Discuss all aspects of raising poultry. No topic is too small
Feed price
What price are you all paying now for feed,wheat is 9.50 here now for 25kg bag.
paddycrawford
Friday, March 25th, 2022 I buy most of my chicken food from Freeway Poultry (FP). I buy some of it in bulk and some of it not really in bulk. At the moment I have been getting Layers Pellets from FP at €9.66 for a 20 kg bag. I have also been getting Chick Starter from FP at €13.13 for a 25 kg bag.
craigmartin
Friday, March 25th, 2022 Here in the North, i paid yesterday £9 for 25 kg's wheat and £12.95 for 25kg's of chick crumbs.
My merchant expects another %50 hike before August.
Desy
Saturday, March 26th, 2022 I'm paying €11.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, March 26th, 2022 The organic layers pellets we use is 16.64 and the whole wheat is 9.25 .
Joseph lawler
Saturday, March 26th, 2022 The pellets is a 20kg. bag.
Joseph lawler
Saturday, March 26th, 2022 Correction since the 10th. March when I last got it. Wynne's are now charging 11.25 for 25kg. bag wheat!
Joseph lawler
Sunday, March 27th, 2022 The most ridiculous price being looked for layers pellets at the moment in wait for it €20 for a 20 kg bag.This is at Ark Pet shop and veterinary clinic in Killarney. Outrageous price considering 2 x 25 kg bags up the road in Kerry Agri costs €25.
Needless to say where Ark were told to put their bag,I suppose they are charging their customers for their extension .
Green Rooster
Monday, March 28th, 2022 The place I get my wheat put the price up to 10.50 a bag now and the thing is it's the same pallet I've being using off the last month.
paddycrawford
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 I'm paying €14.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets. Basic non organic bag.
Big price jump in 7 months.
Cork Wyandotte
Friday, October 14th, 2022 Cork Wyandotte, could I ask where you are buying those layers pellets?
Thanks
Carter
craigmartin
Friday, October 14th, 2022 Local co-op.
Off topic sorry but I've just frozen a chicken carcass I'm not sure of.
The meat is blood red, like beef colour.
The whole carcass. Cornish breed is new for me.
Never experienced this before, not sure if safe to eat.
Do you know what causes poultry meat to turn red?
Cork Wyandotte
Friday, October 14th, 2022 I can't really say much about the meat. I don't remember having ever experienced this before with chickens that I have butchered.
That feed seems fairly well-priced for what I have been seeing happening. That is without buying in bulk. Are you buying in bulk?
craigmartin
Friday, October 14th, 2022 I remember paying €6.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets in 2010. Basic non organic bag. So it's expensive to me. I'll eventually have them eating excess from garden and stop buying in food.
I don't buy bulk as I've only a small flock for meat and eggs, just one or two bags every month with wyandottes. I'm nearly getting 2 bags every 2 weeks with Cornish. And having to change and buy fresh bedding more too. I'm impressed by the amount of meat on Cornish but not with developmental problems, having to ration feed and early death so I'll stick to my wyandottes from now on.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 15th, 2022 14.50 would be the highest I’ve seen for a normal bag of layers
But then again I generally get 20kg
11.50 here in Carlow , 11 in some places kk and wex
Adrian Kelly
Saturday, October 15th, 2022 14.50 for 25 kg and 11.50 for 20 kg are actually very similar prices per kg.
craigmartin
Saturday, October 15th, 2022 True actually never bothered with the maths, what brand still uses 25 kg bags though?
Adrian Kelly
Sunday, October 16th, 2022 I don't know what brand it is but Cork Wyandotte seems to buy 25 kg bags of layer pellets somewhere.
I usually buy my chick starter from kiernan milling which comes in 25 kg. bags
craigmartin
Monday, October 17th, 2022 The local co-op superstores have their own brand called dairygold, it's E14.50 for 25kg bag. Non organic, basic layers pellets.
The local glanbia have a brand called gain, it's E14.00 for 20kg bag. Non organic, basic layers pellets.
