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

[SassyKat6181]

Me & My Peeps :

Quote:
How large is your flock? I would look around for feed in bulk. Also, look on eBay for a corn mill or grinder, they come up on occasion and reasonably priced too.

I can understand that you want to teach your child about "making it work somehow" but sometimes "making it work" means making sacrifices and doing with less. This is the lesson I teach to my kids by NOT adding to our flock. We can manage with what we have and not living above our means. Maybe take the neighbors up on their offer to buy them, but only sell some of them of, to lower your expenses and overhead. Then when things get better or you, another lesson can be taught by adding chicks = live within your means. Many many could people can pull out of their financial downward spiral if they just reigned in their expenses. Instead they just keep spending and trying to "maintain" what they have at all cost's. Eventually though, it gets beyond all control and then they blame it on the economy.

I agree neighbor....I'm in Wilbraham.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Just a question... why do many people buy oyster shell for calcium when there's a better and cheaper (free) source of calcium in eggshells?

I save the eggshells from cooking. A couple times a week, I grind them and either add them to my chicken pancakes (unbleached flour, egg, eggshells, ground flax, powdered milk, ground alfalfa pellets in winter) or rice/beans that I give the chickens. They don't recognize it as an egg-shell so don't start eating their eggs.

The powdered milk in the pancakes is another source of calcium. And when my goats are producing, I use the whey leftover from making cheese, or give them a batch of cheese that went wrong. Sometimes I find dairy products discounted at the grocery when they are about to expire .. one container of yogurt can last a few feedings.

So, sorry for not understanding, but since we're talking about how to afford feeding our chickens, just wondering why people who aren't breaking even with their chickens and are having problems ... are buying oyster shell for calcium?

 

[Beekissed]

Oyster shell is very cheap here and usually my eggs don't stay here....usually I am selling my eggs to others. Right now my birds aren't producing enough eggs to provide calcium for the whole flock, so OS it is.

 

[kdcole]

I find that feeding my fourteen Buff Orpington hens and one rooster can be costly, particularly during the winter months when they produce fewer eggs. I find that feeding them smallar amounts twice a day results in less waste. I sell all of my surplus eggs, which is six or seven dozen each week, to the general store in town. The store set up an account for me and I purchase all my grain there. So far I have managed to break about even on the cost. I also found that hanging the feeder as high off the floor of the coop as possible helps cut down on waste. The feeder should be just within their reach. They tend to rake less feed to the floor. Pellets or crumbs are less wasteful but cost about $5.00 more a bag. My hens like the laying mash best and produce slightly more eggs when fed mash. You may wish to discuss the possibility of collecting out-dated produce from your grocer. I collect it every Monday and my hens get coleslaw, spinish, broccoli, salad greens, and most fruit except citrus. You need to feed it out sparingly and as a treat as you do cracked corn. My birds love their greens and receive them daily. Best of luck with your brood. Ken Cole from Maine.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I was just about to post the same thing. I get FREE 5 gallon buckets from the Wal Mart bakery department. After they were done with the icing, they were just throwing them away. I call them in the AM and tell them how many I need and they have them ready for me when I get off. I have TONS of Free 5 gallon buckets WITH lids. They are in excellent condition.

THE BEST MONEY SAVING TIP I EVER GOT: TRY.

You called the warehouse and got free buckets because you tried. Brilliant move!

I've found if you really try you can find someone who'll do you a deal anywhere about. I've even gone into full on MALLS and gone, "You know, this pitcher is nice but it was the only one left, seems a tad expensive and it looks like it's been there awhile.. can you do me any sort of deal?" I've gotten $10, $15... even 'just take it' before!

I got the pallets to redo my flooding backyard by asking the builders down the road if they needed the ones they had. Nope, take 'em.

I get dirt by going to the tip sites and collecting the dirt there and then putting it in my compost to make beautiful. I can't believe people buy dirt.

Some people will just plain do deals. I trade eggs for greeting cards. Soap for pots.

You can even just walk up to a farm and say, "Hey if there any farm work you need done? If I milk your cows can I bring a gallon home to my family?" You'd be surprised how many will GLADLY hand you a bucket and point you over there. Free raw fresh milk!! (and the farmer is like "OH HECK YES!!")

Just... try!

elizabethbinary, you are absolutely right. Try. I think the same way as you do. I will ask, bargain, barter, etc. for anything that I need. The only thing that the business or person can tell you is, "no", but at least you "Tried".

elizabethbinary, you and I will have to keep in touch and share ideas on what we got for Free or "close to free". I like how you think.

