14 chickens go through a 50lb bag in 3 weeks. Is this right?

[1muttsfan]

I am afraid I agree with Fred, to truly economize on feed you will likely have to trim your flock. There is no forage up here in the winter (measured from around November to the end of April most years). "cutting" feed with grains and other foodstuff, and feeding lower protein levels, may decrease costs, but also may decrease production, and in some cases may lead to dietary imbalances affecting the flock's overall health and resistance to disease. You may want to evaluate your hens based on which show the best laying characteristics

http://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/2012/09/09/gms11-breeding-for-type/ - scroll down to The Call of the Hen page

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/livestocksystems/di1182.html


I especially like this one, as it has great pictures -

http://oakridge.ffanow.org/F/oakridge/hens.pdf

 

[Daisy8s]

I have 10 chickens (1 rooster, 9 hens) and I go through a 50 lb bag about every 6 weeks in the summer and every 3-4 weeks in the winter, depending on snow cover (I'm in Michigan also).

My flock free ranges all day long over about 1/2 an acre but that area is not lawn. They have access to wildflowers/weeds, active compost piles, garden, fruit bushes/trees, etc. They get a lot of seeds and bugs as well as a wide variety of greens and this is the majority of their diet.

I handle my birds regularly and they are all in great shape--glossy feathers and good body weight.

Here are other ways I've reduced cost.
1. I sprout wheat seeds in winter for a fodder feed. It's incredibly easy--google it. They prefer the seeds/sprouts so you don't have to go beyond 4 days and wait for the grass portion to grow. I bought plain old wheat seed from a local mill, nothing special, and it came out to about 5 cents per pound of fodder. That's ridiculously cheap feed!

2. I spent a whole afternoon doing research by calling around to local feed mills asking lots of questions. I was surprised at the variety in prices within a 30 mile range. Now I drive a bit farther but buy 4 or more bags of feed at a time and save money per bag. And, going to a local feed mill meant fresher food at a lower cost than a pet feed store.

3. I cull birds as needed so that I maintain this equation. Cost of feed = number of eggs needed to feed my family of four plus enough eggs to sell to pay for cost of their feed. Said another way, I expect to have enough eggs to feed us plus enough left over to sell and the money from selling the eggs equals the cost of their feed. That way I'm breaking even. If a hen isn't laying regularly enough to support this equation then she has to go. (The rooster pays for himself by protecting the flock and replenishing it with chicks so I can keep a closed flock.)


It took me awhile to get this figured out. Keep researching and thinking. But you definitely shouldn't be going into the negative to feed your flock. Good luck!