Don't know other prices for wheat oat barley etc as my hens wasted alot and I stopped buying. They like sweetcorn from the can, peaches, red watermelon, fig roll biscuits, warm porridge with honey and herbs n spices and scraps from our meals like sardines salmon mackerel left over veg etc I hope to stop buying layers pellets by next year.
Cork Wyandotte
Monday, October 17th, 2022 I have not fed my birds pellets for years.I don't really know what's in them.
So my feed mix
Rolled oats 8.50 23KG
Maize meal 10.50 25KG
Rolled Barley 8.60 20KG
By the bag ratio 1:1:1
roostercroweburn
Wednesday, October 19th, 2022 roostercroweburn do they lay well on that food mixture?
craigmartin
Thursday, October 20th, 2022 I have always found hens will lay well no mater what you feed them once they get enough natural nutrients in their diet.They thrive on a varied diet.
This is why I mix grains.I would add wheat to this mix if I could find some near me.It would benefit them greatly.I also let them free range.My hens have always thrived this way.
roostercroweburn
Thursday, October 20th, 2022 There's a book called complete self sufficiency by John Seymour, it has a recipes for poultry feed in it:
Laying mash:
50 kg wheat meat
50 kg maize meal
50 kg oats barley rye mix
50 kg fish meal
13 kg dried milk
9 kg ground seashells
2 kg salt
Chick mash:
13 kg wheat maize oats mix
5 kg fish meal
5kg alfalfa meal
1kg ground seashells
0.5 kg cod liver oil
0.5 kg salt
Fattening mash for cockerels:
(Barley meal is the best fattener for any poultry but can't be replaced by boiled potatoes and skimmed milk)
150 kg barley meal
50 kg wheat meal
25kg fish meal
13 kg dried milk
0.5 kg ground seashells
0.5 kg salt
What does everyone feed their breeding roosters?
Side question, leg rings come loose get lost in ditches and are awkward to put on when fingers have arthritis and are costly and hassle to order and replace, is there a natural spray like farmers have for sheep available to tell birds apart? I was using food colouring but it washes out in 2/3 days.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 It does feel like you could maybe just spray-paint chicken's legs to tell them apart.
craigmartin
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 cork Wyandotte, was it a mistake when you said barley can't be replaced with skimmed milk and boiled potatoes? Also, can you tell me why you would need to feed chickens dried milk?
craigmartin
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Oh yes. Spell checker.
It should be: you *can* feed them skim milk and potatoes.
Dried milk? I don't know. I got that info from John Seymour's book. It's probably to stop feed mix going mouldy when in storage. I'd say milk is fine.
I don't know why the quantities are so big or how big John Seymour's flock was. So adjust accordingly.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Thanks Craig Martin. I was thinking that too but worried spray would seep through scales and harm or kill birds with toxic chemicals in it but I may have to do it.
(Nail varnish wears off too for anyone going to try that option)
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Coloured cable ties are an excellent replacement for rings and for an for around 10 euro you can buy 2 life times worth!!!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coloured-3mmx100mm-Self-Locking-Wor...
roostercroweburn
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 You can tie them high on a leg a little tight so that they stay on but not so tight that makes the birds feel uncomfortable.
roostercroweburn
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Thanks roostercroweburn. I'd be afraid they'd catch on something when the bird's running around and tighten cutting of circulation. I'm looking into clothes dye, that is used on feathers for jewellery making. I may have to hold the bird for a few hours until it sets and wear gloves n old clothes so I don't get dyed also.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Cable ties are your best bet. I would never recommend any sort paint or dye. legs and feet are prone to cuts and grazes any scale loss and leg mites. You may accidentally cause bumble foot which cannot be cured easily. It can effect any part of the leg and is extremely painful. A bird can die.
