Ouch, that's one expensive egg!

[colada584]

Quote:
Good Call!!!

 

[Mervin]

Peas are high in protein as far as veggies go but they'd only be around 7-8%, right? Is it really cheaper to buy them in bulk than chicken feed or even scratch?
The scratch I buy has 7.5% protein ($13 per 100#), but then again I don't buy it in AK. Plus, you've got the hassle of sprouting and all of that.

I'd be switching to the cheap stuff for sure. I'd keep up with the scraps, specifically those high in protein. If I had the time, I'd even try to introduce another source of high protein like venison. If I could do that, then I'd work in some cracked corn or some inexpensive, local grain if it were available.


When I was young, a friend my dad's never fed his hens anything more than cracked corn and scraps. He never ran out of eggs.

 

[sheila3935]

You can buy chicken feed at Walmart? I work at walmart in Illinois we dont sell it here.

 

[lynxs1981]

Quote:
I'm curious about your math. If a $30 bag of feed lasts for 3 weeks, how are you figuring $20 a week in feed if everything else is scraps?
$30/(13 birds*21 days)=$.11

 

[PortageGirl]

You guys!!!! Alaska Wal Marts have a LOT of different things than in the lower 48! And then there's the customer service section that will pack what you order and take it to the landing strip to ship out via float-plane or ski-plane to whatever place is closest to your bush cabin. A whole nuther world up there! (Though in Sutton, Anarchy probably doesn't need to take advantage of that, just saying it's available at most major, and many minor stores up there!)

OK, yeah I'd definitely do away with the extra cockerels, and go with the cheaper feed, or else, at least half and half, mix em to stretch the better stuff. Don't forget when you're feeding them that chickens are little velociraptors, they're at the very least omnivores, at the worst, they're cannibals. If one ever dies or if you fall down dead in the lot, they'll have you stripped to the bone pretty quick! (good way to hide evidence!). They eat meat and they'll fight over the bones! I know a lot of people get all squeamish about it, and I wouldn't feed mine meat from a rendering plant where I didn't know what or where it came from, but meat or meat scraps are yummy to them. Get the meat scraps from the cafe too, and hunting season is coming, get all the scraps from your friends that hunt. I know most will feed their dogs first, but see what you can do.

I think you're right about having more hens will mean you can sell more eggs, which means you can buy more-better feed, and it will be less cost per bird. To a point though. If they're overcrowded, they won't be as healthy etc. ...

 

[mxer]

What is BOSS?

 

[Wendy'sChicksRock]

I pay 20 bucks for 100 lbs here. We have a feed store that makes their own. We started with the TSC brand and switched. Its nice cus they add the grit and oyster right in with the mash. Do you have a feed store by you?

 

[kla37]

BOSS is black oil sunflower seed.

 

[mxer]

Quote:
Thank you, I take it that it is used as a protein supplement?

 

[Buttercup Chillin]

Do you have a lot of feed waste. I normally keep 21 hens and 1 roo. 50# will last 1 month or more depending on the time of year. But I do supplement with scratch that I make up - Oats, milo, cracked corn and BOSS. Your girls are going thru way to much feed to fast.

Are they getting some free range time, that makes a big difference in the feed bill. Give them a few hours of yard time each afternoon if you can. Hey its organic. Around here the only time they go thru a lot of feed is in the winter when the bugs disappear or go deep. That's why people cull in the fall, not so many hens to feed.
Now is not the time to replace your flock if you are wanting to cut feed bills.

Good luck, oh I use Nutrena now $14.50 a 50# bag. NO feed mill any where around here that I know of.