I have a small flock of chickens, usually 10-15. The cheapest bought feed I can find is around $15 for 50# bag. I don't want to get rid of my gals but eggs at the store are 50 cents a dozen and its getting hard to justify $2 a dozen eggs. I save all the fat off of my deer in the fall and supplement my feed with a ball of fat every so often and I was wondering if wheat and cracked corn would be enough to keep the gals happy during a sub zero MN winter? What do you guys feed to help defray the cost of store bought feed? I should also mention that they free range except for the winter months.

I cut my 16% Egg layer crumble with a 50 lb bag of Tri mix scratch. Wheat, oats, and corn. I don't notice a reduction in egg production.

i get layer mash,cracked corn and oats for 7.50 a 50 lb bag and mix with my pellets from a local farm.they seem to like the variety.i hear ya about the egg prices,you oughta have 40 plus runnin around.

We free range when ever possible, like you we feed deer scrapes, I also let them pick deer and beaver carcasses( looks like buzzards when there done) also we feed them scrapeings from coon beaver and rats that and a couple hand fulls of corn a day is all we feed through the winter!we usually have 20 to 30 layers! We also catch shad to trap, fish, and feed chickens in the fall, we freeze but you could dry them ,they make great chicken feed they stay fat on um and fight over um like crazy!

I dumpster dive behind the local ALDI store. Incredible the produce thrown out daily! 3 flats of strawberries yesterday along with 2 full bags of grapes and 12 ears of sweet corn. More lettuce and soon to be tons of cabbage heads! Chickens are in heaven with all the free vittles!

Chris

See if the day old bread store has "farm feed" or talk to a bakery for stale items. A lot of feed stores have their brand feeds for around $10-$12 a bag.

I would shop around for a better source of feed. You are paying over 50% more than I pay for 17% protein, chicken layer pellets, per 50 pound bag. Usually it costs me $9.00 something a bag. The price I pay varies by the market price of the ingredients. The best prices are at the mills that make the feed. I buy from Rowe Nutrition, but actually pick up at Premier Feeds. They have a 3 ton minimum purchase, but have outlets that sell smaller amounts for $1.65 a bag more.

I would also recommend buying corn, to supplement your chickens diet, especially in cold weather. Buy it straight from the silo. The local co-op sells corn and wheat for 10 cents a bushel, over market price. I use gravity beds and pick up 140 bushels at a time. Corn is usually 3 something a bushel.

Keith

Definitely find a new feed store. If you are expecting hens to lay through these winter months, a layer mix is needed. If they are just surviving until spring, cracked corn and protein from fat will suffice until it's laying time again. Are you buying feed from a feed store?

I grow sunflowers and store the heads in sealed totes. They get real excited when I open a tote as they know they're getting a real treat. They free range but deep snow and the threat of a few eagles keep them in the pen for Most of the winter months. I get bulk grain from a few local farmers but like the idea of free goodies at ALDI's and going to check that out.

$.50 a dozen ????????? I'd eat eggs all day at that price !!

why does everybody feed chickens cracked corn . they have a very efficient gizzard . I have never found a kernel of corn in a chicken turd . if cracked corn cost any more than whole kernel don't waste your money . they pick up a higher percentage of whole kernel than cracked

Ya! I know right. They were down to $0.48 a dozen at Aldi the last time I was in there

My other suggestion, which is easy with a small flock, is to cull any nonproductive hens. Keep bringing in replacements and butchering or selling any infrequent or nonlayers. If you're not sure if a hen is still laying, look at her vent. If it not stretched wide and straight looking, she's not laying. Unless the hen is a pet, there is little reason to keep one who is not laying well. Feeding unproductive hens adds greatly to the cost of producing eggs.

Keith

My chicken wont eat whole corn or soy beans. I have no idea why. I got pellet food once and they . near starved to death before they decided to try it. But if they find the cat food they will eat that like crazy... I have a strange bunch I guess

I agree that is basically pointless to give chickens and ducks, guineas, geese, turkeys, pheasants, peafowl, pigeons and doves cracked corn. You end up with more waste and a better chance of the corn growing mold or bacteria once you crack the corn kernels protective sheathe.

Keith

I am surprise no one mention fermented oats. Take a clean plastic garbage can with a lid. Put one 50 lb bag of whole oats, fill with water, add one quart of Brags apple cider vinegar, a few ounces of Red Cell and every few batches or so, wormer. Leave lid on and stir for a couple of weeks and keep adding water to keep the can full. After a couple of weeks it will be ready. I mix with pellets or chicken feed and they love it.

By the sound of it I need to ask around and find a better place to buy feed. I have tried a few different places but they are right around the same price per pound. Buying in bulk would probably help.

You might be able to be able to find some other people in your area, to purchase feed with you, to get a better price. I order 40 bags of 16-18 rabbit, when I order my feed, for a friend of mine, who does not need 3 tons at a time.

We have to pickup 4 tons tomorrow. Putting that much feed away at a time makes for a hard day.

Keith

don't forget the grit! I give my girls one feeder full of grit in the coop. they eat as they need it, makes your feed go father as they have trouble finding it in the winter. I also use oyster shell also.

$30 per CWT that is high. Do some shopping around. I bet you should be able to shave a very high percentage of that per CWT. Chickens need a pretty high protein mix as they produce meat and the eggs and grow lots of feathers all of which are high in protein. If you have a manure pile you can let them scratch in that as they scavenge well on that and grass. You can put them on grass and move the portable housing and also utilize the feed. Just keep some grit and oyster shells handy to keep the calcium up and the crop and gizzard working. Our local mill can provide a layer mix for a good $10 per CWT below what you are paying for, but that is mixing it and blending on site and not packaged in 50 lbs. paper bags.

Bryce