Your Feed Bill?

[mississippifarmboy]

This is the cheapest month we've had in three years and few chickens.
This month we've averaged 97 grown chickens and have just started hatching this years chicks, so just bought the first bag of starter of the year.
So far this month 900 pounds of feed at a cost of $194.18

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
Wow, that's a head turner for sure!

 

[Olive Hill]

Quote:
Yes actually I do

I really want to know?

I was teasing, as in I don't want to know.

Actually, I do know how much feed I go through but it varies widely with the time of year and the number of birds so I'm not sure I'll be of any help. I also can't narrow it down to just chickens since our flock is mixed and contains turkeys and geese as well.

In the dead of winter, where there is not anything much in the way of forage available to them and when our flock is generally pared right down to only necessary breeding birds (20-40 chickens, 10+ geese, and 3+ turkeys) they go through about 270 lbs per month.

In the early spring and late fall consumption is about 30% less, during late spring through early fall when forage opportunities are most bountiful it is 50-75% less (on a per bird basis, but more overall because of larger flock numbers) depending on the numbers between the different types of birds.

I buy my feed in bulk so my actual cost isn't really applicable for most backyard flocks.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
Yes actually I do

I really want to know?

I was teasing, as in I don't want to know.

Actually, I do know how much feed I go through but it varies widely with the time of year and the number of birds so I'm not sure I'll be of any help. I also can't narrow it down to just chickens since our flock is mixed and contains turkeys and geese as well.

In the dead of winter, where there is not anything much in the way of forage available to them and when our flock is generally pared right down to only necessary breeding birds (20-40 chickens, 10+ geese, and 3+ turkeys) they go through about 270 lbs per month.

In the early spring and late fall consumption is about 30% less, during late spring through early fall when forage opportunities are most bountiful it is 50-75% less (on a per bird basis, but more overall because of larger flock numbers) depending on the numbers between the different types of birds.

I buy my feed in bulk so my actual cost isn't really applicable for most backyard flocks.

I know I just really wanted to know

 

[mothergoose]

100 mature chickens
50 mature waterfowl and others ex. turkeys, guineas...
300 chicks with full incubators, will be cranking them out all spring!

I truthfully don't sit and keep track of how much we spend, because we probably would quit! We love our hobby and try not to focus on the negative part (cost).

We grind our own feed for the waterfowl and other birds, so that keeps our expenses down some.

Our layers and chicks are on bagged feed and we go through 100 lbs- 150 lbs of layer a week and 100 lbs of starter easily right now, but that will keep going up.

We also have hogs, cattle, horses, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, 1 dog, 5 kids & a husband...all we do is spend money on food!

Oh well, can't take it with ya,
Christie

 

[ARose4Heaven]

Quote:
This actually seems more realistic to me....25 birds= approx. a bag a week!

Sounds about right ^

54, no 53 hens (Big Mama passed this morning

) 3 40# bags a week.
100+ 8-week olds, 3 #40 bags a week.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Pasturing saves half, but that is only 5 months a year up here. The rest of the year, the formula, stated above, is fairly accurate. 25 hens will eat a bag per week. That is $12.

Take it a step further. Those 25 hens should lay 12 dozen eggs, which at $2.00 is $24, or twice their feed costs, leaving some for bedding litter, electricity and incidentals. It works out.

 

[Chris09]

As of now we go through -
400 lbs Layer/breeder
200 lbs mixed grain

That runs me around $134.00 a month.

When chicks start to hatch I go through 200 lbs + a month of Starter/Grower plus what I listed above.

Chris

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Fred's Hens :

Pasturing saves half, but that is only 5 months a year up here. The rest of the year, the formula, stated above, is fairly accurate. 25 hens will eat a bag per week. That is $12.

Take it a step further. Those 25 hens should lay 12 dozen eggs, which at $2.00 is $24, or twice their feed costs, leaving some for bedding litter, electricity and incidentals. It works out.

Yep I think your right​

 

[jaketheeggman]

In the winter time i would go through about a bag in a 1.5 weeks with 11 laying hens and 3 banties.