How much do you spend per month on feed for your small flock???

[kera!]

dont know cost BUT for allof looking to cut cost we live in small town near a dairy adn they get loads of grain for cheap because of quantitiy and they sell it for cheap $ IF YOU take a bin or bucket out and fill them...look around I bet alot of local farmers would do he same..a deal is a deal right ...all for one and one for all

 

[Recla Ranch]

We must be doing something really wrong. Our birds go through 40 lbs. of layer (with some scratch) every two days...we only have 25 birds.

SOMEONE please tell us what we're doing wrong. I'm guessing they waste most of it. Right now we use the galvanized hanging feeders:
http://www.amazon.com/Miller-9112-Galvanized-Hanging-Poultry/dp/B000VLFE6I

 

[WisconsinChickenWhisperer]

Quote:
Do you have some type of rodent getting into your feed? I use a hanging feeder, but I only go through 1 50 lb.bag of layer pellets every 5 weeks or so with 15 large fowl...........granted, I also supplement with cracked corn, BOSS, and whatever vegetables, bread, yogurt, etc. that I happen to have to give them, but some days they don't get any extra treats. Check the floor around the feeder and see if there is any feed there. I know that when I was feeding crumbles, my flock would go and throw crumbles out of the feeder and onto the floor. I would have to remove the feeder in the evening so that they would clean up the wasted food, then put the feeder back out in the mid morning. With the pellets I don't have that problem-sure, a few end up on the floor, but not nearly as many as with the crumbles.

So, I guess in figuring out my feed cost: roughly $13.50 a month for Layena pellets, about $4.00 a month on BOSS (I just used up the last of 50 lbs after almost 4 months), and maybe $2.00 a month on cracked corn (I bought 2 50 lb. bags on sale 2/$12 at Fleet Farm over the summer, still have about 1/4 of a bag). So, that adds up to: $18.50 a month or roughly $1.25 per bird per month for feed. NOW, if I actually sold all of my eggs instead of giving half of them away, feed would be free, as well as bedding, and part of the electric costs as well: I am currently getting 4 doz eggs per week @ $2.00 per dozen, not including what I eat.

 

[woodmort]

Quote:
I use two galvanized hanging feeders for 43 birds--put 2 scoops--a scoop is about 2 lbs--in each one per day although the feeders are never empty. I figure 100 lbs of layer pellets last me about 2 weeks. Also toss in about a pint of BOSS during the day when I collect eggs if they don't go out and a few handfuls of scratch when I close up at night. That's winter rations--in the summer they eat a lot less since they're free ranging all day with no scratch and only occasional BOSS. I'd say you're way over feeding something.

 

[Tanichca]

hey!
i spend about $13 for 50 lbs, every two months. that means i spend about $7.50 every month.

 

[journey11]

My mind has been on this same thing lately. I just calculated my December feed costs last night.

I am definitely looking for more ways to cut costs.

Currently, my highest feed costs over this winter are running me $70.37 (month of Dec.) to feed 31 layers (currently laying). My girls are on a combination of Dumor Layer Pellets (16% protein), free range when there is no snow and they can get outside, occasional table scraps, and a very small amount of BOSS/scratch in the evenings just to call them in. This comes out to $2.27 to feed them each day. Assuming I sell all the eggs they get, I come out with a slim profit of $8 a month.

I hate to raise my prices any more, especially for this area, so I am diligently searching out new ways to cut feed costs. Gonna bookmark this thread and come back later to read what others are doing in this area!

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I thought I was doing good...but now? I go through 4 bags of crumbles a week for 54 hens and 2 Rouen ducks. I usually don't suppliment with anything else. Am I overfeeding? Maybe my cats are eating the chicken feed?

 

[FireTigeris]

Well right now nothing as I have a kitchen (restaurant) that donates scraps to me...

 

[Recla Ranch]

Quote:
I use two galvanized hanging feeders for 43 birds--put 2 scoops--a scoop is about 2 lbs--in each one per day although the feeders are never empty. I figure 100 lbs of layer pellets last me about 2 weeks. Also toss in about a pint of BOSS during the day when I collect eggs if they don't go out and a few handfuls of scratch when I close up at night. That's winter rations--in the summer they eat a lot less since they're free ranging all day with no scratch and only occasional BOSS. I'd say you're way over feeding something.

Woodmort - I'm thinking you're right. Hmmm...not rodents, the hard wire mesh is buried around the coop, plus we have two GIANT dogs who keep the coops pretty secure. We have the giant 40lb feeders and now I'm thinking they're too low and the lip too wide. The birds free range all the time and pasture when we're home. Plus they get treats. Apparently the birds are bathing in their feed, not just eating. Plus we've been doing crumbles, so we'll switch right away. I can't tell you how much I appreciate the feedback. I might have more questions...

 

[dirtydozen]

A wise old farmer once told me " you cant make money on anything you got to feed ". So true with my cows. I usually go through about 100 pounds of feed per month for 12 birds. Not counting the 'free' stuff we feed them. Birds and cows are just a hobby and tax write off anyway.