How much do you pay for feed??

[Pampered chicken girl]

I have been paying $26.99 for flock raiser at TSC and they eat so much feed it gets expensive. Is this alot for feed? How much do you pay?
TIA!

 

[MotherofOrpies]

Here in Germany feed prices have risen enormously cos of the grain shortage caused by the war in the Ukraine, I used to pay around 17€ For a 25 kg (55 pound) bag of 12-grain feed, now it costs 27€, the euro has lost a lot of value, so right now it would be the same in dollars, and I fear it will go up even more during the winter…

 

[Iluveggers]

For anyone buying none GMO, you DO know that's bullshit right? Genetically engineered feed is many time healthier, costs less to grow, better against pests, hardier for certain climates, and make feeding the entire world possible.

For farmers who save seed, it is not sustainable. Free saved seed is more cost effective than something needed to be bought every year.

Also, could you point me to a few references that show it is “many times healthier?” Thanks so much. Wonder what nutrients I’ve been missing in organic food?

 

[3KillerBs]

they could literally thrive on kitchen scraps and foraging in my yard and woods.

Chickens can literally LIVE on kitchen scraps, foraging, and sufficient woods/pasture in some environments - most of which already have established feral flocks. Chickens do not THRIVE in such environments. Those words have very different meanings.

Exactly what I was going to say.

They can survive that way -- in a favorable climate and ecological zone -- but they will neither thrive nor produce well.

These are not our great-grandparents' chickens. This book from 100 years ago talks about how to get a profitable 100 eggs per hen per year -- from LEGHORNS.

My worst layer, a Light Brahma did better than that. Modern Leghorns are expected to produce 300 eggs per year.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/poultry-for-the-farm-and-home.1443907/

 

[igorsMistress]

I have been paying $26.99 for flock raiser at TSC and they eat so much feed it gets expensive. Is this alot for feed? How much do you pay?
TIA!

I’m paying a little more through Chewy for flock
raiser because TSC has become unreliable here. It’s not a far drive, but traffic is a pain between here and there and most of the time they don’t have what I need. I’m not wasting my time or fuel any more.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I’m paying $24 for 50# of non-GMO layer mash from a nearby feed mill, and my chickens love it. However, I’ve been thinking about starting to mix my own. Anyone ever tried that? I don’t try to overthink this stuff…after all, they are chickens, and they could literally thrive on kitchen scraps and foraging in my yard and woods. But I’m thinking of mixing their feed supplement, in light of the recent Tractor Supply chicken feed shenanigans…don’t know if I want to chance it with pre-mixed feed.

Lots of people try to mix their own. Generally it ends poorly.


Most local mills won't mix for you unless you are doing it tons at a time, so you can't count on enjoying their efficiencies of scale in pricing.

Chickens can literally LIVE on kitchen scraps, foraging, and sufficient woods/pasture in some environments - most of which already have established feral flocks. Chickens do not THRIVE in such environments. Those words have very different meanings.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm feeding organic so that hikes up the price - since I use two different feeds one is around $33-35 I think, the other is $42? But my birds haven't been eating a lot lately due to the heat + a number of them are molting.

 

[Brooks_]

Flock raiser, 50# (~10 day supply) $25.99.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

16.75 per bag of layer crumble
18.60 per bag of turkey grower
19.25 per bag of medicated chick feed

Also get the eleventh bag of each free when I've bought 10 prior (they keep track, so I don't have to buy 10 at one time)

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Yup. My dad mentioned he always only fed his birds cracked corn and free range. Maybe corn was cheaper back thirty years ago but now your only going to save a couple bucks doesn't make sense. Same with people adding it in winter cause it's cold and they think they need it. Plenty of corn in commercial feed I don't think you need to add any.

big difference between free ranging on a hobby farm with a number of other animals which are fed with a working pasture for grains and substantial garden plot out back, expecting just 100-150 eggs per year and "free ranging" in a one to two acre monoculture not used as an efficient vegetable garden and grain plot which lacks the other livestock who are being fed, and whose missed feed can be scavenged by the hens.

Its those underlying assumptions that trip many up - we (generally) don't live the way we used to, we don't use our land they way we used to, we don't have the production expectations we used to, and our modern birds? have generally been bred to need more nutritional support from us to maintain modern production levels.