Non-Store Chicken Feed..... Any Good?

[Shamo Hybrid]

I was browsing on Craigslist and there was an ad on chicken feed, the price is about 50-60 dollars for a 55 gallon container's worth (bring your own container)....... I was wondering, do you think they are good enough to feed your chickens with? I'm assuming the food was homemade and just wondering if there's actually any difference from store bought feed, the seller does offer it in pellet or crumble form, and I believe it was labeled at 24% or so. Was thinking if any of you guys ever bought feed from an independent seller and if it worked out fine for you, if so, it's quite a good deal to be had.

 

[snow5164]

I buy from a feed grain mill. It is a small business and the consistency isn’t great sometimes while corn kernels sometimes it’s powder , but the price is good. I’d ask him if he feeds his chickens with it? Or can give a name of someone who uses it . Could be a good deal

 

[PirateGirl]

There are plenty of people out there that mix their own feed or buy in bulk from a mill and may want to sell some off either to help sustain their flock financially or perhaps if their own flock isn't large enough to go through the feed quick enough. The farm I bought my pullets from mixed all their own feed for their flock as well as sold it to their customers. The birds all seemed healthy and I bought feed from them when I bought my birds. You can always reply to the ad and ask questions. If they feed it to their own flock if the birds look healthy when you go to pick up feed you probably don't have anything to worry about.

 

[Percheron chick]

If he's offering it in pellet form, it is being milled. The equipment is specialized and pricey so it's not some random guy with a bunch of mixed grains. He could be buying a mill run . It's delivered and loaded into grain bins. He sells on the side to move inventory.
Ask for an analysis and a sample. 55G is around 250-275#. That would be the equivalent of paying $10/50# bag. Good price if the feed is decent and if you can go through it in a month or less. The major problem will be unloading it at home. You might be stuck scooping it out and transferring it to another bin in the barn .

 

[pennyJo1960]

make sure you can use that in a month or two at most

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

If he's offering it in pellet form, it is being milled. The equipment is specialized and pricey so it's not some random guy with a bunch of mixed grains. He could be buying a mill run . It's delivered and loaded into grain bins. He sells on the side to move inventory.
Ask for an analysis and a sample. 55G is around 250-275#. That would be the equivalent of paying $10/50# bag. Good price if the feed is decent and if you can go through it in a month or less. The major problem will be unloading it at home. You might be stuck scooping it out and transferring it to another bin in the barn .

I just saw another listing of chicken feed from a private seller. They sell it by bags (50 pounds) for about $10. I'm tempted buy a bag just to try it out, but with these private sellers.... you can never be sure what's actually in it. Do you think it contains all the essential vitamins and nutrients like store bought feed does?

 

[Percheron chick]

Buy a bag. It's probably a mix milled to their specification so they should be able to provide an analysis. At the very least, it's the same cost as scratch but probably much better. If you like the blend but want more information, you can always send a sample in and have it tested. Will run around $30.