Shiloh Acres
Lovin' The Homestead
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I've seen this discussed on BYH but I can't really sort through all the differences of opinion to a level where I'm confident enough to do this.
Our local feed store just increased prices by a dollar or two for all the feeds I buy. And a guy from church gave me a bunch of lidded plastic barrels. There is a feed mill about an hour or a bit more of a drive from here. Assuming I can figure out how to unload full 55 gallon barrels ...
I'm thinking of buying grains in bulk and mixing as much of my own feed as I can. I'm concerned about my lack of knowledge though -- of course I want to keep my animals healthy! Does anyone do this, or know of good websites or books with good compiled info? Or guidelines of what to consider?
My animals are these:
One llama -- I am more inclined to buy her feed if needed. It's the most expensive at $14/50# but ... I only have one, she's my most valuable animal, and likely the one hardest to find tested info on. I only feed her a large cup scoop a day (20 oz or so cup). She eats a pelleted exotic animal food for llamas.
Goats - two doelings, buckling, wether (milk goats). They eat mostly browse and hay right now with a cup of food between them as I lock them in, but later for breeding and milking will need more.
Chickens - layers and a few roos right now. They eat some layer pellets and more scratch and I keep oyster shell in the coop. They freerange when the can and get most of my scraps.
Geese - breeding flock of Emden, Pilgrim, Toulouse. They mostly graze and eat hay but I supplement with chicken feed -- currently high protein layer pellets -- 1-2 lg scoops a day for 7 adults.
Rabbits -- meat breeders. They eat a LOT. I'm giving commercial pellets and good hay. No clover and not much else growing at the moment.
Guineas, but they just peck a little scratch and eat what they find. Sometimes I wonder how they survive but they refuse everything I offer (except watermelon!)
I expect to add ducks soon, and I've been offered quail. The church wanted to buy me some more goats (bless them!) but none are available and the pastors wife asked me if I'd want some sheep due to lamb soon. I have not given her an answer -- need to research it more.
So ... Anything I can or should buy in bulk, or can mix for some of these? Even if I use it to supplement their feed. I don't mind complicated. I used to want it simple, but at times I mix grain, calf manna, alfalfa ... According to the animals' current needs, so I'm fine with mixing their food daily and for different ones if I need to.
Thanks if anyone can help!!!
Our local feed store just increased prices by a dollar or two for all the feeds I buy. And a guy from church gave me a bunch of lidded plastic barrels. There is a feed mill about an hour or a bit more of a drive from here. Assuming I can figure out how to unload full 55 gallon barrels ...
I'm thinking of buying grains in bulk and mixing as much of my own feed as I can. I'm concerned about my lack of knowledge though -- of course I want to keep my animals healthy! Does anyone do this, or know of good websites or books with good compiled info? Or guidelines of what to consider?
My animals are these:
One llama -- I am more inclined to buy her feed if needed. It's the most expensive at $14/50# but ... I only have one, she's my most valuable animal, and likely the one hardest to find tested info on. I only feed her a large cup scoop a day (20 oz or so cup). She eats a pelleted exotic animal food for llamas.
Goats - two doelings, buckling, wether (milk goats). They eat mostly browse and hay right now with a cup of food between them as I lock them in, but later for breeding and milking will need more.
Chickens - layers and a few roos right now. They eat some layer pellets and more scratch and I keep oyster shell in the coop. They freerange when the can and get most of my scraps.
Geese - breeding flock of Emden, Pilgrim, Toulouse. They mostly graze and eat hay but I supplement with chicken feed -- currently high protein layer pellets -- 1-2 lg scoops a day for 7 adults.
Rabbits -- meat breeders. They eat a LOT. I'm giving commercial pellets and good hay. No clover and not much else growing at the moment.
Guineas, but they just peck a little scratch and eat what they find. Sometimes I wonder how they survive but they refuse everything I offer (except watermelon!)
I expect to add ducks soon, and I've been offered quail. The church wanted to buy me some more goats (bless them!) but none are available and the pastors wife asked me if I'd want some sheep due to lamb soon. I have not given her an answer -- need to research it more.
So ... Anything I can or should buy in bulk, or can mix for some of these? Even if I use it to supplement their feed. I don't mind complicated. I used to want it simple, but at times I mix grain, calf manna, alfalfa ... According to the animals' current needs, so I'm fine with mixing their food daily and for different ones if I need to.
Thanks if anyone can help!!!