Random question regarding cost of feeding

[PTA Chicks]

I was reading through some other posts regarding cost of feeding a backyard flock. It got me thinking. This is an international group so obviously costs differ greatly. What if,for interests sake,we share what it costs to feed a flock of 10 std chickens for a month on regular feed (nothing fancy or organic) based on how many hours you would have to work at minimum wage for your area?

So for me,that would be:

10 chickens at 115g (aprox a quarter pound) of food per day for 30 days. That's 1,150g (or 1.15kg) food a day for 10. 34,500g (34.5kg) for 30 days.
At the moment,I can buy 10kg layer or grower feed (feed,not scratch) for R80. I would need 3 and a half bags of food for the month. That would be R280 for the month. If I work a std 8hr day at minimum wage that would be approximately 2 full days work (14hours) in order to pay for the food for my chickens.

I also supplement their feed with lots of free ranging and fresh herbs,garlic and some seeds I grow (buckwheat and the like).

I'd love to see comparisons if you want to share. This was an interesting exercise for me.

 

[RumneyRoost]

Assuming the same 34.5kg of food.

The bags that I buy are 25kg, so less than two bags would feed 10 chickens for a month. Each bag costs $17, so around $25 to feed them for a month.
Minimum wage is $14 here, so about 2-3 hours of minimum wage work to pay for the feed for the month.

 

[Al Capon]

I haven't broken it down to oz/bird/day but my 7 chickens are basically free during the Summer months and I might go thru 3 bags of feed in the Winter @ $12/50 lbs.

They free range an acre. They eat tons of grass and insects but I have layer feed and oyster shell available if they want it. They probably go thru a peanut can sized amount of pellets every couple days. 50lbs can last months.

In the Winter I plant Winter wheat and they eat on that a lot, it's full of protein. They probably double their pellet consumption in the Winter but it still doesn't amount to much.

Barring treats, and any unforeseen vet bills, my chickens are fairly cheap to take care of, especially when compared to pets like dogs.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Assuming the same 34.5kg of food.

The bags that I buy are 40kg, so a bag would feed 10 chickens for a month. Each bag costs $28 so around $25 to feed them for the month.

Minimum wage recently was increased to $563 US dollars per MONTH here, so about $3.50 an hour. Would take a day's wages to pay for a month of feed.

Side note: The other 5kg is rationed out over the month to neighbors that cannot afford to grain their birds. I tell them that they're doing me a favor when I give it to them, so that I don't have to otherwise dispose of it :L

 

[Ebony Rose]

At the moment,I can buy 10kg layer or grower feed...

You should be able to significantly reduce that cost by purchasing enough for the month in ONE bag, and if you store it in the original packaging IN a rubbermaid type tote or covered trash can, you shouldn't have an issue with pests or insects.

 

[PTA Chicks]

You should be able to significantly reduce that cost by purchasing enough for the month in ONE bag, and if you store it in the original packaging IN a rubbermaid type tote or covered trash can, you shouldn't have an issue with pests or insects.

They only sell it in 10kg bags from what I have found. This is the biggest I have found locally to me.

Also,I used to free range extensively and probably still will but we recently had several attacks by crowned eagles and we lost one hen and another hurt so for now they're in their enclosure. 8 (well 7 now) in a 5.5m x 3m enclosure with grass to scratch on.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Taking your query one step further, 10 hens x 30 days = 300 eggs (25 dozen). Can buy eggs for $1.80 a dozen here at the grocery store. So for $25 worth of feed and a little effort, those 10 hens would give me $45 worth of eggs. A profit of $20 worth of eggs... Yum.

 

[PirateGirl]

In Colorado in the US at minimum wage it would take approximately 4 hours of work to feed a flock of 10 for a month.

 

[PTA Chicks]

Taking your query one step further, 10 hens x 30 days = 300 eggs (25 dozen). Can buy eggs for $1.80 a dozen here at the grocery store. So for $25 worth of feed and a little effort, those 10 hens would give me $45 worth of eggs. A profit of $20 worth of eggs... Yum.

Here,a half dozen eggs costs R15-R25 if not more (shop dependant and also grain fed,battery,free range or pasture fed).
I sell my eggs to friends and family. On the cheap side. It helps to pay for their feed and I don't have to buy eggs for myself either.

 

[PirateGirl]

Here,a half dozen eggs costs R15-R25 if not more (shop dependant and also grain fed,battery,free range or pasture fed).
I sell my eggs to friends and family. On the cheap side. It helps to pay for their feed and I don't have to buy eggs for myself either.

I'd be thrilled if I actually got 300 eggs in 30 days from 10 layers, even in peak production all my girls miss at least one day a month