How much does it cost to feed chickens?

[capt2004]

i raise chickens i have about 20 they r all free range they eat table scraps cracked corn and wheat, with laying pellets they cost me an avg of about 10 dollars a month i keep about 150 pounds of feed on hand they go through that in about 3 months give or take some according to the the weather temp and all other variables now as far as a coop i built them a pen but they rather roost in a tree i have never been able to get them to go in the coop i hope this will help u thx and good luck

 

[AmericanMom]

We pay 15.49 for a 50 pd bag for Flock Raiser (Or all Flock) Because we have so many different aged chickens that also range with our young geese and turkeys we provide oyster shells on the side for the layers. Oyster shells cost 12.00 for a 50pd bag and that has so far lasted 5 months... I also buy 5 grain scratch 50pd cost 11.99 once a month...
Now I have around 52 chickens of different ages ranging from 3 weeks to 4 years, I also have 3 geese and 5 turkey poults (3months), everyone eats from the same feeder.
They go through alittle over 50 pounds of feed a week BUT and here is where if you know how to work it you can actually make this a cost free venture

I gather right now between 16-22 eggs a day .. I have orders for 7 dozen eggs a week from regular customers who pick up eggs from me at my house , I charge $2.50 a dozen to stay competitive (eggs sell here for $3 a dozen) I also sell fertile hatching eggs, Its common for me to get an order or two a week, I charge $1.25 an egg, again to stay competitive
This week alone I have sold a dozen and a half of the hatching eggs.. 18 eggs = 22.50
7 Dozen eating eggs at $2.50 a dozen= 17.50

This week I have made $40.00 My feed cost will be 15.50 +11.99 ( I am almost out of scratch grains) 27.49.. I have made a profit of 12.51 which will go into the egg fund jar to add to next week ( Fertile egg sales always varies)

I also sell pullets for $10-$15. each to help pay for any work needed done on the coop or run, we purchase most of our materials at a recycle center or DH has access to tons of pallets for free. I am hatching a new round of chicks every 3-4 months.. We generally eat the roosters

 

[romeofoxxchics]

Is .95 cent a lb to much for feed in Los Angeles.

 

[redneckguinea]

Someone wrote 1 1/2 pounds of feed per bird per day and said they had 49 birds that's 73 pounds a day.then they said they feed 85 pounds a week I think someone has there math WRONG.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Is .95 cent a lb to much for feed in Los Angeles.

That's too much for chicken feed anywhere you live. I think I could mix my own organic and pay someone to massage their throats as they ate for that price.

Purchasing in 50 pound bags normal price for non organic feed is national average $15 per bag. That's 15/50= 30 cents per pound. Even if it cost twice as much in LA it's still far short of 95. Either your trying to buy 5 pounds at a time of Hindu monk organic farmed or ???

Think about it, you can purchase chicken parts from the supermarket for less than that during a sale.

 

[shortgrass]

Someone wrote 1 1/2 pounds of feed per bird per day and said they had 49 birds that's 73 pounds a day.then they said they feed 85 pounds a week I think someone has there math WRONG.

Lol that made my brain hurt for some reason... I feed about 5 lbs a day for roughly 60 birds.... All in all, I go through 300# a month or so.... And I mix my own, costs me about $100.

Edit* oops, forgot its still summer... Increase that to 500# per month in winter when there's no forage.


Somehow I forgot to mention the discrepancy in the math... Should have stated 1.5 lbs per WEEK, not per day lol... That should help

 

[romeofoxxchics]

So if I have two 5week old chicks how much feed SHOULD I GO THROUGH A MONTH, with access to free range from sun up to sun down

 

[shortgrass]

So if I have two 5week old chicks how much feed SHOULD I GO THROUGH A MONTH, with access to free range from sun up to sun down

5 weeks old? Bout a pound a week, per bird...so, 8 pounds per month for 2 birds; they'll increase their food intake as they grow older, bout 2 lbs a week per bird.

 

[romeofoxxchics]

Thanks they have 6lb of feed, free-range, and scratch so they should be good for now lol.

 

[chickmomma03]

I have 10 hens and a rooster. I go through about a 50lb bag of feed a month right now. I'm buying grower feed still and the last one was 15$ for the bag (with tax), but I found it cheaper at the local hardware store (10$). I buy my straw for bedding and it's 4$ a bale. Water is free (I'm on a well) pretty much. I don't pay enough attention to how much I spend on treats a month (fresh fruits, veggies, breads), and they get garden and table scraps. It's really not as expensive as it is time consuming. I live on an extremely tight budget, but I'm able to make things work.