Where to get feed and keeping the cost down

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Where to get feed and keeping the cost down
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TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 9:23 am Post subject: Where to get feed and keeping the cost down

At the end of a journey of 7 years I'm finally ready for chickens. The coop & run is built and as fox proof as I can make it, we're off on our last chicken free holiday and on our return I'm planning getting chickens in the next couple of weeks.

I live in South Essex and would like to see if anyone round these parts or a place I can order off the net is cheap for getting feed, grit etc. Or even what sort of price is about right so I don't get ripped off trawling round shops looking for a good supplier!

I don't know where to start for that bit. We had some friends over who said their eggs were costing some stupid amount of money and the feed was extortionate at £1 a KG. I'm sure I've seen posts of people getting 25kg bags for £5-6 but no idea where from.

I intend to supplement with grubs, snails, slugs from the garden as well as cuttings from the plants/seeds etc.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 9:29 am Post subject:
I think a 25kg sack of mixed corn costs me around £7 from the agricultural store down the road. Do such places exist in South Essex? It's an area I don't know but there must be farms somewhere nearby?

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 10:23 am Post subject:
Don't even think of using a conventional shop for the feed. Look up Agricultural Merchants in the Phone book. Worth a car journey if it is some distance as the prices will be lower. And some deliver, if you're lucky. Make sure you have good rat-proof storage for the feed or you will lose all the discount you gain!

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 10:32 am Post subject:
I've just had a quick look at your blog and your design for nest boxes. Have you got a good 'How to.......Chickens' book? The design should not encourage hens to roost on or in or above the nest boxes, or they will make the eggs dirty. Maybe I do not understand your design properly. It is said that a chicken will only pay you when you eat her. But I love having them around.

TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 11:13 am Post subject:

pollyanna wrote:

I've just had a quick look at your blog and your design for nest boxes.

Have you got a good 'How to.......Chickens' book? The design should not encourage hens to roost on or in or above the nest boxes, or they will make the eggs dirty. Maybe I do not understand your design properly.

It is said that a chicken will only pay you when you eat her. But I love having them around.

I'm in no way an expert so happy for all/any advice. I'm putting in roosting bars so that they'll be slightly higher than in the nesting boxes.

Currently the shed is dual purpose - it has the mower in it and will have a steel drum for keeping the feed in. The chickens have about 1/4 of the overal space. I wasn't sure how many nesting boxes I'd need for three hens. I'm also putting a couple outside in the run. I can always close up the top box and use it as shed storage if it becomes a problem.

I do have a book. I was trying to do most of it on the cheap rather than going out and buying a purpose built run.

pollyanna

Joined: 03 Nov 2012
Posts: 221

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 11:25 am Post subject:
No need for nesting boxes in the run. Indeed, magpies or somesuch will steal the eggs if they are outside the house. Two boxes will be ample for three hens. Roosting bars should be well away from the nest boxes. And make sure your storage drum has a good, well-fitting lid. Mice can run up the outside of a cornflakes packet, and so can rats.

Lorrainelovesplants

Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 6521
Location: Dordogne

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 11:35 am Post subject:
Staines Ingatestone. Dont now if they are near you - I just googled agricultural supplies Essex.

TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 12:18 pm Post subject:
I'm Southend way, but it's a doable distance. Seems to be mostly clustered around Chelmsford.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45426
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 12:42 pm Post subject:
You'll be burning plenty of diesel Southend to Billericay and back. Got to be somewhere nearer

TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 12:45 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

You'll be burning plenty of diesel Southend to Billericay and back. Got to be somewhere nearer

Quite! Also need somewhere reliable to get chickens from. Originally thought smilers but been told by a friend her last lot were very sickly from them.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45426
Location: Essex

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 12:46 pm Post subject:
https://www.yell.com/s/horse+supplies-southend+on+sea.html Most of them will do chicken stuff

TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 1:54 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

https://www.yell.com/s/horse+supplies-southend+on+sea.html

Most of them will do chicken stuff

Cheers Tahir gives me a place to start!

Pilsbury

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 5645
Location: East london/Essex

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 1:59 pm Post subject:
Or i can swing through ingatestone on my way to visit my dad in southend when you need a delivery, no real difference going down the a13 or the a127 or a12 which ever it is lol. Im sure there is a place that does feed near basildon way, i will look next time im down my friends.

TimNeo

Joined: 06 Jul 2006
Posts: 636
Location: Ashingdon, UK

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 2:15 pm Post subject:
I don't mind the odd run out that way - I've had a couple of friends recommend places on facebook as well Thanks for all the help people!

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Wed Apr 16, 14 7:06 pm Post subject:
Not possible now but a local cereal farmer might be happy to sell a tonne or two of wheat off the field in the late summer. Keeping it from the rats is the difficult bit.

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