Grinding my own feed

OK, so I know there are probably hundreds of threads about feed, but I am hoping to just throw my particular situation out there and see if i can get a good grasp on what to do. Trying to figure it out through all the other threads is more than this momma of 4 kiddos 5yrs. and under can handle. So, here goes.

We live in Walla Walla, southeastern washington, the state not DC, and have 40 chickens ranging in 16 weeks to 2.5 years, 4 ducks, and turkey. I have called around locally and am having no luck in finding anyone who grinds their own feed. Right now a 50lb bag of layer feed runs me $17-$19 and chick starter/grower $15. Because I can't keep them from eating what they want I have both chick and layer out for free will eating, also grit and oyster shell. The layer container is hanging higher than the chick to promote the babies to eat the chick grower rather than layer. They free range from about 10am-8pm in our yard and by the creek. Nonetheless, we are going through a 50 lb bag of chick food in less than 2 days and I am gonna go broke. This project was more to teach our children responsibility so we only sell the eggs for $2/dozen.

Anywho, I have a wood chipper and am looking to grind my own food. I am hoping to buy in bulk from the grain growers in town and I need some help. What do I include, and what ratios, if I am gonna grind/chip my own? I have a friend who does his own and he includes peas, oats, barley, and soybeans and then supplements with a powder of some sort, but can't remember what it is called, Nutriall(?). I am just not sure that would be enough protein and if it covers all the nutrients needed.
Do you have any suggestions for me? I heard animal protein is best but I am not sure in what form I should try for. I would greatly appreciate any advice. From what I have been told the corn crop this last year was poor so feed prices are going through the roof. I just gotta find something to help my wallet and sanity. thanks in advance.
Kate

50 lbs in two days for 40 birds? That sounds excessive. I have 70 chickens from 1 1/2 months to a little over a year old and 10 pheasants at 10 weeks old and I go through 50 lbs about every 3.5 days. Are they wasting a lot? I'm sorry I'm not helping with your main question but I'm trying to figure this out.

suki'smom said:

50 lbs in two days for 40 birds? That sounds excessive. I have 70 chickens from 1 1/2 months to a little over a year old and 10 pheasants at 10 weeks old and I go through 50 lbs about every 3.5 days. Are they wasting a lot? I'm sorry I'm not helping with your main question but I'm trying to figure this out.

Click to expand...

I haven't noticed a lot of waste. I throw scratch on occasion in the coop to encourage cleanup. Maybe we have big eaters? I didn't realize that this was excessive. But if yours make a 50# bag last 3.5 days and have more chickens something must be wrong...

I have 30 chickens at the moment and a 100lb bag of cracked corn last about a month by me. I give them what they can eat in 10 minutes 3 times a day with greens in-between. Sometimes I'll give them kitchen waste like bread, rice etc. But their basic food is the corn and the greens. Alfalfa (lusern) is a good source of protein and calcium. My hens are laying very well and my youngsters are growing well and they are all healthy and happy. I think your chickens are either wasting food or you are feeding the entire neighbourhood's wild birds. Wild birds can eat a lot! I cut my feed bill in half just by feeding the way I do and standing guard while my chickens eat. I'm making sure they eat the food and not the birds.

I found these recipes that you can use as reference, for layer mash:

110lb wheat meal
110lb maize meal (preferable yellow maize)
110lb other grain meal (oats, barley or rye)
110lb fish meal
30lb dried milk
20lb ground sea shells

And for fattening roosters:

331lb barley meal
110lb wheat meal
60lb meat or fish meal
30lb dried milk
plus some lime (ground sea shells)

And little chick mash:

30lb meal (preferably mix of wheat, maize and oats)
12lb fish or meat meal
12lb alfalfa meal
2lb ground sea shells
1lb cod liver oil
plus a scratch of finely-cracked cereals.

I would suggest first finding a good feed mill in your area, they should be a lot cheaper on the price of there feed and they will mix the feed you want.
If you are getting your feed from a farm/feed store like TSC you are most likely paying way more than you should.

A good example of this, in my area.

TSC
Whole Corn 11.49 a 50 pound bag
Feed Mill
Whole Corn 7.00 a 50 pound bag

TSC
Whole Oats 15.99 a 50 pound bag
Feed Mill
Whole Oats 7.50 a 50 pound bag

TSC
Scratch Grain 14.99 a 50 pound bag
Feed Mill
Scratch Grain 10.00 a 50 pound bag

TSC
"Flock Raiser" 17.99 a 50 pound bag
Feed Mill "Big 4" 9.50 a 50 pound bag (contains the same amount of protein and also contains animal protein)


Chris

Thanks for the ratios sumi. I am gonna see what prices I can get them at. And Chris09, I have looked online and called around and the nearest feed mill is 4 hours away, which would slash any savings I could gain. Being on the agricultural side of the state I am perplexed why I can't find one. Anybody else in southeast washington, northeast oregon know of one?

I grind my own feed because I've read that as soon as you crack grain it starts to loose nutrition so grinding it fresh is best if you can do it. Then there is the cost. I am feeding 100+/- chickens and guineas and 11 goats. I have a 4 ton feed bin coming in the next week so I can load up on grain for a while due to the drought/prices. I live in Indiana and there are feed mills and co-ops all over the place which will deliver for $20.00. Love that!

I use a 50/50 mix of corn and either oats or wheat, add fish meal and soybean meal for protein then add kelp meal and Nutri-Ballancer for minerals etc. Nutri-Ballancer may be what your friend was telling you about. It is rocket fuel for laying hens. I once had some old hens that were laying about about forty percent. I learned about Nutri-Ballancer, got some, added it to their feed, boom, eighty percent. Before I forget, it is made by Fertrell. It's pricey but I won't go without it plus a 50# bag lasts me about a year with a 100 girls.

I personally don't like to use soy bean meal. I do like that you have access to peas. They are not too available hear, I can get them but they are too expensive. I like to have several sources of protein, fish meal being the best but cost and availability are always the issue. Having many sources of all kinds of nutrition is best. When I can afford it, I like to add peas, black oil sunflower seeds etc. In the end I save about one third off of commercial feed, I know whats in it and it's ground fresh every day. As for proportions, here is a link that has many receipts and a calculation for making your own. BTW, I even got one of the grinders shown on this site. There is a complete version with the grinder, motor starter etc. which again is costly but "Boy Howdy" that thing is sweet! Hope this helps!


http://backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/1/1-4/Harvey_Ussery.html

thank you. thank you. thank you. you all are very helpful!

Well, not sure if you are having the same problem as me? Found possums, birds, raccoon's, etc. eating my feed at night as the chickens roost, I found possums and raccoons eating my feed at night and birds eating it during early morning hours, and who knows about snakes, etc. My brother in law said they only fed about 100 chickens 1 x a week when he was growing up as they free ranged. Good luck!