Small ties are easy to put on and cut off with a nail scissors. Yo tie one around the leg a bit above the foot and nip the excess with a scissors and your done. Never had any get caught or lost.
roostercroweburn
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 I've had one blrw die of bumblefoot, spent E100 at vets, it came back. Vets are no good with birds. I tried squeezing and cleaning with TCP and re-bandaging myself daily, but he went downhill fast. He got fish fingers as his last meal. I put him down end of second week as he began to stop eating.
I might give the ties a try thanks.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 What does everyone feed their breeding roosters?
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Another poultry mix recipe from a website called Garden Betty for people looking to ditch layers pellets:
(Soy-Free Corn-Free Whole Grains)
4 cups oat groats
4 cups black oil sunflower seeds
4 cups hard red wheat berries
2 cups soft white wheat berries
2 cups triticale berries
2 cups rye berries
2 cups millet
2 cups sesame seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup brewer’s yeast
1/4 cup kelp granules
Free-choice oyster shells (or crushed eggshells)
Free-choice grit
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Holy fuck cork Wyandotte have you lost the plot you'd need a manual to feed the hens in the morning.🙄
paddycrawford
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 I'm going to try this mix:
50kg Oats
50kg Millet
50kg Fish meal
5kg alfalfa meal
0.5kg Cod liver oil
0.5kg Salt
0.15kg (150g) brewer's yeast
Not sure where to source ingredients yet but it should provide a complete chick's hens and breeding roos diet while keeping birds healthy if I haven't left anything out.
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Hopefully not lol I'll keep every dry mix as much as possible for storage 🙂 I may be eating my words soon
Cork Wyandotte
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Yeah. On second thought maybe spray-painting chicken's legs isn't such a good idea.
craigmartin
Monday, October 31st, 2022 Lol what happened craigmartin, did they leave coloured footprints everywhere or turn the can on you :)
Cork Wyandotte
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022 Cork Wyandotte: No, I didn't actually do this myself. I guess I was kind of thinking my thoughts on this thread. I originally thought that maybe spray-painting chicken's legs was a good idea but then I read what roostercroweburn said and thought that maybe spray-painting wasn't such a good idea.
craigmartin
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022 Returning to original question I see wheat has actually come down in price. I was paying 12 euro for 25 kg bag this week I paid 10.75. Every little helps as they say!
Joseph lawler
Thursday, November 10th, 2022 Does anyone know how to feed salt to chickens when your sort of mixing your own chicken food?
craigmartin
Thursday, November 17th, 2022 Don't give chickens salt.
paddycrawford
Saturday, November 19th, 2022 I am wondering why you say that, Paddy?
craigmartin
Saturday, November 19th, 2022 I think if you look it up you will find that chickens need sodium in their diet and sodium can be found in salt.
craigmartin
Saturday, November 19th, 2022 They don't need a lot but I think they need to get some sodium in their diet some way or another.
craigmartin
Saturday, November 19th, 2022 Theres enough of sodium to be had from grains and from their environment without the need to supplement it.
paddycrawford
Sunday, November 20th, 2022 Ok.
craigmartin
Sunday, November 20th, 2022 I am trying to mix my own chicken food but I am having trouble getting enough protein into it. Does anyone know what I should use for protein? I think soybeans would be a good idea if I could source them fairly easily.
craigmartin
Monday, December 5th, 2022 You can buy toasted soya beans. I use it just over the winter mixed with their normal layers. At over 22 euro for a 25 kg bag it is not cheap! Don't make the mistake I did once by buying the ground. It was all wasted at the bottom of the feeders.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 So where would these be available Joseph lawler?
craigmartin
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 I buy mine in Wynne's in Moone in Co. Kildare.. There is also Wynne's in Tullow Co. Carlow. Don't know about places near you. It needs to be a big grain store not a retail outlet.
Joseph lawler
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 Ok. Thanks, Joseph lawler. I don't seem to have any big animal feed grain places very close to me. The closest is almost 1-1/2 hours away. It feels like in regard to chickens Co. Waterford can be more limited than other areas of the country.
craigmartin
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022 Cork Wyandotte, those mixes from John Seymour,apart from the fattening mash, are very high in salt/sodium. Hens need 0.4 to 0.6% salt about half the amount being added, and that is before you allow for the sodium content of the other ingredients. Excess sodium blocks calcium uptake and can result in soft shelled eggs and skeletal problems.
