BOSS question...

[freemotion]

tsl, I also really enjoy this. I can't tell you how many times a feedstore employee....or owner....has told me sternly that I will kill all my poultry by feeding them whole grains (low profit item, apparently.) I now just ask how many years it will take for them to die, since it has been several years since I switched.

Then they tell me that egg production will go down. I've just told them I've been feeding whole grains for several years. Isn't the next logical response, "Really? Have you seen a drop in egg production?" Sheesh!

 

[the simple life]

That is exactly the kind of stuff I get from them.
I always feel like they are trying to get me to buy the more expensive feed.
When I asked for a bag of shredded beet root the woman said "you mean for horses" because she knows I do not have horses and she was trying to make a point that I have no business purchasing it for any other animals.
So I leaned into the counter and said yes, ring it in please.
She was ticked off and I knew it because she wanted to lecture me so bad and I cut her off.

 

[dianneS]

tsl, I also really enjoy this. I can't tell you how many times a feedstore employee....or owner....has told me sternly that I will kill all my poultry by feeding them whole grains (low profit item, apparently.) I now just ask how many years it will take for them to die, since it has been several years since I switched.

Then they tell me that egg production will go down. I've just told them I've been feeding whole grains for several years. Isn't the next logical response, "Really? Have you seen a drop in egg production?" Sheesh!

I'm lucky my TSC staffers don't meddle in my business that much. Funny I've been feeding whole grains for years too and it hasn't killed or impacted my chickens egg production either.

I've used the processed layer feeds in the past and I hate them (the chickens love them). They make my chickens poop like a cat with the runs! My henhouse stinks to high heaven when I feed that stuff. Their poops stink, and its nasty and runny and really aweful to find it on the back porch! That can't possibly be good for them?

 

[the simple life]

I agree, I can see a big difference in the smell when I change feeds.
Purina is the worst for that, the stuff from the mill is much better.
Do you mix your own feed then from various grains or do you get them milled?
I have been getting the mill mix but I am thinking of just buying the grains and making my own layer feed.

 

[freemotion]

I get whole grains and mix them myself. My mix depends on what I can get, since availability is a challenge here, so far from the grain fields.

I feed them whole or soaked/sprouted, depending. I seem to change it up a lot! But they are all thriving and producing, so........

 

[dianneS]

Okay, there must be something effecting the market price of BOSS. I noticed about a month ago that the feed mills had them much cheaper than TSC.

Yesterday I was at TSC and they had 50 pound bags for $15.99. Last year a 20 pound bag cost nearly that much! This was the "bird seed" grade too. Very same brand.

I wonder what effects the pricing? Maybe in this economy, people can't even afford to feed the birds! Tough luck birdies, you are on your own, no more gravy train for you! Perhaps this has caused a surplus of BOSS??

I'll have to check the price of nyger seed too, that stuff is usually pretty expensive, maybe its come down in price? Its the only thing I can find that attracts finches.

 

[ksalvagno]

BOSS at TSC is cheaper here than at the feed stores. I paid $20 for a 40 pound bag at my local feed mill and paid $15 for a 40 pound bag at TSC. They were different brands but the same thing.

 

[dianneS]

BOSS at TSC is cheaper here than at the feed stores. I paid $20 for a 40 pound bag at my local feed mill and paid $15 for a 40 pound bag at TSC. They were different brands but the same thing.

That's strange. TSC has had significantly higher prices on BOSS just up until recently. Perhaps the recent ads from the feedmills has caused them to lower their prices to remain competitive?

Needless to say, I got some BOSS for my horses, I like to supplement them when their winter coats are coming out and their summer coats coming in. They get corn oil through the winter. Anyway, my mare doesn't want to eat her feed now! She used to love BOSS and oats, but now I'm mixing in a 10% sweet feed, which she LOVES! Maybe the sweet feed is too diluted now with the BOSS? I don't know, she'll just have to get over it!