On average, what do you spend on feed every month?

[lorihadams]

I am trying to figure out our budget and I am trying to find ways to more efficiently feed our animals but still get good nutrition. We usually get our feed from TSC but we do have a southern states available to us (but they tend to be higher) and we have a local feed store but I don't know their prices yet....I want to go check them out later today. Getting the broilers has really made me think about cost effectiveness of feed.

Here are what we are currently feeding and costs per month:

3 labs---Member's Mark (Sam's club) dry dog food 2-3 bags/month $19 per bag
2 cats---9 lives 1 18lb bag/month $10
3 lizards, 5 frogs--- live crickets 6-7 dozen/month $1.32 per dozen
10 ducks---Dumor grower/finisher 1-2 bags/month $15 per bag
15 chickens---Dumor grower/finisher 1bag/month $15 per bag + Dumor layer pellets $13 per bag
9 quail---Dumor grower/finisher 1bag/month $15 per bag
3 rabbits---Southern pride pellets 1 bag/month $15 per bag
Oops forgot the hamster! Mazuri pellets 1/2 bag food/month $9 per bag
30 broiler chicks---yet to be determined

So total I am spending around $120-$150 per month on feed. All my chickens free range and I feed my rabbits greens every day pulled from the yard/garden. Everyone also gets veggie scraps from the kitchen as available. Free ranging has really cut down on cost I'm sure, especially with the chickens. We are selling 4 of the ducks (at least that's the plan) so cost will lower a bit there.

I hear lots of people talking about mixing their own feed and if this feed store will do it for a better price than just buying from TSC then I may do that for all the birds.

I also give organic raw unfiltered ACV and sometimes BOSS as money allows.

So, here's mine.....now let me see yours!!! We are planning on getting goats too so I want to hear from all you goat people!!!

 

[Blackbird]

That is a VERY dangerous question Lori. I simply will not answer it.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

How 'bout I'm spending waaaaaaay more than I want to be?

I don't think I really want to think about it. I might cry.

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Well, I'm not going to even discuss the cost of pampering our 4 cats, because I don't think it falls under the category of "budgeting" and because fortunately my husband covers those costs, so I don't even know right now what we are spending on them.

But I buy the duck and chicken food. We have 17 full grown ducks plus 8 mostly grown up ducks and 13 chickens. They all eat the same organic whole grain poultry feed. I buy 4 bags every 3 weeks at about $21/bag. Plus my ducks are supplemented with sunflower seeds, which is running about $26/bag. I would say my monthly poultry feed bill is running about $150/month.

You are feeding a lot more animals than I am for $150/month.

 

[Blackbird]

Oh! I can tell you the costs of feeding the cats! Nothing.

Phew, that was easy!

but honestly, they get fresh milk twice a day when we're done milking, but other than that, they're on their own. All of our cats catch their own food, and they're all quite healthy and plump and have beautiful coats.
Of course, we could sell that milk and make money but since we can't get buyers..

 

[DrakeMaiden]

We have city slicker cats that will occassionally feed themselves if they are motivated. Once they all kick the bucket I am in the market for some honest to goodness barn cats.

 

[sufficientforme]

Please don't let my husband read this post

1 Big dog 37.00 Nutro senior(tried several cheaper brands and she cant process them)
2 med dogs 44.00 Science diet (cant help myself they like this food)
12 chickens 16.00 Purina mills
fish 3.00 ?
1 horse, now don't think I am fibbing its outrageous here!
grass hay is 12.75 a bale and
alfalfa is 11.00 and I use approx 2 bales of each per month
plus senior grain(Purina) 16.75 a bag
and we have 3 lamb coming this fall who knows how much that will cost.
SO right now I am spending
around 150 depending on how many treats I buy them.
So I think you are doing pretty well on budgeting compared to me!

 

[DrakeMaiden]

sufficientforme: You and I are in the $150/month club. Any other members we should know about? LOL This is starting to sound like an ALA meeting: Animal Lovers Anonymous.

 

[lorihadams]

Okay, I feel a little better now.....

 

[Blackbird]

Ok, so we have;

13 large breed goats
2 dogs
1 donkey
250+ chickens
11 guineas
30 ducks
10+ geese
6 rabbits (2 due)
2 peafowl
13 turkeys
38 pigeons
7 cats

This is why I can't tell you the price.
And we're cutting down on animals!