Glyn
Tuesday, December 13th, 2022
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Feed price
What price are you all paying now for feed,wheat is 9.50 here now for 25kg bag.
Friday, March 25th, 2022
I buy most of my chicken food from Freeway Poultry (FP). I buy some of it in bulk and some of it not really in bulk. At the moment I have been getting Layers Pellets from FP at €9.66 for a 20 kg bag. I have also been getting Chick Starter from FP at €13.13 for a 25 kg bag.
Friday, March 25th, 2022
Here in the North, i paid yesterday £9 for 25 kg's wheat and £12.95 for 25kg's of chick crumbs.
My merchant expects another %50 hike before August.
Saturday, March 26th, 2022
I'm paying €11.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets.
Saturday, March 26th, 2022
The organic layers pellets we use is 16.64 and the whole wheat is 9.25 .
Saturday, March 26th, 2022
The pellets is a 20kg. bag.
Saturday, March 26th, 2022
Correction since the 10th. March when I last got it. Wynne's are now charging 11.25 for 25kg. bag wheat!
Sunday, March 27th, 2022
The most ridiculous price being looked for layers pellets at the moment in wait for it €20 for a 20 kg bag.This is at Ark Pet shop and veterinary clinic in Killarney. Outrageous price considering 2 x 25 kg bags up the road in Kerry Agri costs €25.
Needless to say where Ark were told to put their bag,I suppose they are charging their customers for their extension .
Monday, March 28th, 2022
The place I get my wheat put the price up to 10.50 a bag now and the thing is it's the same pallet I've being using off the last month.
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
I'm paying €14.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets. Basic non organic bag.
Big price jump in 7 months.
Friday, October 14th, 2022
Cork Wyandotte, could I ask where you are buying those layers pellets?
Thanks
Carter
Friday, October 14th, 2022
Local co-op.
Off topic sorry but I've just frozen a chicken carcass I'm not sure of.
The meat is blood red, like beef colour.
The whole carcass. Cornish breed is new for me.
Never experienced this before, not sure if safe to eat.
Do you know what causes poultry meat to turn red?
Friday, October 14th, 2022
I can't really say much about the meat. I don't remember having ever experienced this before with chickens that I have butchered.
That feed seems fairly well-priced for what I have been seeing happening. That is without buying in bulk. Are you buying in bulk?
Friday, October 14th, 2022
I remember paying €6.50 for 25kg bag of layers pellets in 2010. Basic non organic bag. So it's expensive to me. I'll eventually have them eating excess from garden and stop buying in food.
I don't buy bulk as I've only a small flock for meat and eggs, just one or two bags every month with wyandottes. I'm nearly getting 2 bags every 2 weeks with Cornish. And having to change and buy fresh bedding more too. I'm impressed by the amount of meat on Cornish but not with developmental problems, having to ration feed and early death so I'll stick to my wyandottes from now on.
Saturday, October 15th, 2022
14.50 would be the highest I’ve seen for a normal bag of layers
But then again I generally get 20kg
11.50 here in Carlow , 11 in some places kk and wex
Saturday, October 15th, 2022
14.50 for 25 kg and 11.50 for 20 kg are actually very similar prices per kg.
Saturday, October 15th, 2022
True actually never bothered with the maths, what brand still uses 25 kg bags though?
Sunday, October 16th, 2022
I don't know what brand it is but Cork Wyandotte seems to buy 25 kg bags of layer pellets somewhere.
I usually buy my chick starter from kiernan milling which comes in 25 kg. bags
Monday, October 17th, 2022
The local co-op superstores have their own brand called dairygold, it's E14.50 for 25kg bag. Non organic, basic layers pellets.
