Standard Feed and Seed

Now that they’ve moved right across the street and expanded to a bigger location, this feed store smack dab in the middle of an urban area is surprisingly pleasant. The old store felt like a rundown warehouse that sold farm stuff – which it did (but I’m glad their new place is much better). It’s been around since 1946 and it’s kept the feel of that era even with the new building – which I love. Looking for non GMO seeds so you don’t grow Frankenstein food? Right here. Want to start you backyard egg production? This is the place. Need some feed for your adorable Nigerian Pygmy goats? Why you’ve come to the right place. It’s no Pet Smart (and that’s why it’s super cool) but it has food for your more usual pets too. Guinea pigs and bunnies are always available, a selection of parakeets are on hand and I’ve gotten all my egg laying ladies here (seasonal). This is not a shopping cart, aisles of pet products store. This is a down home country feed store that the city grew around but Standard Feed kept to its standards and didn’t budge from their purpose or place. If you need to get your urban farmer rear in gear, they have what you need. If you embrace sustainable living and like gardens that you can eat, drop by. The people are friendly but no nonsense. They’re knowledgeable but not chatty. Order your feed from the front and they’ll grab it out of the back and deliver to your car but you gotta ferry your own 40 lb of dog food yourself (cause that product is on the shelves). Having a feed store less than a mile from the middle of a city is endearing to me, especially cause they’re not high falutin’ about it and have been around since before Jax was touted as the bold new city of the South.

We’ve been visiting Standard Feed for a while now, and have always enjoyed the friendly and knowledgeable staff there! We’re now «urban chicken farmers» and Standard Feed has been there since day one to advise us along the way to keep our flock happy and healthy!
In addition to the live poultry (yes, this is where we purchased our chicks), they also have a selection of other birds for pets (like parakeets) and even hamsters, gerbils and rabbits. They also have food and treats for all of these critters as well as bulk dog treats in many different sizes (which is great for my small dogs, they have perfectly sized mini-​treats for purchase by the pound). I have to admit, I kind of turn into a small child and am filled with glee when they have baby ducks for sale! Show me a person who doesn’t melt when they see a duckling and I’ll show you someone dead on the inside!
In the spring and summer they have a large outdoor area filled with potted vegetables and fruit trees. They even had some varieties that I had not seen at the «big box» home improvement stores in town. But if you’re more into a «DIY» approach to your farm, they also have a decent variety of bulk seeds for purchase (grains, corn, etc). Note that this place has more of an agriculture bent than a home-​gardener focus, but that’s exactly what they are! They also have some basic canning and pickling supplies (ball jars, etc).
So even if you don’t own your own chickens (but especially if you do!) give these guys a visit and get a taste of what good old fashioned customer service and farm-​know-​how used to be. For some of your agriculture needs, skip the Depot and stay local in the heart of downtown!