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

[Katy]

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Thank you, for taking the time to make sure I am an idiot. I didn't once insult either or you, or any farmer for that matter. I happen to have a high level of respect for farmers in general. And don't, for civility sake alone if for no other reason, insult my inteligence. I did not call either of you pig ignorant farmers who still live in the 1950's and apply DDT to everything you meet. Dont call me an idiot, even by subtlety and implication. However, antibiotics fed to livestock have been shown to transmit to the humans who eat them, and it is being shown that this bypass of antibiotics is what is leading to antibiotics in humans not working the way they used to. I'm sorry you decided to take my post as a personal slur against the two of you. It wasn't.

And to the OP, I'm sorry I caused drama on your thread. That wasn't my intention, I was simply answering with my thoughts.

ETA: Yes, I'm aware I may not have been fully correct on spelling or grammer. Sue me.

If you feel like an idiot I don't think we're to blame for that...neither of us said anything like that. To make a blanket statement that all food available in the grocery store is

full of antibiotics, chemicals and preservatives,

is wrong.....and it's not true.

There are strict guidelines for the use of antibiotics in animals that are destined to be processed. They are not given willy-nilly altho that is what some people would like you to believe. I agree there are too many preservatives used in foods....but that has come about because of consumers who want food that has a long shelf life and doesn't start growing green fuzzy's after a couple of days.

A lot of people who got their backyard chickens thinking they were going to save a few bucks on their grocery bill are now finding out that more than likely is not the case.​

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Katy, yes in the states there are 'rules', but what about the imports?? have you looked at most meat at the store, injected with 7%, 12% of what??? not every cow, chicken, pig and lamb gets tested, things slip through, or there wouldn't be any recalls

I don't not raise chickens to get by cheeper i do it for the health of my family

 

[sunflowerenvy]

can someone explain what is mash that u give your chickens?

 

[Katy]

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Mash is finely ground grain....or crumble that is ground even finer.

 

[Katy]

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I don't buy any meat that's imported and try to buy only fruits and vegetables that are grown by US farmers. Most of the time if it's not grown by one of my fellow American farmers I go without it.

Most of the time the recalls have to do with how the food was processed....not how it was grown.

 

[The Chicken People]

I have 35 hens and we pay $20per week for corn and layer pellets! I sell five dozen or more eggs per week at $3.00 per dozen equals $15 so we pay $5 a week for feed! Not gonna break me! They will eat less in Summer!

 

[FrenchToast]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

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Good job negotiating with your feed mill. They must be desperate for business to agree to such discounts on a miniscule amount of feed. I doubt they are making any profit on yoru business.

I hope they are mixing it in a mixer designed for small batches, if they are trying to do it in a double ribbon commercial mixer it might not be mixed appropriately.

I don't know what kind of mixer they use but I am thinking it is big enough. I order 700 lbs at a time. They just said to get the mash ground up courser they would have to have a 200 lb order.
Good question though. I am going to ask them what kiind of mixer next time.

As far as loosing money on me I don't think so, I think more like they are making their big profits on the premixed feed.

Like in all mills they have a board with the price of everything they sell listed. Changes as prices change.
On my receipt all of the ingredients are listed seperately and brokken down and lthe price listed seperately.

Where I am saving the money is when they bag it they don't have to weigh it out to exactly 50 lbs and stop for each bag and tie a tag on.

I'm sure it makes a big difference, this feed store I believe only has two employrees, Husband and Wife. Their are other things their that aren't cheaper such as dog food, medicated chick starter (I use Nutrena vs Fleet Farm so I will pay the $1.00 extra) and their oyster shell and grit are a bit higher.

I'm sure they have it all figured out. No one works these days for nothing.
What I like about my feed store is, they know me by name, take the time to chat for a while (after I drive 45 miles to get there) and they keep "My recipe" on file and are willing to make any changes I suggest. They are very knowledgeagle and sat down and figured different ingredients to get the protien etc where it should be but keep my price down...

So my suggestion for anyone whether or not they are struggling financially is to shop around. I don't know anyone that likes to just throw their money to the wind !! LOL If you do, throw it this way !! LOL

We also use our "egg money" to apply towards the feed bill but one problem I'm seeing is: We started selling to a local tavern and when we drop them off we feel it is only appropriate to sit down and have a soda, gulp gulp gulp there goes the profits. So now I just sent the Hubby but then he drank two sodas Good thinkg he isn't having beer or he wouldn't bring any money home !!​

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

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I don't buy any meat that's imported and try to buy only fruits and vegetables that are grown by US farmers. Most of the time if it's not grown by one of my fellow American farmers I go without it.

Most of the time the recalls have to do with how the food was processed....not how it was grown.

eggs, spinach just to name 2, both are not processed and from American growers, plus there are imported items that you might not realize, tilapia fish for one from china

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

as for feed I get mine from the local coop, if he has sceenings I get them a Ton at a time

 

[Katy]

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I don't buy any meat that's imported and try to buy only fruits and vegetables that are grown by US farmers. Most of the time if it's not grown by one of my fellow American farmers I go without it.

Most of the time the recalls have to do with how the food was processed....not how it was grown.

eggs, spinach just to name 2, both are not processed and from American growers, plus there are imported items that you might not realize, tilapia fish for one from china

Both of those in relation to the amount of food grown and produced in the US were not really very high. Yes, if you were one of the people who got sick then it was high enough. Spinach is processed......at least I consider the washing and packaging of it as processing. Did they ever even determine what the cause was with the spinach? I don't buy fish....tilapia or other. If it doesn't say product of the US I don't buy it.....or try very hard not to.