Bulk Feed Buying

[mjdtexan]

Have any of yall figured out how to buy your feed in bulk? I am wanting to lower the price of my eggs but I need to lower the price of my feed to do so. What I dont want to happen is for the chicken feed quality to slip. Right now I am paying $11.50 for 50lbs of Laying Crumbles. I need to get that down to around $7.50 or $8 for 50lbs.

 

[math ace]

About 4 - 6 months ago there was a discussion on here where many were buying their feed in bulk. Some were going in 2 or 3 people at a time to meet the bulk requirements. . .

So, this is a bump for this thread - - - maybe some of those folks will join in again and let you know how it is going.

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
Thank You. That is an idea, getting more than one buyer.

 

[droberts]

When I buy commercial feed I pay about $8 -8.25 for laying pellets or crumbles, when I bought ten bags they
would knock off $0.25/ per bag, now I have a mill mix my own custom blend and it cost $4.65-$5.25 per 50lb
and my chickens are growing faster and bigger.
David

 

[HeritageHens]

Quote:
But isn't the food you mill about 50% corn?? 25% corn + 25% scrap from the Frito Lay plant? I just can't imagine that is the healthiest diet for a chicken - kinda like people eating McDonalds Big Macs every day.

ETA: Found your post.

My chickens grow faster and lay well on it, weight gain has increased by 15-20% over commercial feed
I am planning on marketing it in the spring.
makeup is
25% cracked corn
25% DDG (dried distillers grain)
25% corn chips(frito lay scrap high in fat)
25% all stock pellets
they analyzed it at 16% protein

Growing "faster" and the "weight gain" is probably due to all the corn which may be ok for meat birds (not that I want to eat that) but probably not so good for layers. JMHO though.​

 

[droberts]

My hens are laying as good on it as they were on 22% laying pellets,
the corn chip scrap is a mixture of various chips, cheese puffs, etc.
the protein in the frito lay scrap is over 50% higher than corn. For hens that are laying
I will give laying pellets once a week for the calcium, come spring
I will have three mixes one will have oyster shell in it for my layers and I will
have a 22-28% for my chicks. When you go through 3000 lb a month $3 a bag difference,
is $180 a month less on the feed bill.

David

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
When you have feed milled the whole point -- other than buying in bulk -- is to have it milled to your specification. If you don't like his recipe, you can make your own or find another that you do like.

With the exception of those specifically marketed to those who balk at feeding corn -- which are few and far between and usually much more expensive -- if you're feeding commercial laying feed you're likely feeding a pretty heavy corn ration, too.

To the OP: Are you wanting to buy commercial feed in bulk -- such as buying a whole pallet of Layena from TSC -- or buy a milled feed in bulk? TSC gives, I think it is, a 5% discount for bulk purchases so you can calculate your cost savings there. If you're going to a mill (which would be my recommendation, personally) give the mills in your area a call. Some have as low as a 300 lb minimum for bulk purchases. You don't always have to buy it a ton at a time and can still save money.

 

[math ace]

Quote:
Our local TSC has sold me bags of bird seed with bugs in it . . . so be careful going that route. It happened more than once, so it was not a case of oops, bad shipment. ALSO, shop around BECAUSE my local mom and pop feedstores typically beat TSC regular prices .

 

[mjdtexan]

Quote:
Our local TSC has sold me bags of bird seed with bugs in it . . . so be careful going that route. It happened more than once, so it was not a case of oops, bad shipment. ALSO, shop around BECAUSE my local mom and pop feedstores typically beat TSC regular prices .

Yes, I am getting it cheaper than I can at TSG. I've found the cheapest feed store in my area. I just want to get it cheaper. Milling my own or buying it at the mill sounds like something I need to look into. Maybe take a couple of chicken owners with me. A friend down the road knows that his across the street neighbor goes somewhere around here and backs his truck up and they fill his truck bed. I would like to do that. He is going to find out where this is and I am going to go see if they have chicken crumbles or pellets or whatever. I want to keep quality though.

I will let yall know how that turns out.