Does anyone mix their own layer feed?

[Western Chick]

I'm looking for ways to cut the cost of feeding my chickens this winter. We farm a couple thousand acres of corn, beans and wheat and it seems ridiculous to have to buy an over-priced mixed ration from a feed store when we have semi-loads of the stuff right in our yard. I currently pay about $22/cwt for layer ration, there must be a better way!

Does anyone have a good ration "recipe" for a breeding flock? I know certain componants (soy protein) need to be processed but I can have that and the mixing/grinding done by our local elevator.

I'm also looking for a good "recipe" for a waterfowl ration. I've read that straight wheat is good for the winter, any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[houndit]

Our recipe for chicken feed in the winter is 470 lbs. ground corn,130 lbs.producers 44, 50 lbs , ground alfalfa. I can not find the recipe for summer right now, but I think it is less protein and no alfalfa. Our chickens are not breeders they are layers. But other birds who are breeders like our turkeys and ducks all eat the same thing. We are getting good hatch rates and egg production with this feed. Our waterfowl all eat the same thing.
Hope this helps.

 

[Jashdon]

I have been hoping to do something like this but I can't find a source for the bulk ingredients. I'm sure it is available but none of the feed and grain stores seem to know where I can find it. They look at me like I'm crazy when I ask. Anyway, here is a article that Greyfields sent me on mixing your own feed...

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issue … ssery.html


good luck!

 

[Sylvie]

Quote:
That link didn't work for me

 

[Western Chick]

Thanks Houndit! That's just what I needed, I'm assuming "producers 44" is a pellet of some sort that the elevator would have. Let me know if it's something else.

Jashdon- to get the ingredients you would want to go to a grain elevator, or better yet, find a farmer who will sell you some. That should be pretty easy this time of year and I would think you could find someone willing to sell you a few bushels off the wagon. We have people ask us quite often to buy corn for feeding wild deer or pheasants over the winter or for burning in corn stoves.

Sylvie- try this link- http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-3/Harvey_Ussery1.html
I'm not sure if it's the same one but this one has a spreadsheet for making up feed rations. I haven't tried it yet but will be shortly.

 

[Stephen in SoKY]

I have great success with the following:

325 lbs ground corn
185 lbs bean meal
20 lbs Akey Layer 75 (or whatever vit/min concentrate your mill has)

It runs around 21% protein. I feed free choice oyster shell to layers rather than mixing so I can use this ration for poultry of all ages. I paid $14/cwt last Thursday.

Have you got a grinder/mixer in a shed somewhere? I mixed my own through my Arts Way G/M for years but I'm lazy now and just run to the mill with my sacks.