We just started raising chickens, and I've heard that they LOVE yogurt. Of course, its too expensive to buy for them, so we're thinking of making our own from powdered milk and yogurt starter.

Does anyone know where one can get the 'cheapest' prices for powedered milk? Our chickens wont mind if the taste isn't 'name brand' quality.

Lou

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), April 05, 2000

Answers

Chickens do seem to like yogurt but even using the cheapest dry milk sources feeding them yogurt in any real quantity is likely to be an expensive protein source compared to other forms of chicken feed. You might find it more inexpensive to go to local milk distributors and see if you can buy milk that's past its "sell-by" date which you can usually get for next to nothing.

Now as to your actual question the cheapest source of dry milk you'll likely find will be to check our your local restaurant and institutional foods suppliers. Ask them what kind of price they can give you on powdered milks. You'll probably have to buy a twenty-five or fifty pound bag but it's likely to be the cheapest per pound that you'll find anywhere.

You might also check out your local feed & seed or farm supply stores. Some animal feeds are based on dairy products and you might be able to find something to suit your purposes that way. Animal feed is going to be far cheaper than any grade of food of a high enough quality to sell to people.

.........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.ProvidenceCo-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@sprintmail.com), April 06, 2000.

I know its more expensive. We're just thinking of yogurt as a possible supplement.

We happen to live in a dairy region so going straight to the source - ie the farmers - will probably be our best bet for 'old' milk.

Thanks for the tip.

-- lou (lanny1@ix.netcom.com), April 06, 2000.