Confused.......how can you afford to feed your chickens

[Tala]

Free ranging helps a lot, but in the winter not as much. Mostly you can downsize your flock to a more manageable number. You can plant cool weather stuff (of course my opinion of "cool" weather is probably considerably warmer than some people's) I think it's Rye grass that grows well here in the wintertime, doesn't freeze out with our limited amount of snow. Ask the feed store what is a good winter pasture in your area. I got a bag of cool weather "feed plot mix" seeds (for deer) since I only needed a small bag. Keep them off it till it's established (coz they eat the seeds) and of course they will destroy it, but it's a cheaper food source than "feed"

Shopping around and trying different feed might be an option. Purina feed is great stuff, but PRICEY! I've recently discovered a more local brand that is almost a whole $5/bag cheaper. They seem to like it, just watching to see how well they do on it (laying, consumption, poop consistency, etc) A cheap feed that they eat MORE of is not really a bargain. We tried one brand and their poop came out grainy looking, less digested I think. They grew fine on it, but I switched after a bag since it just didn't seem to be as good of feed. As others mentioned, "deer corn" is usually cheaper than "chicken scratch" and mine eat it whole. Also for me, "sweet feed 9%" is cheaper than scratch too, so what I feed them for "treats" kinda depends on the price. The nice thing about chickens is that they can eat and will like almost anything that the feed store is selling

 

[dldolan]

A 50lb bag of layer pellets is $21.95 here in Northern CA. A dozen "free range" (yes, I'm aware, so don't start) eggs at the store is $3.79. If my 7 hens lay an average amount of eggs in a year for their breed, and I sell an occasional six pack of eggs to my colleagues, (who stack up egg cartons for me--I currently have four back-logged on my desk!) for $2.00 a six pack, I come out ahead, based on how many eggs I used to buy per month. And did I mention my feed prices???

My hens are mostly out in the orchard during the days, and I can really tell the difference in the amount of feed they consume when they have to stay in their run a few days... Left over cooked rice or oatmeal, dried bread, partially rotten orchard fruit--all a yummy treats and a help with food bills!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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I don't know about MOST, but there are people who do not have access which is very sad. Fortunately there are websites like www.localharvest.org out there. It makes finding local sources for great food easy.

Thanks for sharing the link. I have added it as a favorite. I appreciate that.!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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I agree. The few times that I have gone out to eat breakfast and ordered eggs, I was DISGUSTED with the taste. And the thing is I knew better than to order eggs at this diner. I knew exactly what I was going to get but I was thinking positive - thinking that those eggs would be good and they were NOT.

Farm Fresh local Chicken Eggs: It's what's for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Ditto

 

[Lisa202]

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This is going to sound like a stupid question, but here it goes...How do you grow oats and wheat germ?
Are there oat and wheat germ "seeds". And where would I get them?

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Not a stupid question. I had no idea either, so you are not alone. I had to research online. I was clueless as well. I asked a friend as well and he told me that I would need an acre of land to grow oats for the amount of animals that I have.

Maybe someone else who has more knowledge then me will come along and answer this question.

 

[MakNugget]

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This is going to sound like a stupid question, but here it goes...How do you grow oats and wheat germ?
Are there oat and wheat germ "seeds". And where would I get them?

Oats and Wheat (wheat berries) can be germinated like any seed. I'm not sure but I don't think you can sprout just the germ, as it's part of the seed.

You can obtain these at your feed store, at a health food store, or on line. There are plenty of sprouting instructions on this site, and can either be fed as is, or can be planted. I found detailed info on growing these grasses on sproutpeople.com.

 

[Katy]

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This is going to sound like a stupid question, but here it goes...How do you grow oats and wheat germ?
Are there oat and wheat germ "seeds". And where would I get them?

Oats and Wheat (wheat berries) can be germinated like any seed. I'm not sure but I don't think you can sprout just the germ, as it's part of the seed.

You can obtain these at your feed store, at a health food store, or on line. There are plenty of sprouting instructions on this site, and can either be fed as is, or can be planted. I found detailed info on growing these grasses on sproutpeople.com.

Yes, you need the whole berry to sprout or grow....not just the germ.

 

[chickens4jojo]

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I am impressed! BTW: This is a great thread.