The April 2021 Local Feed Prices Thread

[3xhhheather]

Curiously wondering how much extra time/effort/equipment goes into fermenting the feed? I have more time/effort constraints than I have $ issues right now.
In South Louisiana I have spent considerable effort trying to keep things from fermenting -- my ancient, toothless horse has to have soaked alfalfa and if I wet it a 30 hours ahead of her eating it, it starts to ferment. I often have to bring corn into the house in July-August-September because the humidity condensation has caused me problems.

My investment into it was three 5gal food buckets and a large pack of cheesecloth. It takes maybe 5-10 minutes to maintain (add feed, add water, stir, hit repeat). I'm in central NC, so during the spring/summer it takes a day to ferment, during the winter I speed it up by adding ACV with the mother.

While I have tried it with other feeds and the savings were there, this latest one will double its volume overnight. I find less feed in the water buckets (ducks & geese) which is a huge plus and there is very little waste on the ground. Again, just my personal experience, but it's worth it to me.

 

[TOR]

at mill
oats 50 lb bag 10.00 up 2
roasted soy bean quarters 50lb up 3.00 17.00 and change
feed at store up about a dollar

got bunch free corn last fall down to last 150 lbs I make a mix then also mix it it store bought feed. Has really extended my store bought feed. Grains are going up and up.

 

[SegiDream]

Layer pellets 50lbs for $10.50 and purina starter grower 25lbs for $17, I would have gotten the 50lb bag if I'd known the small bag was that much...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Curiously wondering how much extra time/effort/equipment goes into fermenting the feed? I have more time/effort constraints than I have $ issues right now.

Probably depends on how you do it, but for me the most time consuming part is soaking/washing the fermenting jar every few months when it gets funky. Otherwise it's as simple as dump feed + water in jar, ladling food into bowls in the morning, and then washing out bowls at end of the day.

Since you live in a warm, humid climate (so as you noted everything ferments fast), I would not do large batches and would aim to feed out a batch in maybe 1-3 days max, rather than the usual recommendation of letting it sit 3 days first.

 

[nikkers390]

I also lived in Florida and dang all the fruits and veggies were all imported from other states.
Very pricy too!

I'm in FL.
Fruit does come from different areas like S America, Central America Mexico and such but Florida fruit is plentiful IN SEASON. CA strawberries in winter FL strawberries in spring, etc. Some fruits cannot be grown plentifully in FL like apples, pears, plums, peaches, etc. so yes they are shipped in.
Food is pricey in general.

 

[nikkers390]

Purina Flock Raiser at local feed store:
50 lbs for $23. This may sound steep, but everything has to be sent over here by ship. On Amazon it is over twice this price at $59.
Get my chick crumble on Amazon:
ManaPro medicated chick crumble around $5 for a 5 lb. bag.
Yep, expensive having chickens here (or pretty much anything else).

You can get Kalmbach feeds on Chewy and have it shipped free (over 49$)
Around $23 for 50# chick starter.
I get my dog food shipped and just add to autoship.
No muss no fuss.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

You can get Kalmbach feeds on Chewy and have it shipped free (over 49$)
Around $23 for 50# chick starter.
I get my dog food shipped and just add to autoship.
No muss no fuss.

Thanks, but they do not ship to Hawaii.

 

[nikkers390]

Picked up some feed today, and figured maybe I'd start a thread about local food prices. Hope others find this fun and share your local prices.

My purchases were made today, April 7th at Tractor Supply in Coventry, RI. Prices do not include sales tax.

Dumur Layer Pellet 50 lb - $14.49

Producer's Pride Whole Corn 50 lb - $10.49

Purina Gamebird & Turkey Starter (30%) 40 lb - $17.99

Oyster Shell 50 lb - $12.49

I bought 3 bags of the layer pellet, plus some cat food....so I got LOTS of exercise unloading.

Producers pride layer mini pellets 40# -- 10.49 a drop of $2 a month or so ago TSC

 

[MedicDog]

I'm in the UK but I'm just using mixed hen corn from a local producer, it's never done me wrong for the few years I've been using it. It used to cost £6.50 ($9.02) for a 20kg bag but over Covid it seems to have climbed to £7.50 ($10.41). If it starts to climb any more and there's cheaper alternatives, I might have to give them a try.

 

[DesertGrrl]

Producers pride layer mini pellets 40# -- 10.49 a drop of $2 a month or so ago TSC

I'm actually thinking of trying my flock on Producers Pride Layer feed.
Great price.