what should I feed

[pamperedpoultry]

In our area, laying pellets have went sky high, last bag i bough was close to $15 with tax ouch!!!... I go through close to 75lbs in one week.. what should i feed, that alot want be wasted and still keep them up.. some of my chickens are seramas. the only other grains offered in my area are the

layin pellets or crumbles both %13.49
cracked corn $10.30
scratch grain $10.90
egg crumbles $12.99

whats my best bet to feed and still giving them enough

 

[aoxa]

Crumble/mash is cheaper than pellets here. I chose crumble. It came to $15.70. The pellets were a little over $18.

I wouldn't feed them cracked corn for a supplement. You could feed greens, but not sure how much that would reduce your feed bill. Alfalfa has been suggested before.

 

[Fred's Hens]

If you cannot find a local mill who will sell you quality feed for around $11 per 50# bag, then you've some decisions to make. There is simply a limit to how low you can go on saving money on feed. Feed is expensive and some reports suggest it is going even higher.

I'd rather feed a small flock well than try to under-feed a larger flock. Keep only the birds you can afford. In the end, this is what it comes down to. Sometimes folks just need to give themselves permission to down-size.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

Fred's Hens :

If you cannot find a local mill who will sell you quality feed for around $11 per 50# bag, then you've some decisions to make. There is simply a limit to how low you can go on saving money on feed. Feed is expensive and some reports suggest it is going even higher.

I'd rather feed a small flock well than try to under-feed a larger flock. Keep only the birds you can afford. In the end, this is what it comes down to. Sometimes folks just need to give themselves permission to down-size.

I can afford to feed what I have, just dont like paying the price.. we take in rescue horses, so I def wouldn't get myself in my situation that some of these horses came from..

most the people around here feed scratch and cracked corn to their chickens.. Not wanting to change their feed completely just thinking of buying a bag of layer and adding something else to it to make their feed last a lil longer​

 

[Fred's Hens]

Understand. A local feed mill here sells 50# of layer mash, top quality Hubbard, for $9.75. Another local feed mill sells their own Kalmbach grind for $10.95.

That's the best I can do. If I had to buy pre-bagged, shipped in, "name brand", fancy labeled feed at $15 I'd have to cull. No way can I afford it. Hopefully, you'll find through word of mouth, a local feed mill source. Even if one is farther away, when life takes you there, stock up. With the amount you need, such a place can really save money. Trying to "stretch" by using cracked corn or scratch isn't much of a solution. Best regards.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

Fred's Hens :

Understand. A local feed mill here sells 50# of layer mash, top quality Hubbard, for $9.75. Another local feed mill sells their own Kalmbach grind for $10.95.

That's the best I can do. If I had to buy pre-bagged, shipped in, "name brand", fancy labeled feed at $15 I'd have to cull. No way can I afford it. Hopefully, you'll find through word of mouth, a local feed mill source. Even if one is farther away, when life takes you there, stock up. With the amount you need, such a place can really save money. Trying to "stretch" by using cracked corn or scratch isn't much of a solution. Best regards.

Yeah unfortunately theres not any more local mills around here.. so everything I buy is "buying the name"

wish I could find one, thats about the price i was paying in stored back in the summer​

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Have you tried googling for feed mills or asking on the thread for your state? You might find one you missed. If you're going through that much feed every week, it might pay to go a little farther to get a batch mixed up and just buy less often.

Otherwise, downsizing or finding alternative ways to feed is the best you can do. I wouldn't try to stretch with plain grain, unless you are feeding a high protein feed and adding fresh foods or free ranging, to supplement vitamins. What percentage of protein is your feed? If it's only 16%, that's pretty minimal. If it's 20%, then you have room to stretch it with some grain.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

what I feed now I think is 20%

 

[Fred's Hens]

With a 20% layer or 20% Flock type product, you could feed 1/3 of their rations a scratch type grain. The net result would average around 15% and you'd be fine, protein wise. However, scratch grains aren't cheap either, thus, there is very little noticeable "stretch" in the feed regime. Alfalfa pellets go a long, long, long way. $14 a 50# bag, but think of them as concentrated, de-hydrated greens. At 16% protein, they won't knock your protein down much at all.

A bit of labor is involved. If you don't mind the extra step, I soak mine overnight. They quadruple in size and bulk. I mix the soggy mixture with the dry mash and the birds eat it fine. Again, this is more for variety in their feed and yolk coloration than stretching feed.

60 birds are going to eat what 60 birds eat. By volume, there isn't much one can do except shop for the lowest feed prices.

 

[pamperedpoultry]

I think alot of mine is over feeding.. This is what i have "guestimating" off the top off my head

Flock of serama about 40
13 call ducks
2 bantam cochins
trio of millie flur D'uccles
5 mottled D'uccles
10 sizzles
5 barred bantam wyandottes
7 Standard cochins

I buy a 50lb bag of feed twice a week, I normally feel their feeders up which are oversized feeders, let them eat that then throw them some of whats left out of the first 50lb bag for a day or two til I'm out then buy another bag and do the same thing..wondering if I wouldn't do better feeding them daily a lil at a time