What do you do to save money on feed?

[mrsamplias]

I have a question about fermenting feed. I have only read about this for meat birds and am wondering if anyone does it for layers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/2690

This is a link to a thread that has a lot of information on fermenting feed. You can see that layers are also able to benefit, and the eggs demonstrate the difference, pre and post fermented feed.

I'm new to this, but I am already starting to give my layers FF.

 

[aoxa]

I have a question about fermenting feed. I have only read about this for meat birds and am wondering if anyone does it for layers.

I do it for layers, chicks, silkies, turkeys, geese and ducks. Works great for any kind of chicken

 

[johnsonfarm]

This morning i mixed up layer crumbles, canned corn that didn't turn out to tasty but they love it, and bread mixed it all with some water and gave them about a cup and a half. My daughter has been giving them scratch when she gets home from school, and they have a bird suet feeder i put some kind of fruit in every day. after reading ways on here to people save on food we will try this method for a bit. They havnt layed anything and with day light savings time im wondering if it wont be till next spring

Same here, we just got our little flock two weeks ago. They had previously been free range and only given corn and oat scratch with some table scraps. They're this spring's chicks and I've seen only one egg so far. Right now I have them on laying mash, corn and millet scratch, and table scraps. I guess we wait till spring!

 

[Mavrk]

Reading about feeding fermented grains got me to thinking. I have a sourdough starter that I keep. Sometimes I don't make bread and discard the excess starter. I think it is okay to feed this to my chickens, but wanted to check here. If it is okay, how much can I feed them and what age can I start (they are about 10 weeks old now). I usually use all-purpose flour if it matters (sometimes mix in a little rye). If I can save a little on feed by giving this instead of wasting it, that would great.

 

[kuntrygirl]

The only thing that I can do being as though I have so many animals is to ask around and shop around for the best deal on feed prices. I was paying $18.50 (50lb bag) for feed until I found a feed mill that makes their own feed and they sell it for $14.95 for a 50lb bag. I have started buying in bulk (monthly). At the end of the year, I will save over $2,000.00.

I also feed table scraps and let them free range. The local watermelon and vegetable guy (during watermelon season) stops by my house and throws over the fence all of the left over watermelon and vegetables from that day.

 

[aoxa]

The only thing that I can do being as though I have so many animals is to ask around and shop around for the best deal on feed prices. I was paying $18.50 (50lb bag) for feed until I found a feed mill that makes their own feed and they sell it for $14.95 for a 50lb bag. I have started buying in bulk (monthly). At the end of the year, I will save over $2,000.00.
I also feed table scraps and let them free range. The local watermelon and vegetable guy (during watermelon season) stops by my house and throws over the fence all of the left over watermelon and vegetables from that day.

We were offered scraps from the local food bank.

Also - there is this local market that closes on Halloween. All pumpkins are free I packed my car full lol.

 

[kuntrygirl]

The only thing that I can do being as though I have so many animals is to ask around and shop around for the best deal on feed prices. I was paying $18.50 (50lb bag) for feed until I found a feed mill that makes their own feed and they sell it for $14.95 for a 50lb bag. I have started buying in bulk (monthly). At the end of the year, I will save over $2,000.00.
I also feed table scraps and let them free range. The local watermelon and vegetable guy (during watermelon season) stops by my house and throws over the fence all of the left over watermelon and vegetables from that day.

We were offered scraps from the local food bank.

Also - there is this local market that closes on Halloween. All pumpkins are free I packed my car full lol.

Yes, I get free pumpkins every year as well. I picked up about 50 this week.

 

[aoxa]

Yes, I get free pumpkins every year as well. I picked up about 50 this week.

I love free things!

Pumpkins are great for them as well. I may just stop by and pick more up.

 

[IttyBittys]

Flax is NOT cheap, and my birds absolutely refuse to eat it. I've tried both ground and whole, doesn't matter. Always end up with a pile of flax at the bottom of the feeder. Even tried mixing beaten raw egg with ground flax - no go. I do manage to grind it and feed it to newly hatched chicks. They don't develop their finicky palettes until later in life, i guess. Gonna take a loooong time to use up the 50 pounds of flax seed that i have!