I built a peacock aviary that cost me only $38.00 and that was for 3 yards of sand ($20.00) and 2 plants ($18.00) that I just HAD to have from Lowe's. The measurements are 28 feet long - 10 feet wide - 8 feet tall. I used recycled pallets from the local glass company, got FREE stuff from craigslist, etc. If I wouldn't have TRIED and hustled to get these items, you would not be seeing these pics below.

Free Saga Palms from Craigslist

Got 2 FREE mirrors from Craigslist from a guy that was cleaning out his garage. The mirrors are 4 feet tall.

 

[allcrackedup]

to OP i have in my town multiple produce stand i stop by once twice a week and they give me boxes of their trimmings from lettuce ,celery,,,etc what ever they cant sale or has spoiled they throw out and most of the time it's not bad just looks beat up.. anyway hope this helps.

 

[MSDeb]

Quote:
Why not citrus? I give mine peeled, chopped oranges and grapefruit mixed with with mash and leftovers as a treat. Sometimes I just cut the grapefruit in half and post it on a nail. My girls love it. I don't go overboard but I have not seen any ill effects from them eating citrus either and we are getting eggs. Just my two cents.

 

[lorieMN]

Quote:
THE BEST MONEY SAVING TIP I EVER GOT: TRY.

You called the warehouse and got free buckets because you tried. Brilliant move!

I've found if you really try you can find someone who'll do you a deal anywhere about. I've even gone into full on MALLS and gone, "You know, this pitcher is nice but it was the only one left, seems a tad expensive and it looks like it's been there awhile.. can you do me any sort of deal?" I've gotten $10, $15... even 'just take it' before!

I got the pallets to redo my flooding backyard by asking the builders down the road if they needed the ones they had. Nope, take 'em.

I get dirt by going to the tip sites and collecting the dirt there and then putting it in my compost to make beautiful. I can't believe people buy dirt.

Some people will just plain do deals. I trade eggs for greeting cards. Soap for pots.

You can even just walk up to a farm and say, "Hey if there any farm work you need done? If I milk your cows can I bring a gallon home to my family?" You'd be surprised how many will GLADLY hand you a bucket and point you over there. Free raw fresh milk!! (and the farmer is like "OH HECK YES!!")

Just... try!

elizabethbinary, you are absolutely right. Try. I think the same way as you do. I will ask, bargain, barter, etc. for anything that I need. The only thing that the business or person can tell you is, "no", but at least you "Tried".

elizabethbinary, you and I will have to keep in touch and share ideas on what we got for Free or "close to free". I like how you think.

I built a peacock aviary that cost me only $38.00 and that was for 3 yards of sand ($20.00) and 2 plants ($18.00) that I just HAD to have from Lowe's. The measurements are 28 feet long - 10 feet wide - 8 feet tall. I used recycled pallets from the local glass company, got FREE stuff from craigslist, etc. If I wouldn't have TRIED and hustled to get these items, you would not be seeing these pics below.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_1.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_2.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_7.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_5.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_6.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_3.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_4.jpg

Free Saga Palms from Craigslist
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_aviary_8.jpg

Got 2 FREE mirrors from Craigslist from a guy that was cleaning out his garage. The mirrors are 4 feet tall.https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_mirror1.jpg

thats awesome !!! good job

 

[Smoky73]

I guess I am one of the few people in this economy who has not had to worry about it. I mean, my husband has an excellent paying job, and I work parttime or fulltime (depending what they give me for hours) and we do not live beyond our means. Meaning, our house we bought 10 years ago, was not at the top of what we could afford or past that like so many people do nowadays. This was not always the case as when the economy went to heck, Hubby was thisclose to getting laid off and that would have devestated us. But, at that point, I would have sold my birds if I could not afford the feed or at least cut down drastically. As much as I love my birds, I could always start over at a different point with new birds when I could afford it more.

I have about 60 birds and 5 goats. Our neighbor lets us take as much grassy hay as we can to feed the goats, usually we get the bales that have broken open. Helps them buy getting them out of their way, and helps us so our goats can eat for free. For some time, we used to get the garbage produce from a local grocery store and I would pick out what I wanted. Many times, what they threw away was still good, I often got tomatoes with soft spots, or ears of corn for the birds, which I would give the goats the husks, they love those. Check with your local small town grocery store if you have one. Use leftovers your going to throw away for the birds. It all helps a lot.

 

[Twiztedrods]

I wanted my flock and now I am paying for them, it is what it is I guess. I have 15 birds in my flock and am getting ready to cut the flock by 6 so the remaining birds will be more comfortable in their area and it will cut my feed bill. Right now I go through 25 pounds of chick starter per week and about 10 pounds of fresh veggies. We also feed them all of our food scraps. They love any type of meat that we feed them. It seems that pork is their favorite, especially hot dogs and sausage.