How to make feed last longer

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I have had chickens for ages now and we have always just fed the layer pellets but as y'all know feed prices are going up and up. Right now we are mixing flock raiser (18%) with layer pellets (16%) about 2/1. I was wondering what I could add to make it go further but not spend much money. I have heard it is bad to add cat/dog food but it does have a bunch of stuff chickens need. What about oats? What could I add that will increase the quantity and keep decent quality for a low price is what I am getting at.

 

[DMRippy]

I found a brewery and I get spent gains from them (free usually for the asking) and add equal scoops of barley and feed and cut the protein (barley is very high in protein) with some corn. Ok the last mix I used 6 scoops of feed and barley and 2 scoops of corn or scratch. The birds are very healthy, better eggs and bigger I think. The roos in pens are growing HUGE on this stuff. Floppy combs have straightened up too. I think reg feed does not have enough protein JMHO. Read somewhere that years ago layer feed was 22%.

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
The flock raiser is going through the roof too. Michael, I buy my stuff through a small dealer and go to Purina every two weeks to get my feed. It's way cheaper than buying retail.

I have been looking at getting some cheap grains from local farmers, but you have to be careful there too because the grains can get a fungus and kill your birds if not properly stored.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

pips&peeps :

Quote:
The flock raiser is going through the roof too. Michael, I buy my stuff through a small dealer and go to Purina every two weeks to get my feed. It's way cheaper than buying retail.

I have been looking at getting some cheap grains from local farmers, but you have to be careful there too because the grains can get a fungus and kill your birds if not properly stored.

Jean, I wonder if we get feed from the same guy since he is the only small dealer I can think of. I know some local farmers sell grains but I am just not sure which to add and how much to keep a good protein level. I dont really like soy based products. What about alfalfa?​

 

[pips&peeps]

Now, I remember he was talking about you recently so it is the same guy.

How would alfalfa work though? Can't use the pellets I have seen, too big, and I don't want to risk hay getting moldy. I have lots of it around with the horses, but don't want to risk sickness.

My geese get oats during the molting season and they look great on it, but oats are very spendy too.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The pellets for horse need to be soaked first. They swell up HUGE. I mix 20% alfalfa into the feed. I prefer the layer mash, from a mill, because it is sooooo much cheaper than pellets. Pellets are darn convenient, but spendy. The alfalfa pellets are around $14 a 40# bag, but my goodness, do they ever do a long way. They average 16% protein and are filled with other wonderful nutrients. I believe you could potentially save some money by making them a quarter of what you feed. They go a long, long way and keep for months, possibly up to a year, if you keep them dry. That they color the yolk? A bonus.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I met him at fair and gave him some pointers for his hackle projects, love all the critters he has there.

I was thinking maybe soaking alfalfa pellets/cubes. We have them for the horses, seems like it would expand to a mush which could be put to the side for them to pick through.

For awhile oats were going for about $7 a 50# bag but I havent seen them advertised for a couple months. Almost thought about the dry cob because it is flattened grains but still unsure. I would just love to be able to get a 50# bag of feed for under $10 and add it in as a filler. We have double the number of birds going into fall as we did before (thanks to all the swaps) and thye are all eating like a bunch of hogs.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

What about beet pulp for horses as well? I know its a weight gainer for them so I'd imagine its high in fat and such

 

[pips&peeps]

I haven't bought beet pulp for a while, I wonder it they would eat it and what the going rate is on it now.....

 

[BarefootMom]

I mix scratch grains in with the layer pellets. We for the most part make our own scratch though. My dad raised wheat this summer and a neighbor raised Millet and corn.

Also my chickens get a lot of scraps

The past week they have all been feeding on a deer carcass...