Chicken Feed Costs

[Brooks_]

You’re right! Yesterday, I saw a scrub jay enter my coop while another one was a look out. I don’t think they’ll make a big dent in my feed cost, but I’m going to get a step feeder anyways because I don’t like them eating my stuff.

And they can spread disease/parasites.

 

[CNJ]

You’re right! Yesterday, I saw a scrub jay enter my coop while another one was a look out. I don’t think they’ll make a big dent in my feed cost, but I’m going to get a step feeder anyways because I don’t like them eating my stuff.

I had to oil the hinges on my feeder for the top to fully close, and I zip tied a 1/2 inch thick x 1 1/2 wide x length of unit wood across the bar as a counter weight, so the top don't slam shut and scare them silly when they step off the step plate. My unit will completely close without the slamming noise.

Also to train them, I put a heavy rubber mat on the step bar to hold the feeder open and gave them a layer of grain scratch to get them familiar.

 

[Carson213]

In my opinion, if you are not saving or making money on eggs, fruits, and vegetables you are doing something wrong and/or highly inefficient. My flock of 50 chickens pay for themselves throughout the year, and even make me money on a yearly basis. Same with my garden, it makes me money.

i would say i probably lose money in the whole scheme of things. I give my extra eggs to friends and family as well as produce and meat birds...but i just enjoy doing it. my grandparents entrusted me with their farm and they always supplied friends and family with the same things...so, now it’s been passed on to me...but i love doing it and sharing. ironically, i just looked up Bresse chicken meat...as well as Bresse capon meat...i was blown away. next year i might at least charge as much as the cost of feed for the pullets and 5X for the capons.

 

[Carson213]

You’re right! Yesterday, I saw a scrub jay enter my coop while another one was a look out. I don’t think they’ll make a big dent in my feed cost, but I’m going to get a step feeder anyways because I don’t like them eating my stuff.

why not put your chicken feeder in the coop and use a large feeder that holds 100-200lbs of pellets so you don’t have to fill it every often?

 

[Carson213]

Oh, this is good information. I estimate they were each eating .2 lbs of feed before free ranging and gradually increased their consumption each day because now they are laying in full force.
My yard is pretty green right now. The chickens have been scratching mostly in the dried leaves which I think that means they are looking for bugs. So maybe, my yard lacks bugs.

how big is your “free range?” are we talking 5 acres? 10 acres?

 

[Carson213]

how big is your “free range?” are we talking 5 acres? 10 acres?

i keep my chickens in a 1.5 acre run with feed and water inside that closes up at dark. “the compound is on lockdown.” but i know some of you have no fences and 100’s of acres

 

[Mayokay]

how big is your “free range?” are we talking 5 acres? 10 acres?

Its around 3/4 acre all fenced. The feeder is already in the coop. The uninvited guests come through the chicken door and help themselves. I purchased a step feeder that holds 40 lbs and it’s able to hold more if I buy more attachments. I‘ll get a better idea on feed cost as the year goes by.

 

[3KillerBs]

In my opinion, if you are not saving or making money on eggs, fruits, and vegetables you are doing something wrong and/or highly inefficient. My flock of 50 chickens pay for themselves throughout the year, and even make me money on a yearly basis. Same with my garden, it makes me money.

It's quite impossible for a backyarder to out-compete commercial agriculture on price. If it were possible the commercial people would adopt backyard practices.

For example, I can regularly get 40# boxes of miscut chicken for $20 at Piggly-Wiggly (this is not necessarily possible in places that don't have Perdue plants nearby). The quality isn't the greatest, especially because I have to thaw it to portion it out and then refreeze it, but for 50-cents per lb I accept that quality.

To save money with your own meat birds you have to be comparing your chicken to high-end, pastured, specialty poultry rather than the ordinary chicken from the grocery store. Our home-raised chicken is, we hope, far superior in quality, but it's not saving any money unless you attempt to buy the same quality.

Garden produce is a little more forgiving, but I don't raise cabbage because I can't save any money with it. Cabbage is only 50-60 cents a pound, after all, and takes a lot of work spraying and/or keeping it covered to prevent the cabbage moths from destroying it.

Beefsteak and multi-colored cherry tomatoes, however, pay off.

Likewise pickling cucumbers and winter squash -- assuming I have the space available.

I track my intake and out put and in a typical year my chickens provide income. I do not count my time or I would never "make" any money, but I enjoy the chores so it is a win win situation.

Well said.

 

[Carson213]

In my opinion, if you are not saving or making money on eggs, fruits, and vegetables you are doing something wrong and/or highly inefficient. My flock of 50 chickens pay for themselves throughout the year, and even make me money on a yearly basis. Same with my garden, it makes me money.

I’m actually interested on how to make money on eggs for consumption. Sincerely, please lay this out and how to scale..or PM me. I have space for probably 10,000 chickens but i a

Its around 3/4 acre all fenced. The feeder is already in the coop. The uninvited guests come through the chicken door and help themselves. I purchased a step feeder that holds 40 lbs and it’s able to hold more if I buy more attachments. I‘ll get a better idea on feed cost as the year goes by.

have you thought about buying an automatic door to the run on amazon? i think i paid about $100...but it’s automatic and keeps critters out. i don’t know how big your door is but mine is only about 1 square foot for 24 chickens...plus, it can be set to a photocell. i have mine open one hour after first light so that they are “encouraged” to lay in the nesting box and a 45 min delay after dark.

 

[Carson213]

It's quite impossible for a backyarder to out-compete commercial agriculture on price. If it were possible the commercial people would adopt backyard practices.

For example, I can regularly get 40# boxes of miscut chicken for $20 at Piggly-Wiggly (this is not necessarily possible in places that don't have Perdue plants nearby). The quality isn't the greatest, especially because I have to thaw it to portion it out and then refreeze it, but for 50-cents per lb I accept that quality.

To save money with your own meat birds you have to be comparing your chicken to high-end, pastured, specialty poultry rather than the ordinary chicken from the grocery store. Our home-raised chicken is, we hope, far superior in quality, but it's not saving any money unless you attempt to buy the same quality.

Garden produce is a little more forgiving, but I don't raise cabbage because I can't save any money with it. Cabbage is only 50-60 cents a pound, after all, and takes a lot of work spraying and/or keeping it covered to prevent the cabbage moths from destroying it.

Beefsteak and multi-colored cherry tomatoes, however, pay off.

Likewise pickling cucumbers and winter squash -- assuming I have the space available.



Well said.

i agree. i make a bit of various types of sauerkraut. i make about 20L per 3 months for my immediate and extended family. growing cabbage is futile considering how cheap it is. i can often get organic cabbage for less than 40 cents a pound. a 20L crock holds about 40lbs of cabbage plus jalapeño, cilantro and onion. not worth the time or space to grow that much cabbage, jalapeño or onion. however, the cilantro is worth growing. minimal space and easy.