How much does feed cost to raise Hens?

[TexasVet]

If you really want to keep track of the costs, get a copy of Chicken Trackin' and record your expenses and sales for a month. It works like a checkbook register, so it's simple to use. You can see screen shots and download a 30-day trial at www.ChickenTrackin.com.

If you decide to buy a copy, enter "BYC" in the coupon box of the order form. The first 100 people from Backyard Chickens get a $2.00 discount, so the final cost is just $12.95.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.CountryChickens.com

 

[Megs]

just started to keep track (as my chickens #'s will be the same until spring) of feed bills (and i didnt want to know!). keep in mind these birds all get table scraps a few days a week, and are in enclose runs.

approx costs are:

Standars Layers- 18 birds eat ~2 bags/month = ~$22/month = $1.22/chicken/month
Bantams- ~50 birds 5+ months old eat ~3 bags/month = ~$33/month = $0.78/chicken/month

so to feed my total ~70 birds it costs me about $55/month

 

[RendonRoo]

I think you guys scared them off. LOL. And no one even mentioned the 1300 bucks i have in coops and runs.

Did i read that one post right that someone was just feeding their chickens cracked corn. Sure hope they feed them something with actual food value as well.

 

[Bedste]

Just for food..... I have 32...... but they are all different ages... ranging from 5 weeks to 2 yrs. I use approximatly 25 lbs a week...

i pay $13 for 50 lb bag....... so approx $7 week on feed.... rough estimate..

 

[ChickenCharmer]

I have a flock of 50, about 25 of which are LF and the rest banty, and they go through 100 lbs of feed in 20 days!

I cannot keep up with the costs with egg money, especially now that it's winter!

 

[Agricola]

I estimate that my Rhode Island Reds are going through about one pound of feed per week each. But they are only 11 weeks old, so I expect that to go up a bit over the next few weeks. They do also get some scraps and free range most of the day.

 

[tcltoughmom]

I think I better cut back on the feed, I have about 45 chickens- all ages, and I am using 50# crumbles, and 25 # corn and scratch mixed per week and I let them range in the back yard 3 days per week, at 12.99 per bag---and today I only got 9 eggs----I am giving scraps 2 x per week probley. There seems to be alot on the ground--around the hanging feeders. If I fill the feeder for the week it seems like they eat it all in 4 days------and a lot on the ground---think I will wait and let them clean up the mess before I fill them again. Teresa

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I agree with the "raising hogs" post. My 13 almost grown RIR's are going through a 50# bag every two weeks. My 21 7wk old RIR's are emptying the 7# feeder everyday. This isn't including the snacks including scratch they get. Every time I go out the back door, they are very vocal about wanting a snack. So, what is a softhearted man to do? I go back in the house and get them a snack. You want to see a whole 2# loaf of bread disappear? Just throw it in with the 13 big ones. In less than 3 minutes there is not even a crumb left over. I can't free range due to the heavy predator load around here. As spoiled as mine are they are probably too lazy to find their own snacks anyway. I'm not really concerned about how much they eat, however after seeing some of the post's here about how little other's eat, it just make me wonder. Maybe I need to join a Backyard Hog forum...LOL.

Marty

Edit: spelling error

 

[Rosewynd]

I was feeding crumbles and going through a TON of food. Switched to pellets and they eat MUCH less.... plus, the pellets that they dump on the ground are big enough for them to find and eat. The crumbles just became one with the dirt.

 

[greathorse]

After doing some quick calcualtions on the numbers from this thread I found a range of 4.8 oz per day to 1.6 oz. per day.

Feed at $26.00 per hundred weight 13.00 50 lb bag = 1.625 cents per oz.

Take your consumption times your cost of feed. I think I saw feed from 15 per 50lb bag down to 8.00

Best thing is to not do the math. Last months egg production for me averaged 15.00 per dozen. A very unkind friend did that math for me I did not want to know. Lots of young birds and birds molting Production has quadrupled now so cost is only 3.75 per dozen. I sell them for 2.00 I will be rich!!! LOL.

I dont count my chickens and I try not to know how much I spend on feed, it is too painful