The local glanbia have a brand called gain, it's E14.00 for 20kg bag. Non organic, basic layers pellets.
Don't know other prices for wheat oat barley etc as my hens wasted alot and I stopped buying. They like sweetcorn from the can, peaches, red watermelon, fig roll biscuits, warm porridge with honey and herbs n spices and scraps from our meals like sardines salmon mackerel left over veg etc I hope to stop buying layers pellets by next year.
Monday, October 17th, 2022
I have not fed my birds pellets for years.I don't really know what's in them.
So my feed mix
Rolled oats 8.50 23KG
Maize meal 10.50 25KG
Rolled Barley 8.60 20KG
By the bag ratio 1:1:1
Wednesday, October 19th, 2022
roostercroweburn do they lay well on that food mixture?
Thursday, October 20th, 2022
I have always found hens will lay well no mater what you feed them once they get enough natural nutrients in their diet.They thrive on a varied diet.
This is why I mix grains.I would add wheat to this mix if I could find some near me.It would benefit them greatly.I also let them free range.My hens have always thrived this way.
Thursday, October 20th, 2022
There's a book called complete self sufficiency by John Seymour, it has a recipes for poultry feed in it:
Laying mash:
50 kg wheat meat
50 kg maize meal
50 kg oats barley rye mix
50 kg fish meal
13 kg dried milk
9 kg ground seashells
2 kg salt
Chick mash:
13 kg wheat maize oats mix
5 kg fish meal
5kg alfalfa meal
1kg ground seashells
0.5 kg cod liver oil
0.5 kg salt
Fattening mash for cockerels:
(Barley meal is the best fattener for any poultry but can't be replaced by boiled potatoes and skimmed milk)
150 kg barley meal
50 kg wheat meal
25kg fish meal
13 kg dried milk
0.5 kg ground seashells
0.5 kg salt
What does everyone feed their breeding roosters?
Side question, leg rings come loose get lost in ditches and are awkward to put on when fingers have arthritis and are costly and hassle to order and replace, is there a natural spray like farmers have for sheep available to tell birds apart? I was using food colouring but it washes out in 2/3 days.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
It does feel like you could maybe just spray-paint chicken's legs to tell them apart.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
cork Wyandotte, was it a mistake when you said barley can't be replaced with skimmed milk and boiled potatoes? Also, can you tell me why you would need to feed chickens dried milk?
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Oh yes. Spell checker.
It should be: you *can* feed them skim milk and potatoes.
Dried milk? I don't know. I got that info from John Seymour's book. It's probably to stop feed mix going mouldy when in storage. I'd say milk is fine.
I don't know why the quantities are so big or how big John Seymour's flock was. So adjust accordingly.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Thanks Craig Martin. I was thinking that too but worried spray would seep through scales and harm or kill birds with toxic chemicals in it but I may have to do it.
(Nail varnish wears off too for anyone going to try that option)
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Coloured cable ties are an excellent replacement for rings and for an for around 10 euro you can buy 2 life times worth!!!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Coloured-3mmx100mm-Self-Locking-Wor...
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
You can tie them high on a leg a little tight so that they stay on but not so tight that makes the birds feel uncomfortable.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Thanks roostercroweburn. I'd be afraid they'd catch on something when the bird's running around and tighten cutting of circulation. I'm looking into clothes dye, that is used on feathers for jewellery making. I may have to hold the bird for a few hours until it sets and wear gloves n old clothes so I don't get dyed also.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Cable ties are your best bet. I would never recommend any sort paint or dye. legs and feet are prone to cuts and grazes any scale loss and leg mites. You may accidentally cause bumble foot which cannot be cured easily. It can effect any part of the leg and is extremely painful. A bird can die.
Small ties are easy to put on and cut off with a nail scissors. Yo tie one around the leg a bit above the foot and nip the excess with a scissors and your done. Never had any get caught or lost.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
I've had one blrw die of bumblefoot, spent E100 at vets, it came back. Vets are no good with birds. I tried squeezing and cleaning with TCP and re-bandaging myself daily, but he went downhill fast. He got fish fingers as his last meal. I put him down end of second week as he began to stop eating.
