Newbie feeding question

[ThinkingChickens]

Gosh thank you guys! Tammy, especially a big thanks for telling me not to get overwhelmed. It does feel a little overwhelming at first but I've heard it's so much fun. I might also get three Americaunas. I'm still deciding if I want three different birds or three the same. ha ha

 

[TigerLilly]

I spend a minimal amount on my 14 adult birds. They free-range a lot & get leftovers and I feed their egg shells back to them. I go through a 50 lb bag of "Home Grown" pelleted layer feed (Purina), runs just under $13. The BOSS runs approx $7 (25 lb?). So I spend an average of $20 per month on them.
I get about 12 doz eggs per month, of which I sell (roughly) 10 doz at $2.50 each.
Wow, looks like I'm coming out ahead, just a little...but it goes to cattle feed!

eta: Chicken math is gonna get you anyway, so you may as well plan on having more than 3 chickens & get it over with. If you get 3 of the same kind now, you'll only end up with the others that you're wanting to get anyway.
If you get 3 different ones now, you'll eventually find other breeds you like and still end up with more than 3...

BTW,

 

[begbfg]

Quote:
Thank you, TigerLily! I'm planning on having 15 and you just eased my mind on the cost of feeding them. I'm planning on feeding their eggshells back to mine, too.

 

[fishnet1971]

NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!! those figures are wwwwwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy low.

This is how you should figure it:

3 hens, initially cheap! 1 50pd bag food will last you forever $12.00; 1 bag of oyster shells $ 6.00; bedding 1 bag every two months $5.00; new treats found at the grocery store on the 'old veggie' shelf $2.00 first three times to the grocery store - then you will decide your girls are 'worth more than old veggies' and you will purchase the 'good stuff' during the winter monts! $ 6.0 per visit to the store; Then you decide to get them 'hen treats' from the catalogs - $22.95 per bag!!!! OUCH!. ok, now that it's cold out you MUST buy them some oatmeal and milk to serve every morning - $5.00 month. totaling about $50.00 per month for 4 dozen eggs per month, comes to about $12.50 per dozen.
And that's only for the first year!!!!

then... next spring.... after your addiction has set in... you will no doubt buy another 3 chicks. 'Just because' you want to have a few more eggs, now your neighbor wants a dozen. same thing allll over. Then it will snowball and you will ultimately have to move out of the city to an area where you can have more property and be able to let your girls 'free roam' Maybe it will offset the cost of their food bills? let them eat the grass, bug, etc. BY now, you have been served divorce papers from the DH because he hasnt been fed in months. Heck, he doesnt even know if you cook anymore! (at least for him, as pots and pans are always in the sink. WHO is she cooking for???). That will add to your food bill. heck, that is what started it all!!!!! ok, so now you are on your own with your girls and their economical eggs. Your mail man wont deliver your mail anymore because now you have a roo that will chase him and his little mail truck until the dust flys. SO you will have to purchase a PO box. There's another $12/yr!
and on and on......

so your cheap eggs will no doubt, cost you tons and tons and TONS of money, your job, your hubby, etc

But hey, arent they worth it to us all???????

 

[happychickengirls]

Let me just say when you have BABY chicks it seem they are eating and eating and eating.
And thats pretty much all they do. I have four full grown hens and I just recently got another
two chicks. When they are chicks they do eat alot. I have to say you will probably spend more money
on them now then when they are older. It seems my chicks are eating a 5lb bag like every two weeks
of chick crumbles. Thats like 5.50 a bag here in CT. When they graduate to the next level of food and so
on it will get cheaper and easier. They wont seem to eat as much and the food gets cheaper and seems
to last a little longer. Plus once spring comes they can free range (if your able) and feed them alot of scraps
which helps cut down on the cost. I know for my four full grown hens a bag of 50lb pellets cost me about
$12.00 and has lasted at least 3 months so far. I give them scraps and seeds too!
Hope that helps-

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Interesting. 12 hens didn't eat a whole $5 bag of grit or oyster shell in a year for me. I offer it separately. Every week or two I freshen it or move it or pick the straw off it -- something, to be sure they notice it.

Mine eat at least twice as much feed in winter as in summer, probably three times, because they'd rather forage. I think they've wiped out some bug populations around here, like grasshoppers.

 

[akapple]

I was using a 50lb bag a month sometimes a little longer, but as someone else stated they are not only hard to manuver but to keep good in humid climates and also was constantly fighting bugs in my feed. There is a local feed store that sells the 50lb bag but divided into 2 25lb bags to make it easier to handle. I have also started storing extra feed in a big rubbermaid tote box to keep it air tight and fresh. Has been working out well. I've also been getting them a seed block once a month or so for a treat and they can peck at it which is fun. I get the small one since I only have 5 chickens and it's about $6. Mine free range on nice days also.

 

[tammyd57]

Quote:
Um, I hate to ask personal questions, but this sounds like a true story?

(if it IS true, sorry for laughing)

 

[fishnet1971]

no no... not at all.... my hubby actually likes my birds. well, kinda.

I dont have 3 birds... um, I started with 12... adopted 2 more, gave away 2, had 2 die, and just ordered another 6 for April. but that is kinda how the money stuff went.

It's just a humorous reply to 'the cost of my ecomonical birds'. I thought it was funny and ran with it.

oh yea, dont forget about the $2000 shed. The ones at Tractor Supply do not have shingles, are not made sturdy enough! AND your DH thinks that he can build it cheaper than TSC's $500 one anyway.