About how much food would 32 chickens eat per month?

[briteday]

I currently have 22 pullets that are laying, 1 rooster, 1 too young to lay pullet, and 3 bantams. And I go through about 150-200 pounds of feed per month = $40-55 here. I get consistently 20 eggs per day and we sold 40 dozen eggs last month @ approx $2/doz = $80.

I find ways to save on supplies like looking for hay bales used for decorations at Halloween time. And our garbage company won't take them so I offer to haul them off. I try to get a few so I have one to make a deep layer on the shed floor for the winter, a couple to put up against the north side of the shed to keep it warmer, and one to spread in the run on wet days.

In addition to feed you will need to buy other supplies like feeders and waterers, scratch (optional), oyster shell, shavings for the nests, etc. So it's not just about paying for the feed.

I keep a spreadsheet of our expenses and income. At the end of the year it's pretty much just break even, maybe a small profit, not much.

 

[bjash]

I don't know where everyone is getting their layer feed from, but we only pay about $8.49/50lb. bag here from the local feed mill.

 

[bigspringshatchery]

Mine go thru about 3 to 4 backs of layer a month. My food cost about 7.50 a bag.

 

[TrystInn]

We have 11 chickens and 20 or so ducks, which we free forage and feed 4 50 pound bags a month. Most of their feed is paid for by egg sales.

 

[bock]

It seems like it would definitely be worth it, if I can sell the eggs. I know now that I have at least three costumers for sure, but I am going to need a lot more people than that to make a profit. I am thinking I can sell my eggs for more like $3/dozen around here, so it sounds like it is worth it!

 

[Ohhhdear]

My 12 hens eat through a 50# bag of Purina Layena in 3 weeks and a bit. However, they're free ranging and getting rejects from the garden. I'm expecting them to take less time to go through a 50# bag when there's snow on the ground and free ranging food isn't available.

I'm also considering getting a bag of sweet feed, which is really inexpensive at the feed mill. It's 16% protein and has a lot of molasses and other grains, no animal products. I had a small bag of it as a sample and the chickens went nuts over the pellets.

As for selling your eggs, it's amazing what word of mouth does. I started collecting egg cartons and used my computer printer to make nice labels with free clip art from the internet. I get $3.00/dozen and I usually get 6 and a half dozen eggs a week. Once people know you have really nice, fresh eggs they'll sell, no matter if there's a sale on eggs at the local grocery store, especially with the salmonella scare and people wanting local, fresh produce.

 

[bjash]

Quote:
I'm curious, which feed mill are you getting your sweet feed from? I haven't heard of that type of feed before in my area.

 

[bigoakhunter]

I have 3 different coops and runs. But 2 of them together have 39 birds. These 2 coops use not quite 250 lbs per month of feed. I track it and it would actually be about 240 lbs. So if you convert that to 32 birds it equals 197 lbs. per month. But that is only based on my birds input, it varies some by age, breed, scraps or scratch fed, etc.

 

[briteday]

Layena just went up to $13.50 for 50 pounds today. I wish we could get layer feed for $8-9 per bag!

 

[Ariel301]

Quote:
I wish I could get it for $13.50! Layer feed here is nearly $20 a bag!