Where to Find Chicken Feed in Bulk Near You (What You Need to Know!)

So you want to reduce your feeding costs, find a sustainable food source for your chickens, and give them the best possible diet to thrive on? Well this was our search requirements when we started looking for buying the best chicken feed in bulk near our location. With a flock of 10 chickens to feed, the monthly costs were barely keeping up with the meager revenue that my son was able to make from collecting and selling eggs. Something had to change, and that began our search for bulk grain near to us.

Our Journey to Bulk Chicken Feed

We are fortunate enough to live on a few acres of land and be able to graze our chickens. So that meant we could skimp a bit on the nutritional needs of our chickens by buying a low quality wheat to supplement their wild foraged diet. If your chickens are in a coop all the time which has been pecked bare, you will likely be unable to use a straight wheat or barley type grain as a chicken feed in bulk choice. Knowing then that we had this as an option, we started to look for the source.

It wasn’t long before we got some good advice from the local fodder store (who was selling us our premium grain anyway) that a local farmer sold some of his annual crop in 40kg bags for around $15. A quick chat to the local and he agreed to sell us an ongoing amount for that price and would even drop in 2 bags at a time if we gave him a weeks notice for when we needed it. Being a good cash economy, we would simply leave the cash under the door mat for him to collect. It worked fantastic and ensured we had access to a high quality grain that was able to supplement the wild grazing and keep our costs down using this chicken feed in bulk.

Now, the chickens go through about a bag every 6 weeks, so $30 per 3 months works out pretty well for us. But we weren’t finished there…

Potential Problems of the Bulk Chicken Feed

Being lazy, the chickens would sit around in the coop during the day and just gorge themselves on the grain instead of chasing wild bugs etc. In addition, we had an entire family of sparrows that would enter the coop through the holes in the wire and feast to their leisure. In staring at this problem for a while, the solution became obvious: we would put a cover over the feed during the day while the chickens were out (forcing them to forage and keeping the little birds our of the grain) and then would remove the cover at night time when we put the chickens away to give them access. The sparrows weren’t feeding at night time, so they missed out on getting the access which was now exclusively reserved for the chooks.

The only other problem we had was with the mice and vermin that were pinching the remnants of our grain supply. This was quickly disposed of by adding some chicken proof traps for the mice and with just a small handful of grain in the traps, we were able to rid them pretty quickly even catching up to 4 in the trap at any one time. Not too bad for a bit of observation for biology and the movement of the animals around the coop.

How do You Find Bulk Chicken Food Near Me?

So, how do you implement this what seems to be highly specific to my own experience strategy into your own chicken farming? Well the first step is to work out to what level of grain requirement can you reduce to. If you still need to supplement the proteins etc. in the chickens diet because they don’t have access to fresh insects and Gecko’s etc. then best keep working with a whole diet based grain. But look around at your local fodder store for a cheaper chicken feed in bulk alternative, use veggie scraps from the kitchen to supplement and check any of the forums you might be a part of to see if there is a suitable bulk supplier in your area.

Now, if you are lucky enough to let your feathered friends roam a little, then perhaps its time to go for a stock grain like wheat or barley and then get the girls out of the hen house to supplement their food. Foraging is not only a cheaper method to feed your chickens, but one that stimulates them as well. You will reduce your stress and disease in your flock by allowing them access to wild caught insects, bugs and small lizards while still giving them enough feed with the base grain to keep them well fed. The tricky part now is to find the supplier of the base grain.

The Information Source for Bulk Chicken Feed

So back to the fodder store you go for information. Don’t be surprised if they say they don’t know because at the end of the day, they want you to buy direct from them. But if you don’t ask, you don’t get so you might as well try. Failing that, you can sometimes find the grain chicken feed in bulk 20-40kg bags on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist etc. but often they are trying to sell it at a higher rate than just direct. So after you have exhausted conversation at the closest show/fair that has a poultry display, trying to get any lead you can on who sells their grain directly, then you might as well pick up the phone and call a couple of the farms who specialize in seeds (note, don’t bother calling Monsanto as they don’t sell direct).

The point is that you will have to roll up your sleeves, and get to work making networks with the local chicken raising community to see where the best deals are. And sometimes, that may involve travelling to the next state or county to meet with a farmer who sells you 200kg of chicken feed in bulk at one time. But as long as you can put it in a weather and vermin proof container, you have about 2 years of viable quality from that grain to feed you chickens with on a greatly reduced price than the store bought premium mix.

So get out there, check it all out and if you find something worth talking about, share it with a fellow poultry farmer! Thanks for reading!

Chicken Feed in Bulk FAQ’s

1. Q: Where can I find stores that sell bulk chicken feed near me?
   • A: Local farm supply stores, feed mills, and agricultural co-ops are excellent places to find bulk chicken feed. Use online directories or ask fellow poultry keepers for recommendations.
2. Q: Can I purchase bulk chicken feed online for delivery?
   • A: Yes, many online retailers offer bulk chicken feed with convenient delivery options. Check reputable websites specializing in agricultural supplies or contact feed manufacturers directly.
3. Q: Are there benefits to buying chicken feed in bulk?
   • A: Buying in bulk often results in cost savings per pound of feed. Additionally, it reduces the frequency of shopping trips, ensuring a consistent and ample supply for your flock.
4. Q: What types of bulk chicken feed are commonly available?
   • A: Bulk chicken feed options include layer pellets, crumbles, mash, and starter/grower feeds. Depending on your chickens’ life stage and dietary needs, choose the appropriate formulation.
5. Q: Can I request custom feed blends when buying in bulk?
   • A: Some feed mills and suppliers may offer the option for custom blends. Discuss your chickens’ specific nutritional requirements with the supplier to create a feed mix tailored to your flock.
6. Q: Do feed prices vary between local suppliers and online retailers?
   • A: Prices can vary based on location, supplier, and the type of feed. Compare prices from local stores, mills, and online retailers to find the most cost-effective option for your needs.
7. Q: What should I consider when storing bulk chicken feed?
   • A: Store feed in a cool, dry place to prevent mold and insect infestation. Use airtight containers or bins to maintain freshness, and rotate stock to ensure you’re using the oldest feed first.
8. Q: How can I inquire about bulk chicken feed availability at a local store?
   • A: Simply call or visit the store and ask about their bulk chicken feed options. Inquire about pricing, available formulations, and any discounts for purchasing in larger quantities.