How to cut down on feed cost?

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
+1

What do you have the mill put in your mixture? I am wanting to use just grain and get away from the commercial feed for the meaties I'm wanting to do later this yr.

You won't be able to provide enough nutrition using grains. You need a protein source.

While there is a overwhelming negative attitude about using commerical formulated feed by certain portions of this board, the commercial feeds whether a national brand such as Purina or Hubbard or a that from a local mill provide a mix of nutrients that better meet the HUGE nutrient demand of the fast growing commercial broilers many of us raise for meat. Don't discount them simply because they are commercial.

Now if you want to experiment with feed rations using a combination of whole grains and specialty protein ingredients then by all means try it, as long as the feed is formulated to meet the vitamin, trace mineral, and AMINO ACID needs of the birds.

Jim

 

[brandislee]

As much as I dislike commercial anything, I have to agree with the above post- for broilers, they do better on commercial feed as the nutrients and ratios are right for them, and they grow so much so fast I would hate to mess with that. Maybe a little corn wouldn't hurt, but I wouldn't offer them less feed in the mean time. Pasturing or free ranging may help, but I know mine aren't really very good grazers and I would be really hesitant to free range them, as the don't have the natural instincts to protect themselves and are big and slow.

Finding a feed mill and buying direct from the source is probably going to be your best bet.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Quote:
What do you have the mill put in your mixture? I am wanting to use just grain and get away from the commercial feed for the meaties I'm wanting to do later this yr.

You won't be able to provide enough nutrition using grains. You need a protein source.

While there is a overwhelming negative attitude about using commerical formulated feed by certain portions of this board, the commercial feeds whether a national brand such as Purina or Hubbard or a that from a local mill provide a mix of nutrients that better meet the HUGE nutrient demand of the fast growing commercial broilers many of us raise for meat. Don't discount them simply because they are commercial.

Now if you want to experiment with feed rations using a combination of whole grains and specialty protein ingredients then by all means try it, as long as the feed is formulated to meet the vitamin, trace mineral, and AMINO ACID needs of the birds.

Jim​

x2 very good advice

 

[Buster52]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

While there is a overwhelming negative attitude about using commerical formulated feed by certain portions of this board, the commercial feeds whether a national brand such as Purina or Hubbard or a that from a local mill provide a mix of nutrients that better meet the HUGE nutrient demand of the fast growing commercial broilers many of us raise for meat. Don't discount them simply because they are commercial.

I don't. I discount them because they are expensive.

ETA: If I could get commercial for what I can mix my own, I would jump on it.​

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
I sprinkle a little in the brooder. Once they reach a couple of weeks they are out on pasture anyway, so they can get their own.

 

[Buster52]

Quote:
+1

What do you have the mill put in your mixture? I am wanting to use just grain and get away from the commercial feed for the meaties I'm wanting to do later this yr.

http://www.lionsgrip.com/recipes.html

Take your pick.

 

[ghulst]

Jim,
I know you are wrong with the idea that corn will make the birds fatter. I did 20 last year that dressed 10lbs+ that didn't have and abodinal fat plus were lean. I fed them a 12% protein ration made with whole corn. My cost per lb. were way lower then what I have seen on here. Am going to do more this summer and will post the cost on here. My corn at this time is costing 12cents a lb.
For your info. There breeders for cornish X chicks are very limited fed .

 

[jenny_kap]

after they are 4 weeks old, i feed my birds (chickens, ducks, turkeys) with a mix of cracked corn, wheat and sun-flower seeds that i mix with chopped fresh alfalfa. they love it and the birds are healthy. i use this mix not only to reduce the cost of the meat, but also to get a tastier meat.

 

[vtgirls]

Try shopping around some - our local grain mill produces extraordinary organic grain for 26$ a bag. Great. But outrageous to feed for the price, so with much investigation we opted out of the organic and went with Poulin, a different, family owned, in state mill whose grain is 13$ a bag. Cut the feed cost in half. Most of the folks up here are organic crazed but the way I see it: my 45 meaties are out on pasture in hoops all day, moved every day, sometimes twice in a day. There arent any antibiotics or gmo or such in the grain I buy so I feel its a fair and reasonable compromise.

However, I am not doing 12 on 12 off, rather I am restricting feed by age and feeding twice a day - I am using the ration chart found on Welps site. We got the chicks in two batches, the first 30 are 5 weeks and the 2nd batch of 30 I split with a friend, they're a week old. We did this to have some mega oven stuufers and some smaller birds too, so all will go June 30th.

Also in costs I found that Welp does not charge shipping and handling where McMurray does - tried an order from each to see which I like better - so one batch of chicks cost 44$ for 30 and the other was $75 - a huge diffence in the bottom line.... and the lesser $ chicks from Welp seem stronger and healthier from day 1 - no pasty butt and no losses unlike my McMurray broilers....

I estimate the chicks will end about $10 total each and this includes my slaughter costs as well - I think a very good price indeed.....

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

Quote:
I am intrigued . . .
were these CX?
How old were they when butchered?
Was the meat & skin more "yellow"?
where are you that you get corn for .12 per pound?
is there soy in your ration?
Is it your own mix?