might be better if they're on the same brand from the start, and it would be less hassle for me to buy it locally than to have to place a feed order every week or month or whatever.

I don't know how long organic feed keeps once it's open if it's unrefrigerated vs. refrigerated, but I can easily plan to get a small fridge to keep in the garage for chicken feed and treats if it means I can buy a bigger bag without risk of spoiling. Should I plan to buy a small bag a week to minimize spoilage waste or will a larger bag be okay if it's properly stored?

My feed store only cares the ace-hi/star milling brand feeds, and I find they work great. When my chicks, were chicks, they ate the Ace- Hi chick starter (I think it's called). 25 lb lasted my then 4 chicks about 3 weeks.

When they got older, I added 2 more to the flock (so now I have 6), and they still go through about 25 lb in a month. They also get 3-4 hours of free range time, and are eating up the bugs and grass, so that cuts down a little on their feed intake.


The 25 lb bag of feed is about $10 where I live (it's the Star-Milling All Purpose Feed)


The initial cost of chickens is pretty expensive (I spent a lot on a lamp,supplies, and my coop was over $600. My total cost when I first got started was $1000, but I had to "remodel" the coop and that cost another couple hundred dollars........

But once you get it all put together in your backyard, it isn't very expensive. All I usually buy is straw and feed. I only spend like $20 a month, and I will eventually get eggs.

It's best to have feed for no more that a month or so, depending on the weather. Too hot in summer especially, where you live. It's cheaper to buy large quantities, but storing feed for several months will have the vitamins loose potency somewhat. Depending on breed and ambient temperature, maybe 3 to 3.5 lbs. of feed per lb. of weight gain; for four birds to six lbs. each, 75 to 90 lbs. of grower ration. That's a wild guess, but it does add up! Feed stored in a metal garbage can in a cool dry place will do best. Mary

I buy the bigger bags personally.