I might give the ties a try thanks.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
What does everyone feed their breeding roosters?
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Another poultry mix recipe from a website called Garden Betty for people looking to ditch layers pellets:
(Soy-Free Corn-Free Whole Grains)
4 cups oat groats
4 cups black oil sunflower seeds
4 cups hard red wheat berries
2 cups soft white wheat berries
2 cups triticale berries
2 cups rye berries
2 cups millet
2 cups sesame seeds
1 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup brewer’s yeast
1/4 cup kelp granules
Free-choice oyster shells (or crushed eggshells)
Free-choice grit
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Holy fuck cork Wyandotte have you lost the plot you'd need a manual to feed the hens in the morning.🙄
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
I'm going to try this mix:
50kg Oats
50kg Millet
50kg Fish meal
5kg alfalfa meal
0.5kg Cod liver oil
0.5kg Salt
0.15kg (150g) brewer's yeast
Not sure where to source ingredients yet but it should provide a complete chick's hens and breeding roos diet while keeping birds healthy if I haven't left anything out.
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Hopefully not lol I'll keep every dry mix as much as possible for storage 🙂 I may be eating my words soon
Saturday, October 22nd, 2022
Yeah. On second thought maybe spray-painting chicken's legs isn't such a good idea.
Monday, October 31st, 2022
Lol what happened craigmartin, did they leave coloured footprints everywhere or turn the can on you :)
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2022
Cork Wyandotte: No, I didn't actually do this myself. I guess I was kind of thinking my thoughts on this thread. I originally thought that maybe spray-painting chicken's legs was a good idea but then I read what roostercroweburn said and thought that maybe spray-painting wasn't such a good idea.
Wednesday, November 9th, 2022
Returning to original question I see wheat has actually come down in price. I was paying 12 euro for 25 kg bag this week I paid 10.75. Every little helps as they say!
Thursday, November 10th, 2022
Does anyone know how to feed salt to chickens when your sort of mixing your own chicken food?
Thursday, November 17th, 2022
Don't give chickens salt.
Saturday, November 19th, 2022
I am wondering why you say that, Paddy?
Saturday, November 19th, 2022
I think if you look it up you will find that chickens need sodium in their diet and sodium can be found in salt.
Saturday, November 19th, 2022
They don't need a lot but I think they need to get some sodium in their diet some way or another.
Saturday, November 19th, 2022
Theres enough of sodium to be had from grains and from their environment without the need to supplement it.
Sunday, November 20th, 2022
Ok.
Sunday, November 20th, 2022
I am trying to mix my own chicken food but I am having trouble getting enough protein into it. Does anyone know what I should use for protein? I think soybeans would be a good idea if I could source them fairly easily.
Monday, December 5th, 2022
You can buy toasted soya beans. I use it just over the winter mixed with their normal layers. At over 22 euro for a 25 kg bag it is not cheap! Don't make the mistake I did once by buying the ground. It was all wasted at the bottom of the feeders.
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
So where would these be available Joseph lawler?
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
I buy mine in Wynne's in Moone in Co. Kildare.. There is also Wynne's in Tullow Co. Carlow. Don't know about places near you. It needs to be a big grain store not a retail outlet.
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
Ok. Thanks, Joseph lawler. I don't seem to have any big animal feed grain places very close to me. The closest is almost 1-1/2 hours away. It feels like in regard to chickens Co. Waterford can be more limited than other areas of the country.
Tuesday, December 6th, 2022
Cork Wyandotte, those mixes from John Seymour,apart from the fattening mash, are very high in salt/sodium. Hens need 0.4 to 0.6% salt about half the amount being added, and that is before you allow for the sodium content of the other ingredients. Excess sodium blocks calcium uptake and can result in soft shelled eggs and skeletal problems.
Tuesday, December 13th, 2022