How much does it cost to feed chickens?

[romeofoxxchics]

I

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.

I understand about making it work

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: I hope that didn't come across the wrong way because I didn't mean it rude. I have a son and homeschool him, I'm disabled, so my budget is super tight. I was thankful to be able to make it work. I used parts off a dilapidated camper (siding, door, windows) to build my coop and some old plywood for shelving, so I had to buy concrete (just for the corner posts, had to secure them), screws and nails (5$ a box), some shelf hangers for my bracing (2$ each), 2x4s (3.50$ each, bought 24 of them I think it was), of course the feeders/waterers (bought as a set for just 11$ with shipping), and some other minor things for initial cost, plus 13 chicks (one died because something neurologically was wrong with it, and the other was a RIR roo that went back to the store) which weren't too bad in cost they were 3.50 each (I paid for already sexed, and it was split by 6 weeks between buys in May and June). Then I had to buy chicken wire (found 2 large rolls for 45$) and staples (that was a few buck for a couple boxes) for the staple gun, and I made a run using a trampoline frame and some tent poles (you know those outdoor canopy things) so the only cost on the run was chicken wire since I had the rest.

While you guys are waiting you can check on craigslist in your area and other resale shops/inexpensive shops to start gathering materials so you can work on building up what you need so it doesn't hurt the pocket too much if you can find room in your budget each month.

I started buy stuff I needed over a few month span, so it was easier on the pocket for me. I still need to buy paint to paint the coop, but it's functional.

Then I built a mini coop for the younger chicks to transition outside without the big ones picking on them (look but don't touch approach because the other method didn't work) and I used leftover supplies from other projects to make that plus leftover chicken wire so thankfully no cost on that.

For now my nesting boxes are laundry baskets and some organizer bins with straw in them. I'll be building something else eventually, but it works for now.

 

[shortgrass]

I hope that didn't come across the wrong way because I didn't mean it rude. I have a son and homeschool him, I'm disabled, so my budget is super tight. I was thankful to be able to make it work. I used parts off a dilapidated camper (siding, door, windows) to build my coop and some old plywood for shelving, so I had to buy concrete (just for the corner posts, had to secure them), screws and nails (5$ a box), some shelf hangers for my bracing (2$ each), 2x4s (3.50$ each, bought 24 of them I think it was), of course the feeders/waterers (bought as a set for just 11$ with shipping), and some other minor things for initial cost, plus 13 chicks (one died because something neurologically was wrong with it, and the other was a RIR roo that went back to the store) which weren't too bad in cost they were 3.50 each (I paid for already sexed, and it was split by 6 weeks between buys in May and June). Then I had to buy chicken wire (found 2 large rolls for 45$) and staples (that was a few buck for a couple boxes) for the staple gun, and I made a run using a trampoline frame and some tent poles (you know those outdoor canopy things) so the only cost on the run was chicken wire since I had the rest.


While you guys are waiting you can check on craigslist in your area and other resale shops/inexpensive shops to start gathering materials so you can work on building up what you need so it doesn't hurt the pocket too much if you can find room in your budget each month.

I started buy stuff I needed over a few month span, so it was easier on the pocket for me. I still need to buy paint to paint the coop, but it's functional.


Then I built a mini coop for the younger chicks to transition outside without the big ones picking on them (look but don't touch approach because the other method didn't work) and I used leftover supplies from other projects to make that plus leftover chicken wire so thankfully no cost on that.


For now my nesting boxes are laundry baskets and some organizer bins with straw in them. I'll be building something else eventually, but it works for now.

We repurpose EVERYTHING lol...old tires, hog panels, milk crates make PERFECT nesting boxes... We used leftover lumber for the first coop, and am renovating a camper right now for a second.. We use old stock tanks for brooders and use them as pools in the summer... The only thing I have bought new are a couple of waterers and some screws.... They didn't need a Hilton lol, Motel 6 works too

As far as feeding on a budget, mixing the grain from scratch is by far the cheapest way to go. Well, ok, I'll rephrase, the cheapest way to go, IN THE LONG RUN. Even if I only had 4 birds, I would still mix it 300# at a time from fresh grains... Lol I would still use it up before the grain that is used in pellets even gets milled

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: I haven't bought scratch yet, mine are still young. Is scratch really necessary for them though? I keep reading about the importance of oyster shells, but I keep going back and forth on whether I CAN fit that into my budget or not. I'm spending almost every penny a month as it is right now (hoping once I get enough eggs to start selling it will help though).

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: I have some milk/pop crates, but they're already in use for storage/organization in the house (nothing else to properly store the other stuff in right now, but I have like 8 or 9 I was eyeballing to use). I would really love to get my hands on more because I've seen some really neat homemade nesting boxes using them, and they're compact enough that I could comfortably fit 12 in my coop I think.

 

[shortgrass]

I haven't bought scratch yet, mine are still young. Is scratch really necessary for them though? I keep reading about the importance of oyster shells, but I keep going back and forth on whether I CAN fit that into my budget or not. I'm spending almost every penny a month as it is right now (hoping once I get enough eggs to start selling it will help though).

Well I didn't mean "scratch" feed; I meant "made from scratch"... I don't use feed crumbles bagged stuff etc... I mix my own from wheat, corn, alfalfa, sorghum, millet, BOSS, molasses, and oyster shell... That's it. Some kitchen and garden scraps, free range type things... My feed costs about $60 to feed 60 birds for one month... If I bought bagged feed, I would end up paying about $150.

That gets me the new waterers and allowance for more chickens lol

 

[MeepBeep]

As far as feeding on a budget, mixing the grain from scratch is by far the cheapest way to go.

This assumes you have a local feed mill where you can purchase the items in bulk, if you have to ship them in or drive any real distance it can kill most if not all the savings...

I wish I could mix my own, but there is no local place for me to purchase in bulk that will achieve any savings over getting locally bagged feed...

Instead, I heavily supplement my birds with free expired and day old produce, breads and dairy products that I get from a local grocery store that I cut a deal with...

I went from feeding them about 150 lbs of commercial food a week to about 50 lbs a week or less, and I don't consider the stuff I give them to be 'treats' as it varies every day and IMO is a pretty balanced diet due to the ever changing variety... I have experienced no drop in egg laying so the birds are obviously getting what they need...

 

[junebuggena]

I haven't bought scratch yet, mine are still young. Is scratch really necessary for them though? I keep reading about the importance of oyster shells, but I keep going back and forth on whether I CAN fit that into my budget or not. I'm spending almost every penny a month as it is right now (hoping once I get enough eggs to start selling it will help though).

They do need some source of calcium. Most pelleted layer feeds contain enough calcium that you won't need to supplement. If you have a rooster or a flock with mixed ages, then feeding layer feed isn't really a good option. If you keep them on a grower, all flock, or flock raiser feed; then you will need to supplement your laying hens with some sort of calcium supplement. It is absolutely essential to their health and well being, otherwise, they will draw the calcium needed for egg shell production from their bones. Crushed oyster shell is readily available at most feed stores and hardware stores. It only costs about $5 for a 5# bag, and it lasts over 2 months with my flock of 11 layers.

 

[123RedBeard]

The chicken put the calcium in the egg shells ... Take your "used" egg shells, let them dry, then grind them up in your blender and feed it back to them!

 

[123RedBeard]

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

Yes, not sure how close you are to Norco, but there is a Tractor Supply there ... $14 for 50 pounds ... Or find a real "feed & seed" store ... Look where the horse people go too ...