Bulk Feed?

christij · #1 06/17/08, 07:19 AM

It seems that feed prices are going up weekly/monthly at my local feed store. In the past, I haven't setup any storage for more than a month. Now I really feel the need to stock up mainly to save from paying a higher price everytime I buy feed every other week.
So now I have a space and some $$ set a side to buy bulk feed. Now I am wondering if there is a mix that I could use for goats/sheep/chickens.... I know I will have to side dress minerals, etc. But it would be nice storing just one main feed.
I have never bought over a 50lb sack of feed so if there is any lingo/tips anyone has to share I would love to hear them.
TIA.

Feathers-N-Fur · #2 06/17/08, 08:17 AM

I feed just one feed to my horse, goats and chickens, but it is a custom blend that my feed store gets just for his customers. I was getting his 14%, but switched to the 15% to get away from the molasses in the 14%. It isn't a perfect feed, but is adequate for my needs. I feed a good cattle mineral to the goats, and a horse block for the horse, and the chickens get oyster shell and I take egg shells out and drop them on the ground and step on them and eventually one of the hens will find it and eat it( mine are free range). Check out the small feed stores around you and see what they have. I know he would rather sell me layer pellets at $14 a bag, than what I'm feeding at $7.25 a bag, but he did say he thought it was ok.

christij · #3 06/17/08, 09:46 AM

I've already moved the chickens to 50-50 pellets/corn - saved me a dollar a bag. And I'm doing 15 percent with a sheep and goat blend. Once I get alfalfa hay I won't be so dependent on the $11 bag alf pellets!

deafgoatlady · #4 06/17/08, 09:49 AM

Christi I emailed u back..

The bulk is cheaper than buying feed every other week. I use my bulk feed and my chicken eats them no matter what. Only after my goats is finished eating then the chickens eats it. Weird.. I get 500 pounds becuz it is minumin..

crazygoatgal · #5 06/17/08, 09:57 AM

How long can you keep bulk feed in summer before it goes bad?

christij · #6 06/17/08, 01:52 PM

It needs to stay dry. I'm looking at 3 months at time b/c that's all I can haul.

deafgoatlady · #7 06/17/08, 04:09 PM

Christi, I already talked to the feed stores. I couldnt believe that when they said. They said that wheat and corn went up ALOT. They are disapointed about this happening..

christij · #8 06/17/08, 04:16 PM

When I bought feed last week Shane said corn was going up while his dad was on the phone placing an order - $.70 a bushel in one day. Did they quote you any prices?

topside1 · #9 06/17/08, 04:27 PM

Christie, this may have been mentioned already. I buy my bulk feed for the goats, calves, steers, it's 14% protein pellets. Usually I buy 1/2 ton at a time and the feed is moved from grain silo to my metal feed trash cans. Last time I bought it was $12 per hundred. Hope this helps, grains are through the roof....TJ

P.S. goats in milk, get a milkstand blend, not the 14% pellets.

deafgoatlady · #10 06/17/08, 04:33 PM

Christi. I already wrote the price down.. It is surprising. But I am mostly SHOCKED the mots is Flaxseed. WOW. It is 25.90. That is crazy. I was going to buy it but i change my mind. LOL. Let me write the price down with each stuff.. Okay.

Wheat: 14.80
Barley:13.70
Rolled Oats: 14.70
BOSS: 11.85
Corn: 7.65
Alfalfa Pellets: 10.65
Beet Pulps: 10.20

They have huskey goat/sheep feed is 8.60 a ton.

That is all I already ask about from Huskey Feed Store in Bonne Terre..

christij · #11 06/17/08, 05:31 PM

I am feeding the goat/sheep now with 15% pellet -- so that's $8.60 a ton?? I have been paying $9.00 a 50# bag.

deafgoatlady · #12 06/17/08, 05:48 PM

That is what it says. I dont know what it means.

Filas are Prima · #13 06/17/08, 06:59 PM

Check out the hog grower pellets and mash.
Pretty nutritious stuff, and everybody, it seems, will eat it.

topside1 · #14 06/17/08, 07:43 PM

I'd guess it's $8.60 per hundred, $192 per ton.

christij · #15 06/17/08, 08:31 PM

If that's the case I wouldn't be saving anything by the time I drove down and back to pick it up.....

topside1 · #16 06/17/08, 09:04 PM

Listen; truly there is no escaping this mess. In fact it will only get worse, grains being grown for fuel, drought each year, , foreign demand, flooding in crop growing regions, fuel prices, I could go on all night. All I can say if your paycheck or fixed income is not keeping up with grain prices then the pain will only increase. Try thinking of other ways to be more self sufficient and feed your livestock with old fashion methods being utilized. I have bought and have been using a scythe for hay/weed gathering, not because I can't afford hay. I still buy hay but feel that this one tool and it's uses may become invaluable in the very near future. Sorry to be so truthful but if any of you feel that grain and it's prices will become abundant and cheaper to buy then please cheer me up, tell me how and when...Bottom line find new ways to tend to your livestock. Never know how important they may become…....TJ

christij · #17 06/18/08, 04:10 PM

Sorry I wasn't doing math right last night - my toddler wore me out! When I thought about it later it is better than I thought.

I am looking at other methods to - saving cornstalks in the fall, we seeded rye in area that wasn't good for growing veggies, and in the winter I plan on covering the whole garden area in a cover crop to graze the animals on.
I have a scythe that I'm going to try cutting my small 1/2 acre field.
I just purchased 40 bales of alf (30)/brome mix at 4.75 a bale.

I know prices aren't getting cheaper not unless we can go back to the first of spring and talk to mother nature!

I know the sheep and goat is probably the cheapest route but the chickens don't need the minerals or the molasses. I am seeing more waste with the 50/50 I bought for them. So if I could come up with something using whole grains that is a little bit more I would probably be better off.... suggestions anyone?

topside1 · #18 06/18/08, 07:27 PM

Christie, use your scythe to just cut weeds if they are abundant. Feed a few test pieces to the goats prior to cutting, if they eat the weed now they will love the weeds dried in January....sounds like you are in tune with alternatives....

northprairiegir · #19 06/18/08, 07:46 PM

John - got a dumb question - how would be the best way to dry weeds after cutting with a scythe? Would you dry it the same cut hay is dried before bailing?

deafgoatlady · #20 06/18/08, 11:33 PM

what is scythe?? I dont understand at all. HUH??? I want do something different things for this winter time. But I still dont get it.. Sorry. HUH. :O