Making our own food, how much of each ingredient should we add for a balanced diet?

[ChickenTender1203]

I'll try to explain how poorly it will effect their health and just try to switch them to a cheaper feed.

 

[DickMidnight]

I'll try to explain how poorly it will effect their health and just try to switch them to a cheaper feed.

also explain how it isn’t any cheaper.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'll try to explain how poorly it will effect their health and just try to switch them to a cheaper feed.

There likely isn't much cheaper you can go

 

[raingarden]

I went through a feed-making phase but soon discovered that every one of the potential ingredients cost more per pound than a common commercial feed. It's one of those economy-of-scale things.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'll try to explain how poorly it will effect their health and just try to switch them to a cheaper feed.

If you need a hand with that, the offer is still open. Encourage the parental units to create an account here and ask. We'll be happy to answer, and walk through as much, or as little, math as they want.

 

[Brooks_]

There likely isn't much cheaper you can go

Cheaper, yes. But not by much.

 

[3KillerBs]

I'll try to explain how poorly it will effect their health and just try to switch them to a cheaper feed.

Your local feed store may have a store brand for the chain or they may carry feed from a local mill that's less expensive than the Purina.

I'm not convinced that I'd save any money by feeding layer rather than all-flock because they always eat the bag several days faster if I have to buy layer since the all-flock isn't available.

This is not something you'd want to hear, but one of the best ways to save money feeding your chickens is to reduce your flock to the ones you REALLY want to keep.

Unless, of course, you're successfully selling eggs so that they earn their own feed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Your local feed store may have a store brand for the chain or they may carry feed from a local mill that's less expensive than the Purina.

I'm not convinced that I'd save any money by feeding layer rather than all-flock because they always eat the bag several days faster if I have to buy layer since the all-flock isn't available.

This is not something you'd want to hear, but one of the best ways to save money feeding your chickens is to reduce your flock to the ones you REALLY want to keep.

Unless, of course, you're successfully selling eggs so that they earn their own feed.

Possibly the best. Though finding a local mill can often make a few $/50 difference as well.

Since chickens (generally) regulate their feed intake based on metabolizable energy, and mKe isn't listed anywhere on a nutrition label, you may be seeing the effects of a layer feed witha differing caloric value/lb than the equivalent brand All Flock.... That's one of those "have to try to find out" things.

 

[3KillerBs]

Possibly the best. Though finding a local mill can often make a few $/50 difference as well.

Since chickens (generally) regulate their feed intake based on metabolizable energy, and mKe isn't listed anywhere on a nutrition label, you may be seeing the effects of a layer feed witha differing caloric value/lb than the equivalent brand All Flock.... That's one of those "have to try to find out" things.

I figure that the birds know what they need to eat to get the nutrition they need and that they're making up the difference in the quality of the feed by eating more of it.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I figure that the birds know what they need to eat to get the nutrition they need and that they're making up the difference in the quality of the feed by eating more of it.

Yes, but they are eating to calorie count, not vitamin need or protein need. Calcium is the only thing I've seen them self-regulate in studies, other than (effective) calorie count.