6 replies to this topic

[Groundhog]

Anyone got any good recommendations to feed 100 chickens which gives good egg production and food conversion rates without the expense of compound feed at £340 per ton.Anyone got hands on of feeding straight wheat at various stages of growth and how they perform and intake levels.My gang are costing me a fortune ! SD bet yours are starting to munch now arent they ? Any actual gross margins per bird(not management figures) would be useful.

[KChally]

Hi GH

We are paying £312 per tonne if that is any help, so you could get it cheaper. This is delivered bagged from Leicestershire to us. If you are interested in from who then let me know.

KChally

[Groundhog]

Hi GH

We are paying £312 per tonne if that is any help, so you could get it cheaper. This is delivered bagged from Leicestershire to Cheshire. If you are interested in from who then let me know.

KChally

Thanks just trying to reduce costs hoping the critters would eat something cheaper dont know maybe beans or Maize silage

[surreydodger]

Hi Groundhog,

My understanding is that feeding straight wheat is not to good for egg production. As we are only developing birds from day olds to Point of Lay, I haven't gone into feed costs re egg production but yes, it is the major cost

I would advise though that it is better to get the right feed mix for layers as if the protiein contents or other trace elements is wrong, you can be loosing out on egg production.

As it is, my 140 or so Black Rocks which are now around 10 weeks old munch through nearly a bag a day (20kgs) so yes, any reduction in food costs will greatly help our figures. We are currently on a Growers pellets which costs around £7.70 a bag

[KChally]

I agree with SD, we sometimes use wheat but only in the winter months and as an extra to the layers pellets. The wheat should help with keeping the bird at the correct weight thru the cold weather. It is very important to get the correct nutrients into the bird if you want to keep egg laying to maximum. As maximum as you can get of course in winter.

As an "occasional treat" we sometimes give mixed corn, just to perk them up a bit. Apple cider vinegar is also beneficial, which can be put in their water.

Thru winter we never expect much of our birds as we dont use bulbs to extend daylight hours as we feel this is not natural. Actually they are going thru the moult now, which is rather late I feel, usually it is Aug/Sep. How are yours doing?

KChally

[boiow]

i have noticed that when our chickens free range they eat noticibly less. i have read that chickens can be self sustaining at a stocking density of 30 per acre.
i am training ours to be better foragers with little incentives spread around the paddock.
foxes havn't been a problem yet as they 'free range' with the llamas and goats.
however i would like to know where you get your food by the ton as the investigations i have done did'nt yield much success.

fearsome 'fox busting llama'. i call her lilly though

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[Groundhog]

I agree with SD, we sometimes use wheat but only in the winter months and as an extra to the layers pellets. The wheat should help with keeping the bird at the correct weight thru the cold weather. It is very important to get the correct nutrients into the bird if you want to keep egg laying to maximum. As maximum as you can get of course in winter.

As an "occasional treat" we sometimes give mixed corn, just to perk them up a bit. Apple cider vinegar is also beneficial, which can be put in their water.

Thru winter we never expect much of our birds as we dont use bulbs to extend daylight hours as we feel this is not natural. Actually they are going thru the moult now, which is rather late I feel, usually it is Aug/Sep. How are yours doing?

KChally

MY laying birds dont eat as much,but then I have fewer,they stay outside proportionaly longer than the table birds(even tho they have free access)looks easy to go over the top with feed cost per bird if you keep them to long, or dont keep the grub infront of them.I could feed a balancer with the wheat but not sure the 4 weekolds that I buy in would convert it,my last birds I had done were about 4kgs live coming back aroung 3kgs but I took too long to finish them which I think has killed the profit bit .