Okay so I'm planning my fall "crop" of birds

[RollinWithTheStones]

I've had such interest in my birds that I am considering selling some. I'm considering upping it to 50 birds, I'd prefer trying freedom rangers though I know CX will probably be what I'm sticking with. There are some modifications I want to make prior to this and I was wanting some input from you guys.

I am going to fence off my back part of my house, which will be about 45'x60' and let them free roam that area.

-They will be sharing a coop with my egg birds, is there anything special I can do to keep the smell down? I currently use pine shavings and my last batch of 12 it smelled awful.

-Is there anyway that I can stretch or mix the food to get the most bang for my buck? My current mix is a bag of flock raiser, 7 grain scratch and cracked corn in addition to my table scraps.

Will feed stores give a discount if you buy large quantities? I have large blue 55 gallon food grade barrels with lids and metal locking bands that I can store the food in.

Any tips or tricks that can help with this project?

I'm hoping to keep the cost to about $10 a bird and I plan on charging $15 a bird since most seem to think that is super cheap, is it un-reasonable to ask for payment up front or do you think it would be best to do 1/2 up front and 1/2 upon delivery of the birds?

Thanks for dealing with my long post and answering my questions.

 

[SIMZ]

Hi! We're keeping ours outside in a cattle panel shelter surrounded by electric poultry fence and that is helping with the smell. Moving that shelter around eliminates the need for those stinky, ammonia-smelling shavings as well. That has cut about $1 off the cost of each birds right off the bat!

We have a local feed mill that gives a discount for large amounts - more like 1/2 ton, I think. They do sell 20% grower for $11.50 a 50 lb. bag, which is MUCH cheaper than what I was buying in the stores.

I hope you get lots of great tips! Good luck!

 

[kizanne]

I supplement my feed with mealworms and black soldier fly larva. The BSF larva is great if you have them in your area. They will compost your poo and give you a source of 51% protein. We get them during the summer/fall til the weather drops. My hubby even harvests the extra and puts them up in the freezer for winter treats. They are free for us because they come to the compost pile. The mealworms can stretch plain scratch because it will up the protein and add other good nutrients to your birds which means they can eat lower protein foods and still gain. They however are not free because they eat wheat bran. I have yet to run a complete analysis as to if they cost of the wheat bran cancels out the saving of being able to feed grains instead of mix. I also supplement with the meats I get from my grass fed beef that I don't want that much of such as the tounge, liver, they include them for free so I get them and some extra from the customers that don't want them. I eat some of the liver myself but cook up a little and give to the meaties and tounge as well. Same with the chicken liver I get except I eat none of that it all gets cooked up and returned. If you can up the protein from other sources then you can stretch the feed using lower protein sources without losing weight gain. Earthworms are good too but slower growing. However my compost pile has some of those naturally too so they are also free.

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

My egg laying birds love my compost pile, my meaties though never went in it. I have been reading about fermenting feed so I'm wondering if that is a good way to "stretch" the feed while free ranging?

Also occasionally my parents switch cat food so I use that as scratch, throw a scoop out into the yard and watch the birds scramble for it.