NM Local Organic Chicken Feed

Raising hens for egg production has steadily become part of my daily routine over the past several years-- my current flock of 5 hens lay about 2 1/2 dozen eggs per week. But, i've always thought about the ethical compromises I make by buying my chicken feed from the great local guys at Navajo Feed and Seed on Gallup's north-side. The thing is, it's Purina brand Layena pellets ($18/50lbs)--50 lbs lasts about 4 weeks with green compost from the kitchen.  It's not produced locally, nor is it organic. And so I was really excited to see this advertisement in the August 09 edition of the La Montanita Co-op Newsletter.  

The Co-op's food-shed distribution system will pick up the feed in Northern NM and deliver it to the Gallup branch of La Montanita on the regular weekly truck. Whether your buying higher protein egg-layer feed or scratch feed, a mix of grains like corn, milo, rice, etc.-- candy to chickens -- the price is 80% higher than the Purina stuff. Damn. But it is local AND organic AND supports the Co-op. Triple whammy! I'll have to order some. And i'm really interested to see if any increases in the quality/efficiency of the feed --like buying good dog food; they eat/poop less-- make this local, planet-friendly alternative to Purina Layena any more attractive.