My dad always had a lot of Rhode Island Reds. And a few bantys. I hated those mean little blankety blanks. The Reds were always nice to handle. I don't remember what the meat birds were, only that they were white.

My paternal grandfather always had Barred Plymouth Rock and Buff Cochins for layers along with rainbow variety of fancy chickens for his amusement.

I would love to get into raising a few layers and meat birds but at this point in time it's not feasible. I have plenty of room for it and several around this tiny town have chickens. With jumbo eggs $1.97 a dozen at Winco, it kind takes the incentive out of raising layers. Of course the quality of eggs from home raised is far above anything you can get in the store.

Now thats just mean.

Just a heads up, Cackle has 25% off for July 6th or 8th hatch.

Last night we finalized our order but will add more later

8 Americana blue egg layers
5 mystery blue egg layers
5 silkys for my kids
10 buff cochins
16 Wyandottes of various colors
5 brown leghorns
5 delwares
10 exotic island special

Hopefully a mix of good birds for the kids and eggs.

Small grain will be harvested soon, was hoping to mix around a ton of feed once that happens and I can do it cheap. Anyone have a feed recipe they mix and grind?

Pretty much most any grain ground and mixed, depends on what you got but corn is a heavy component, lot of recipes in the old farm manuels, expensive part is the protein, what are you doing for that?
Soybean can be a part for that but should be cooked, and not be the sole source....

I can definitely add soybean meal. Maybe Fishmeal or something to up protein? I'm not real sure

Fish meal is a good source, probably the expensive part, lol, but I believe it's in every commercial feed, so you pay for it anyway, just need to get your ratios right, so you use just enough...but I don't have those recipes.