feed mill experience

[AnthonyT]

Some of the smaller family run mills will mix feed in smaller batches. The one I get my feed from has a minimum of 300 pounds for a custom mix. I get half a ton at time now and they mix it exactly the way I want it. All the ingrediants are always in stock as they are used in just about every animal feed out there. Even the Fertrel's Nutribalancer and probiotic mix is always there. It took me a good long while to find this mill and I drive farther to get my feed from them. Their service is great and they work with you. A good mill might not be cheaper (it can be though, 50# of feed was roughly $11.25), but it sure makes life easier.

 

[jackiedon]

Where are you located Anthony?

Does anyone know of a mill in Arkansas?

jackie

 

[sandspoultry]

We get our feed from a great bunch of people at the Onlsow feed and grain in Richlands, NC. They will custom mix and add anything you want to the feed. We raise turkeys and peafowl so early in the spring we have them mix a 18% layer with extra oyster shell then for the rest of the year we go with a 16%. We buy it by the ton and it works out to about $8.25 per 50 pounds. We call a day or so in advance and it's always ready when we go. It's about an hour drive for us to the mill but still cheaper than buying from a chain feed store plus it helps out the "little guy" as they buy local grain.

Steve in NC

 

[freeholdfarms]

Quote:
Michele,

Joel Salatin gives his recipe in "Pasture Poultry Profits".
I can list it or loan you the book.
If you are going complete custom mixture.

 

[blue90292]

hey roddy, either way would be wonderful. i called the the extension office and they said damon feed does custom mixture along with evans.

btw, we're going to put in an order with jmhatchery for some redbros. did you want me to add some chicks for you??

and then i'll be putting in an order from schlects couple weeks later. let me know if you're interested.

 

[KAKBucks]

We just had a mix made for us that will cover everyone from our broilers, to chicks, to layers so we could buy by the ton. We need to have free choice calcium (feed lime or oyster shells) and grit available, but it's a heck of a lot cheaper this way!!!

We're using:
1300 lbs ground corn
500 lbs poultry supplement
160 lbs feeding lime

You might not need all the supplement if you're just feeding broilers. Talk to the feed store. They're really helpful about this stuff. The guy at my feed store built this ration for me by adapting something from another client.

Kendra

PS It worked out to $9.90 a bag (including $.40 per 50 lbs for the actual bag, which we can reuse).

 

[freeholdfarms]

From "Pasture Poultry Profits" by Joel Salatin (c) 1993

p52
"Here is our most current ration as of 1998:

Ingredient Pounds/or/Percent
Corn 52
Roasted Soybeans 29
Crimped oats 11
Feed Grade Limestone 1
Fertrell Nutri-Balancer 3
Fish Meal (Sea-Lac) 3.5
Kelp Meal 0.5
Fastrack Probiotic 0.1
Total 100.1

He then goes through each part and tells why it is in there

I just ordered some CornishX, due the 22nd, will see about more.

 

[blue90292]

hey roddy, i talked to the guy at damon feed. he had no clue about poultry feed so i'm glad you gave me the template. he asked me to fax it over and he would quote me a price at 1,000 pounds.

is this 20%? do you know??

 

[AnthonyT]

Jackie, I am in south central KY. Most rural areas have a few smaller family run mills though. The mill I get my feed mixed at is also a Hubbard feeds dealer and for bagged feed the Hubbard Homestead line is pretty good stuff. The mix I have made up is basically the Salatin mix but with soy bean meal instead of roasted soybeans. Roasted soybeans just aren't used much around here so they cost way too much. Also no fish meal as I have lots of customers that do not want any animal porducts in the feed. I basically follow the French Label Rouge conditions for growing my broilers. They are the same chickens they use over there after all (color range). My finished feed comes out to 19.8% protein and the birds grow well on it. Another local grower uses it for his egger hens with increased calcium of course.

 

[blue90292]

anthony, i sent you a PM.