With the high cost of feed how are layers farmers coping?

They are coping well because egg prices also increased drastically.

(07-12-2025, 08:59 AM)FarmLady Wrote: They are coping well because egg prices also increased drastically.

Yes. The major problem I see is mortality. It will be very bad if mortality is high, especially when they've neared or reach point of lay.

What’s helping some farmers is partial feed formulation at home. They buy maize and wheat offal directly from millers or markets and then mix with concentrate. It reduces cost compared to buying complete feed. If you want to know more checkout http://farmersjoint.com/thread-28909.html

When I visit some farms and see the way they waste feed ehh. Although the wastage is not obvious but they add up.

Many don't know that to avoid feed wastage, feeders should be hanged so that the lip is at the same height level as the bird's back. Also layers should be debeaked.

Some farmers are selling eggs directly to consumers instead of middlemen. That way they get better price and survive.

I think farmers are just surviving, not coping. Yes, egg prices went up, but the increase in feed cost is much higher. If you’re not managing waste, culling weak birds on time, and supplementing with farm by-products, profit margin will still be thin.

Using proper light management can help them increase egg size and number of eggs. Giving the right number of light hours helps increase production without overfeeding.

Some are switching to alternative feed ingredients like PKC, DDGS, or maggot meal to cut cost. Others are reducing flock size to only what they can feed comfortably. Expansion this period is very risky unless you have your own feed mill.

Many small-scale farmers are downsizing their flocks. Better to keep 200 birds and manage well than 1000 you can’t feed.

Some switched to cockerel or broilers instead of layers. Broilers mature faster, less feed time.

One way to cope is cooperative buying. Farmers join hands, buy raw materials in bulk, and share. It saves cost.

(09-04-2025, 10:28 PM)Henlus Wrote: What’s helping some farmers is partial feed formulation at home. They buy maize and wheat offal directly from millers or markets and then mix with concentrate. It reduces cost compared to buying complete feed. If you want to know more checkout http://farmersjoint.com/thread-28909.html

How much is concentrate? The one i saw online was N101k for 50kg. https://afrimash.com/shop/livestock-sect...~:text=Key Features of Hendrix Finisher Concentrate for,Supports rapid growth and efficient feed conversion.

(09-05-2025, 07:35 AM)EcoFarm Wrote: How much is concentrate? The one i saw online was N101k for 50kg. https://afrimash.com/shop/livestock-sect...~:text=Key Features of Hendrix Finisher Concentrate for,Supports rapid growth and efficient feed conversion.

Until we know the price of the following we can't conclude yet:
1. Layers Concentrate: 30kg
2.    Maize: 50kg
3.    Wheat offal/Rice bran (as source of fiber): 20kg

(09-05-2025, 09:52 AM)Henlus Wrote: Until we know the price of the following we can't conclude yet:
1. Layers Concentrate: 30kg
2.    Maize: 50kg
3.    Wheat offal/Rice bran (as source of fiber): 20kg

Ok. 

Thanks all for your contribution