U.S. drought fallout . . . might it affect all of our ducks?

[ChickensAreSweet]

After my calls this morning, I figured the person I spoke with couldn't have known what they were talking about. Talked to the manager and I can get what I want and need. Flax - $34.87, whole oats - $17.25, whole wheat - $16.98, millet - $27.18. All except the oats are 50# bags. The oats come in a 88# bag. I can have them by next week if all are in the warehouse. Phew! I know Maine is behind the times but I didn't think it could be that much. No clue if these are good prices or not but it's what I have to work with.

We are at $19 for flaxseed 25 lb bags at the grocery store (human grade), millet was $20 per 50 lb but I haven't bought any in awhile, rolled oat $13 per 50 lb, and whole wheat same approx. price as you (all those animal grade).

 

[Amiga]

I buy a product called Fightin Scratch that my feed store gets from a mill in Guntersville, AL. It is loaded with Millet and BOSS and goes light on the corn. It is pricey....the 4-way is 15.20 a bag and the 7-way a bit more, but the birds love it.

I get the 4-way and mix some wheat and crimped oats in with it. The stuff TSC carries appears to be mostly cracked corn and none of my birds care for it at all.

I just picked up some IBC totes (275 gallon white plastic totes in metal cages) and am making some aquaponics systems. I plan on trying to raise fathead minnows in one of them (local fish farm sells them 60/1000). I will release several dozen into each pond every week for the ducks. Plus, I am growing duckweed, mealworms, and got a couple 55 gallon drums to make Black Soldier Fly larvae feeders (plans are here.... http://gardenpool.org/beneficial-insects/black-soldier-fly-composter-automatic-chicken-feeder) since the BSF occur here naturally.

Hopefully, that will help reduce the amount of commercial feed I have to offer the ducks.

 

[Haunted55]

We are at $19 for flaxseed 25 lb bags at the grocery store (human grade), millet was $20 per 50 lb but I haven't bought any in awhile, rolled oat $13 per 50 lb, and whole wheat same approx. price as you (all those animal grade).

Cool, so it's in the ballpark anyways. The oats are from Canada so the price is really good for that. Everything else is US. Now all I need are the grains and a recipe for putting them together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cool, so it's in the ballpark anyways. The oats are from Canada so the price is really good for that. Everything else is US. Now all I need are the grains and a recipe for putting them together.

25 lbs of flaxseed at the grocery store? I've only seen grains like that in bins but never flax seed. I paid 19.00 for a 50lb bag of wheat, 13 something for whole oats 50lb. Almost 20.00 for a 50lb. of FR this past Wed. and 14.00 for Homestead 7 way.

 

[Amiga]

My grocery store is a mom and pop operation, and they carry bulk grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, seasonings, beans . . . .

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
The flaxseed is in the bulk bins section and they have bags sitting on the shelf you can buy if you want the whole bag.

 

[Miss Lydia]

The flaxseed is in the bulk bins section and they have bags sitting on the shelf you can buy if you want the whole bag.

That is so nice, I'll have to ask at our grocery store, since they have the bulk bins.

 

[ChristineR]

Our local co-op carries a lot of bulk grains. You might try looking there, too.

I was going to grow duckweed and then I completely forgot about it. Might have to look into mealworms, too. Thoses would be a favorite with the ducks and chickens!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our local co-op carries a lot of bulk grains. You might try looking there, too.

I was going to grow duckweed and then I completely forgot about it. Might have to look into mealworms, too. Thoses would be a favorite with the ducks and chickens!

We don't have a local co- op.

 

[Amiga]

We don't have a local co- op.

Neither do we. I am grateful that the mom and pop store has such a big bulk section. I can stock up on my favorite seasonings as well.