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

[3rocksandme]

Wow, I am having price jealousy. Our Purina layer pellets is $14 for 50lbs. The organic feed ranges from $20 to $30 for 50 lbs.

 

[popcornchicken]

We buy it at the local mill. We're lucky b/c there is a hatchery in the area, and we just get the same mix as they do

 

[NonnasBabies]

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Why not???

They go gaga over it!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

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You found Purina laying feed at Wal-Mart for $8.00 for a 50-lb bag???

WOW !!!!! That is CHEAP !!! Purina laying feed is $15.00 for a 50-lb bag here in my neck of the woods (Louisiana). Good find!

 

[b.hromada]

Frenchtoast, you are so lucky to live near a feed mill! Wish I had one I could use!! Always wanted to have my feed ground for me, and to save some money too!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Purina Flock Raiser is over $16.00 a 50lb bag where we live in western N.C. It was cheaper at Tractor Supply so I'll get it there next time.

 

[vebyrd36]

In reality feed prices follow oil prices. When oil is up so is feed. Many times people bring their chicks to me b/c they cannot feed them. My advice to anyone going to invest in chickens is remember you will not get rich from them. You may break even or make a profit but that is not always the case. I Started raising chicks in the beginning for pure relaxation. In today's so society we are so busy with work and family we lose touch with nature. Now I do sell products from my birds as well provide food for the family. The issue of feed will always be a rollcoaster ride. Just provide them. With. A good staple then supplement with hay and grazing, other treats

 

[knjinnm]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

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I too am weary of trying to educate people about the truth of farming and ranching. The sensationalism and emotion driven rhetoric of the Anti-Agriculture is just to easy for people to be sucked in to.

Anti-Agriculture? There is no Anti-Agriculture it's anti-subsidies for things like ethonal from corn or for price supports for growing cotton, tobacco, sugar etc.

It's a catch-22, grain prices go up ... farmers make more money but the cost impacts staples like meat, eggs, milk etc.

As long as there is a growing middle class in China and India, 2.5 billion people

, they will consume more meat, pork and poultry which drives the price of grain which makes American grain farmers happy.​

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I buy it from a feed supply store in bulk.

It's .18/lb if I buy in bulk. They mix and grind it there, themselves.

I have to buy a minimum of 300lbs at once to get that price. I have two garbage cans that each each about 125lbs. F

illing both garbage cans and included tax it costs me about $65.00 every 6 weeks.

To supplement that, my DH has a distant relative that is one of the largest wheat farmers in Washington State. Every fall I get about 1,000lbs of "waste" wheat from him. It comes in 100+ lb bags. I feed that out in the runs and scatter it in their litter--they love it and it keeps them busy.

My chickens pay for their own feed by me selling them, hatching eggs and chicks during the breeding season. I save up my money in an earnest earning savings account and that gets us through the winter when they eat the most. They also bought 13 tons of hay for my horses this summer, too.

I do have A LOT of chickens, some ducks and a few geese....

I am finally starting to get some interest in eating eggs, too...which means I need another breed that lays very well and that I don't feel bad about selling for $3/dozen for eating eggs, LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

Next thing ya know they'll be saying chickens are leaving to big a carbon foot print. I'm looking for it down the road.

I can't imagine not having chickens, ducks and yes even my goose who loves to bite me every chance he gets. They bring so much joy to a world gone crazy, It's the best antidepressant I know of..