Where can I buy good feed at good prices?

[ChicknNub]

Hi all! I'm making a chicken coop and fenced in area for 25 chickens + and i would like to know where I can buy good chicken feed at good prices. Do you happen to know of a website or a local feed store in Naples, FL 34120?

 

[Poohbear]

Do you have Producers Co-ops in Florida? If you do, go join there (it cost nothing). You can get the cheapest best feed there.

 

[digitS']

Here's my advice from the far corner of the country (and just a bit of a rant

): Shop around.

A lot of grain is grown here but retail feed prices don't reflect that.

I can go to a small mill - transforming over the decades into kind of a boutique country supply, I see. Feed prices there are $1 per 50 pound bag cheaper than a large pet shop, 2 miles up the road.

For one dollar more, I can buy a national brand closer to home! And, I'm talking about over $20 for a bag of starter

.

A third alternative would be to drive 3 times farther and buy from a co-op. That place is really a co-op in name only and fuel is their primary interest but feed prices are much better.

I'll still buy chicks and supplies from the local mill but after that initial bag of starter (so that the chicks stay on the same feed after coming home), I'm not going back for more. Heck, the stuff doesn't even look to be all that high quality

.

With just a few laying hens, I'm buying from the pet shop. But, with a larger flock - I'd be making the 60 mile round-trip drive to the co-op

.

Shop around.

Steve

 

[wxdude99]

just go to google maps and type "Naples, FL Feed" and there will be a bunch listed.

Estates Feed & Supply Retailý - more info »
12445 Collier Blvd, Naples, FLý - (239) 403-7669ý
Write a review


Tractor Supply #1199ý - more info »
13235 Tamiami Trl E, Naples, FLý - (239) 774-6927ý
Category: Farm Supls and Feed
Write a review


Dixons Feed & Tacký - more info »
6088 Lee Ann Ln, Naples, FLý - (941) 598-2997ý
Unverified listing
Write a review

 

[ChicknNub]

Thank you all for the great information. I'll let you know what I find soon. Have a great weekend.

 

[scbatz33]

I get mine from a local Southern States dealer. It's a small little place down the road. It's a little bit higher than the Tractor Supply - which I also use - but it's 20 minutes closer. Whenever I am "in town" I'll go to tractor supply.
Although, It's bad cause that's like my Toys R Us!!!

 

[willheveland]

For the best price you have to use a mill,someone that mixes their own feed.Look for the silo outside,if they don't have one chances are they don't mix their own. The feed that comes in the fancy paper bags like dog food comes in will cost you twice as much.
Blue Seal,Purina,Nutrena are good feeds but very expensive. Besides the local small mills need and appreciate your business more. Will

 

[digitS']

See, that was the point of my post, Will.

The local place has been there and milling their own feed, forever. I even worked for them one Winter when I wasn't much more than a kid (back in the Dark Ages

)!

Even then, they were trying to expand. Well, the son who now runs the place has "taken it to the next level." Soon, the mill will not be a retail outlet and their satellites are scattered about the area. Fine, and I don't have any problem with going in and enjoying the "ambiance" and buying stuff. The problem I have is with their feed and prices.

The feed looks 2nd rate to me and a 50 pound bag costs only $1 less than Purina at a pet shop!

A co-op is 30 miles away. They don't have a local mill but have good prices. If I had 25 chickens, I'd drive over there. With only a few hens, I'll buy feed at the dang pet shop

. Doing that will save me money or at least cost me about the same as what looks like real so-so feed. Besides, the hens like the Purina . . . maybe they're "hooked."

The quality & prices at a local mill are why I say, "shop around." Since the olden days, it seems like they've gone "'round the bend."

Steve