Milled Feed question

[xC0000005]

I keep reading references to how if I buy feed from a mill it will be so much cheaper. I was under the impression that feed mills were actually where those bags come from. Can someone explain to me how this works? I get my feed from a local feed store ($14 for a 50lb bag) and if I can cut the cost I'd love it. Do I look up "Feed mill" or "Animal Feed" or what? And how large a run do you have to buy? I know you can buy sugar in one ton lots, I'm hoping chicken feed comes in something smaller. Sorry if this is a well known or documented question. This spring I want to grow some meat birds and I've done some calculations about feed costs. So better to ask and find "It's just a bigger bag" than to pay more than I have to for some fresh meat. I could easily store a 55 gallon barrel of feed (heck, I'd bet the honey extractor will hold that much, and it has a lid and a convenient gate at the bottom). I'm just not sure what it is I'm after other than "less expensive" feed to feed my meat-flock-to-be.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I get my feed made, if you do that you know its fresh, you can get it the way you want, and as coarse or fine, but you need a 'Feed Mill' or Co-op that mills feed, most have a recipe. most will adjust it to you. most bagged feed is made at a processing plant with how now what added to it, they can add some weird things to get the protein at 16%

 

[Mac in Wisco]

You can get it cheaper if you buy in bulk. I've never asked our mill what the minimum order is. We get 5 or 6 tons of layer ration delivered every couple of weeks. They auger it right from the truck into our feed bin. We have several mills in our area and their bread and butter is custom grinding feed and hauling it out to the farms. They do bag feed for cash and carry, but obviously it is more expensive. The bags, labor, and floor space for storage of bagged feed all add to the price.

 

[joedie]

The feed milll near me charges $15 per 100 lbs whereas the feed stores charge around $11 for a 50 lb bag. There is not set amount on how much you need to buy at the mill except the minmum of 100 lbs. Ours grinds the oyster shell into the mix so you don't have to buy seperate oyster shell. So that saves a little too. So buying 300 lbs at the feed mill was the same as buying 200 lbs at the store.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

I just bought 1000 layer for $150, made special

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Not too bad. Our 17% organic layer ration is running around $400 a ton delivered. Cheapest it's been for quite a while.

 

[jaku]

You have to find a feed store that actually grinds their own feed. For example, TSC is a "feed store," but obviously doesn't grind their own. Look for the big grain silos and just go in and ask the guy. I pay about $8/50lb bag, but the minimum order is 500lbs, which is enough for about 25 Cornish X's.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

Quote:
500 POUNDS for only 25 Cornish X's.......

 

[CARS]

We get a half ton, 18% layer feed for around $135.00 (summer is 16%. I up it in the cold months to try and help them) I too get 50 lbs of oyster shell ground in with the mix. A couple hundred pounds of protein, 750 pounds of corn, and 50 shells.

I see a 50lb bag of layer go for around $10.00 a bag at the farm supply stores.

 

[Smokin Silkies]

I pay $13 for a 50 pound bag of layer pellet at my local feed store