How to strike a balance between healthy chickens and saving on feed?

[LeslieDJoyce]

I apologize if this topic is covered a lot. I'm a newbie just perusing the forums. It's sounding like the highest monthly chicken cost is feed. I would plan on free-ranging chickens as much of the day as possible. I am home a lot, but not always able to be vigilant of my yard. I also live in west-central Georgia. So with the climate here and the free-ranging...what could I get by with feeding half a dozen laying hens to help them stay healthy, but not break the bank? I'm looking to replace white grocery store eggs in our diet without increasing (preferably decreasing) our monthly egg-related costs. I know this is a tall order and I'm curious if it's even possible. For what it's worth, based on a very cursory glance ad a few charts, I'm looking at Austorlorpe or Plymouth Rock breeds (any comments on that are welcome as well).

Thanks so much for any input.

The bad news: Chickens do need to eat, and in most cases that means they need to be fed. Balancing the nutrition of "found" food can be tricky, though there is margin for error that will keep you in chickens even if it doesn't keep you in eggs. Some people here with GORGEOUS birds don't feed them at all in the summer because their forage is that good.

The good news: If you were looking to grow your own "premium" eggs ... corn-free/soy-free/pastured/organic/gluten-free/marketing-word-of-the-day ... you would spend more on feed, but you'd be comparing your eggs to the $9.00/dozen eggs sold at places like Whole Foods. And even "naturally nested" eggs at the grocery store cost a lot more than the $1.50 "bargain" eggs.

A chicken farmer could "get rich" quick saving money on NOT buying $9.00/dozen premium eggs from Whole Foods ...

You can get richer faster if your eggs are so nutritious you can stop buying vitamins.

 

[mestaske]

Alfalfa. Start some alfalfa plants. They have pretty purple flowers and are perrenials, plus they can turn into big bushes. They have a lot of protien. Also, you could buy a bale of alfalfa. My chickens love it and it makes the yolks especially yellow. A small bale should last a while.

 

[EMS83]

Thanks!! This is the sort of suggestions I need! I don't at all mind planting a chicken garden.

 

[CourtsCacklers]

70% egg rate?
Something to consider- do you have enough room for 6 birds to forage? If you have something like a chicken tractor- it will need to be moved rather frequently. They're not gentle and will strip a location of foliage fast and it takes awhile to recover. (4 of mine could have 100sq. ft down to dirt in a week. lol Like nothing grows back 2 years later in that spot.)

Don't forget to figure in the cost of bedding, grit, oyster shells- and leave some leeway for worming/ meds- as at some point issues happen. When looking at breeds- check general age of maturity too. If you are getting chicks and the breed matures late- that's more cost. Take this in to consideration.

Timing.. as in chickens will stop laying for certain periods of time. They stop when molting, short daylight hours, sickness. If you want them laying in winter- that will require supplimental lighting for most- so electric costs or going a few months without eggs.

Foraging does cut down on commercial food they eat- but they also waste a lot. Rough ballpark.. 4oz. per bird per day (more for larger breeds.) So 6 birds for 4 weeks- at least 36 pounds of food. Price will vary- organic will be more expensive- by us non-organic.. it is about $16 for 50 pounds.

To get chickens and think you'll offset the budget for the cheap conventional mass produced eggs- you won't. You can't. That's achieved only through volume on a huge scale. If your budget is $4 per dozen.. you might be close if you average it out.

Some breeds don't lay as well as they get older. So also figure in replacing the birds in a few years.

Like someone else said earlier.. if you are looking for quality eggs- you get what you put into it. If you are thinking this will be a cheaper alternative- not likely.

I like many of the responses....this one particularly....especially the highlighted. I love my chickens but there is often a misconception about the time, costs, space...and poop (around the yard!) with keeping chickens. They will eat considerably less if they can free range daily....but they can be detrimental to landscaping and yards and their production declines after a few short year so then you feed them or you send them to the chopping block...