Rough monthly cost to feed standard Brahma hens

[kokoshka]

We're running some numbers to budget for 6 standard Brahmas hens. I've seen several comments about Brahmas eating a lot. Wondering how that translates, financially. They will be free range during warmer weather, part of the day. (We live in Pennsylvania.) We plan to feed them table scraps (family size of 2.2). Anyone have a rough idea of total monthly cost to feed 1 Brahma (i.e. large) chicken (including oyster shells, grit, etc.)? Many thanks!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Feed alone can be as much as $3 per bird. That's normal feed not Organic.

Brahmas being large standard birds will consume 1/3 lb of feed per day per bird. That's assuming poor free range feed grounds to no foraging. What is the cost of 50 lbs feed in your area?

I assume $15 for a 50lb bag. 1/3 per day X 30 (days) = 10 lbs per month per bird. 10/50 = X/15.00 , X= $3.00 per bird.

 

[pdirt]

We have some decent free range grounds and it reduces our feed costs by about 25%. This is only during summer months. Once it snows, they're confined in the run and coop and only get feed and a bit of scraps.

 

[kokoshka]

Thank you Egghead Jr. That is very helpful. 50# bag of non-organic in central PA is $20; and is double for organic.

 

[pdirt]

We feed organic feed, about $32 per 40lbs bag. I just ran the math and during this past winter (no forage available), it cost us $3.96 to feed each chicken a month. We have a few silkies, one tinier bantam and the rest are all large fowl (regular sized chickens). Brahmas are particularly large chickens though, so I imagine they would need to eat a bit more. Temperatures this past winter were warmer than normal, but averaged around 20F. We do not heat the coop in any way, but do use a de-icer in their water nipple bucket (heating a coop could in theory reduce feed usage, if the coop was warm enough, not worth the fire risk or cost, IMO).

The previous winter I think our feed cost was $2.54 per chicken per month. I am hazy in memory about how many chickens we had that winter. In any case, regardless of the number of chickens we had that winter, our total feed cost was about 18% less (and it was colder that winter over all). Not sure why that was, unless we had fewer chickens than I recall.

 

[kokoshka]

Thank you for the feedback pdirt. You mentioned you have a large area in which the chickens can run. May I ask about how many chickens and how much acreage? We have 1 (partially wooded) acre and planning on 6-7 hens. I would hope that would provide plenty of forage area for that number of chickens, despite them being a large bird.

 

[pdirt]

We currently have 15 chickens. By a good foraging area, I mean a small yard that currently is LOADED with insects, mostly grasshoppers. But we are in a new place, only a month. My numbers I gave you were based upon our previous location. There, we had about 25 birds than roamed perhaps 2-3 acres of gravel driveway, grass yard and pasture. I am no expert on it, but I gather it makes a big difference on the kind and variety of plants for them to eat, but mostly the number of bugs available to you. If you have farm animals (goats, sheep, cows, etc), you will have even more bugs (and maggots) for the chickens to eat.

 

[kokoshka]

Based on that, I would expect our chickens will be happy foraging. We have a very clean and fairly large creek on the property, which tends to draw a lot of insects. No other farm animals. Not sure how chickens are around water though, in the event they might wander into the creek. Greatly appreciate your thoughts. Good luck with getting settled in your new home.

 

[pdirt]

Thanks. I don't have experience with chickens and moving water, but my guess is that they're pretty smart to it and won't wander in too far. If you have any young chicks raised by a broody momma, they will probably be well taken care of by her around the water.