50lbs a week????

[Sissy]

Tif.. Oh my 18.50 Iwould let them know what others are charging.
you know its what the market will bare.
tell them on your next visit
in a pleasant voice of course.that the price is high.
I pay 12.61 for 50 # purina starter ( red bag) non medicated.
at our local Co-op and TSc wants 13.95 same stuff. same wt.
here in town.. so shop around and load up like
We do.

 

[chickeydee]

I know prices are different and it depends on the store to . I was paying 14.00 for a 50lb pag of layer when I atated to get chickens, .It has been awhile but I went to a co-op mill and have been buying my feed and shots for my animals ever since .I was paying 6.75 for a 50lb bag of layer and now is 7.10 the scratch is still the same priice,6.85 . .MyI have 25 hens and 2 roosters and a set of game ,silkies and one couchin.I let them free range and I have a oil pan stainless steel and I dump 1 cup of a 2 quart measuring cup in it .I may go through a bag a month in a half or maybe longer . I read somewhere that chickens will eat all the time if you let them . My scratch last longer ,it is a treat and if you give them to much you end up eith a fat bird with health problems . Maybe you should see if you have a local mill in your area .I drive 35 miles ,but you can not beat the price .

 

[Sissy]

chickeydee

thanks for sharing
i will have to check around for a mill
those are good prices
now did i understand correctly
you give only 1-2qt. cup of feed every day.
and how often scratch ?
We have 26 hens 7 roos (cochins) and 1 standard buff orp roo
waiting for his roomate,
I only give a qt. once a week ( scratch)
.on wednesday to break
up the their menu and give them something to look foward too.
I also have 6 silklies only 4 months old still on starter.
and 3 ameruacans also on starter. and 1 orp. 3 weeks old.

 

[sonew123]

dang I take back my original post-I WAS only going through 50lbs once a week but now its every 5 days!!! I pay 10.95 plus tax per bag. Ive been supplimenting with stews I make for them. I had a bunch of roos I butchered this fall and I cook one down at a time-add all left over veggies from the week and then 1 cup of rice. I get a huge amount of great healthy protein packed food for them. I use that for a big dinner istead of feeding a few lbs of feed. I have lot of family members saving all scraps-cereals brads etc that they would normally throw away-its not much but it helps...good grief they are piggies. Is it true they will keep eating as long as the food is in front of them? SHould I not feed them at night time? They have a light on for heat all night long?? AM I over feeding them? They dont look fat or anything bt man they can eat-oh and I give 2 cups of scratch a day too-45 birds I dont think Im over doing it???

 

[chickeydee]

Sissy .Hi Yes I only give them a 2 quart cup of feed .The scratch I may give it to them once a week and I do not put it in a pan I throw it on the ground for them . Even tho it is winter I still do the same . They come out in the morning , free range most of the day and than eat the feed in the coop . If I give them scratch I toss it on the ground and never in the same place . It has been cold here but the birds seem to love it . I hope you can find a mill there or close .They do make a difference.My birds are 25 RiRs hens 2 Slikies ,2 game , 2 roosters 1 BR & 1 RiR .Also have 5 RiR roosters that I am going to process this weekend Good luck I went to look at my scoop and it is a 2 cup not a 2 quart one

 

[Sissy]

chickeydee, I think I may be overfeeding,
no wonder the feed bill is so high. time to seek out a mill.
Tomorrow they all go on a healthy new way of eating.
As I also feed them 1qt.once a month cooked rice but only in the cold months.

 

[chickeydee]

What kind of birds do you have ? Do you let them out and are they laying . All of mine are laying except the silkie ,she is to young.

 

[hcammack]

THAT IS ALOT OF FEED!!!! I got through two 50lb bags of Layena for 13 LF birds and 7 Bantams so thats 20 birds being fed on 1/2 the amount your birds are eating. Mine are all laying and I feed them free choice! Is there alot of waste under your feeders? I also give about 6 handfuls each day of a 50/50 mix of BOSS and Scratch. They are also either in tractors or free ranging. They get leftovers, treats, and fresh greens. So mine are spoiled but go through alot less feed then yours hmm I don't know what the problem could be. Good luck ya it only costs me $12 a bag for Layena $10 for scratch and $18 for BOSS. Good luck hope you find a solution I am a highschool student to but I have a job I do spend my money diffrently then most my age though

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I feed strictly Purina Flock Raiser to 10 hens and 25 BobWhite Quail. My hens free-range and do tend to eat less feed in the summer as they do in the winter. But even with that said, I feed about 50lbs a month. They have access 24-7. I give food scraps but not that much and not every day. When I have chicks (chickens or bobs) I go through much more feed than when I have full grown birds.


FYI-for those of you that don't know, Purina Flock Raiser is in pellet form although it is a very small pellet. I don't even bother to grind it up for my quail after about 6 weeks.

 

[chickeydee]

Quote:
Do you go through it in a month or what I do not give my birds anything extra except maybe scratch and even then not all the time .I do not give them warm food or scraps either I went out to look at the scoop I use and it is 2 cup scoop not a 2 quart . It really depends on where you are and what you need . I do not have a feeder just a oil pan that I throw there feed in and at night there is no feed in the coop just water . .I only pay 7.10 for a 50lb bag of layer feed and 6.85 for scratch at Producers a co=op mill in Tx . I may go through a bag a month or a month in a half. I have not change the way they eat even if the weather has . It is go that you are 17 and the eggs you produce will serve you and your family .I am sure your parents are proud of you .