How much does it cost to feed chickens?

[dftkarin]

Just adding in my very limited experience. We have 4 hungry pullets that have gone through 25 lbs of feed (here 25lb of medicated chick starter is $10.50) in just under 6 weeks - and I assume as they get bigger they will eat more and more per day. I live in a city and have a small yard but still have plenty of predators to worry about - and I kind of feel like this chicken adventure is mostly an expensive hobby (wood shavings, DE, hardware cloth, financing the building of a coop, cleaning up chicken poop, etc). Eventually we'll get eggs and that will be wonderful, and they are lovely and entertaining and I'm happy I'm not contributing to unhappy mistreated chickens, but given that I'm in a city and yard space is valuable - its a costly endeavor. Not at all a break-even arrangement.

 

[MissBHaven]

I was definately naieve (spelling bad) when starting this adventure, thinking once I had the building, it'll all be cheap and easy. BUT its something you definately need a passion to do. I love these little buggers, they are steady entertainment, not in it for any money, thank goodness, that would be dissapointing....today went to get a bag of medicated starter pellets, cost was $12.00 5 weeks ago, today $15.75....I'm gonna stock up tomorrow for the winter, expecting big increases to continue durring snowy days.....

 

[m_herrington]

I have 40 11 week olds. I go through roughly 50lb of feed a week. They have a 16x30 run with grass as of yet, and I try to throw them some grass and weeds in the run every evening as well as give them some kind of treat.

The non-medicated starter grower crumble was $11 and some change yesterday for 50lbs... a few weeks ago $13 something.

Layer ration is about $2 less than the starter grower here. The local feed store usually beats TSC in price.

I also add a large bag of pine bedding every week (DLM) for $5.20.

The Oyster Shell was $9.40 for 50lbs yesterday. I'm new, but I'm guessing 50 lbs will last a while.

I shouldn't have eggs for another 4 weeks or so and I am spending

$11 feed
+$5.20 bedding
$16.20/week at this point and they aren't grown yet, but when you figure in the entertainment value, they're worth it. You really have no idea how entertaining they can be until you have some.

I think I will be able to at least pay for feed and maybe bedding with the egg money. I already have people asking about buying eggs from me

The initial cost is what is worst though. I have a chicken palace with a loft that cost (well)over $1000 so far. And I think maybe I should have gone bigger because I've started hatching eggs now

. You can definately get started for a lot less than that though.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

wow 9.50 for 40 lbs is pretty good. Ours comes in 50 lb bags and is 14 bucks. I used about a bag every three week and I have 1 hen, 10 12 week olds and 8 babies. I do have two bags going right now but that will last a month. Plus you have to buy oystershell too. I don't think mine are that expensive at all. And they are WELL worth the money spent

We spent WAY to much so far but I love my chickens and I'm not sorry we got them.

 

[TexasVet]

If you really want to keep track of costs, you might want to check out my new accounting software, Chicken Trackin'. I'm lousy at math, so it's set up like a checkbook register. Just enter your expenses and sales, and the software gives you a running total, as well as charts and graphs.

I had the idea, one daughter came up with the product name, the other daughter did the banner, and hubby did the programming. It was a lot of work, but it was nice to get the whole family involved.

Kathy, Bellville TX
www.ChickenTrackin.com

PS: You can try the software free for 30 days, but a license costs $14.95. We tried to keep the cost as low as possible, but we do have to pay for the website, development costs, and the software delivery service.

 

[captainmoose]

I'm not sure of the prices on feed but we have 16 layers and sell eggs for $2.00 a dozen. When I go for feed every month there is enough money in the chicken fund to cover everything, layer pellet, scratch, oyster shell, and grit any extra money stays in the fund for bedding and straw. Last week the feed store had all Purnia feed on sale buy one get one free.

 

[danib]

I have 5 chickens who are about to come off starter feed and go onto grower feed. The organic starter cost about $37 for 50 libs. Anyone from Massachusetts know where I can get a better price? Or is that a good price?

 

[kattz68]

I pay 22 bucks a bag.

I pay that in US in Wyoming for a 50# bag. I am trying to shop around.

 

[humphrey farms]

About 1 1/2 pounds per chicken per day .


We have 49 head .
We are using like 85 pounds PER WEEK of feed and we give ALOT of scrapes and treats .

50#'s cost 11.00 for Purina Laying Pellets


We give them the following :

Greens
grass
bread
RICE
cooked oatmeal
cooked grits
and all table scrapes

Here in Maine 50# of Purina Layer pellets is $15 per bag. Whole corn is $13 per 50#. I have a mixed age flock of 40 Wyandottes that free range daily (8-12 hrs.) We use a sack a week. Plus some household scraps/veggies.

 

[barbjess]

I have 27 chicks (2 weeks old now) and 6 ducks coming in 2 weeks so total 33.

I am starting to plan the purchase of various grains and due to mileage want to get more that a months' worth of food in each trip.
I am going to have them free range but live in Ohio so have to plan for Winter. So when they get going, I should expect no less than 1/4 pound of food per day per creature so 33 x .25= 8.25 pounds per day or 247.5 pounds per month and more that this in the Winter. Is this correct?

Then if I am buying grains in 50 pound bags (wheat, oats, barley, peas) and items like Nutri- balancer, kelp and Boss, buying several 50 pound bags of the grains at a time is more than reasonable?. Is it reasonable to buy 50 lbs bags or kelp, argonite, and yeast? Will they keep? I plan on keeping the grains, and peas in trash containers in a garage that is dry. Please let me know if I am thinking right.