The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Faye.Lear on April 01, 2016, 08:41:59 am
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Hi Everyone,
Does anyone mix/mill their own poultry feed, trying to steer away from the usual grower and layer pellets if its possible, and any cheaper. Just wanted to know if anyone has done this with any success?
Any advice much appreciated! :)
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not cost effective - if you live close to a merchant ok but running around finding a good quality seed/grain and handing mixing is a no go.
I buy mine from Hipeak its organic and find the quality top notch. To locate all the ingredients in this mix would be a nightmare. Cost is cheaper if you buy a ton tote bag and store in a shipping container as the rats love it. Or else buy on a pallet.
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I agree. For the faff in sourcing and mixing it's just not worth it.
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All depends on what you are feeding and what you hope to achieve. My ducks and geese just get barley and a few kitchen scraps and at the moment we are getting more eggs than we can use. Later in the season eggs start to tail of and a bag of layers will fairly increase production again.
With rearing chicks it's not quite so easy.
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I get corn direct from the farmer: there are a few who do it around here and it works out cheaper than layers pellets Protein levels are important as is soluable grit, so do the research and it's no problem at all - for free range birds anyway - especially if they have enough range to basically just need topping up.
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Thanks for the advice guys, agreed for what its worth its better and more cost effective to buy layers pellets.
They get kitchen scraps and corn as a scratch feed so that should all help. :)