Question 1

Do you deliver?

Accepted Answer

Yes we do!*  Delivery charges depend on:
-Location
-Difficulty of delivery
-Vehicle used for delivery
We deliver to Boone County, DeKalb County, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County and surrounding areas.  Your order will be dropped off 1-5 business days after purchase.

For Pets & Wild Birds:  Deliveries start at $10.  Delivery charges depend on location.  Delivery is FREE after spending over a certain amount for your location (for example:  When you spend over $50 in pet food in Marengo and Woodstock, your delivery is free.  More distant areas require spending more for free shipping).

For Stock Animals and Horses:  Deliveries start at $25.  Whether you want bags of feed, feed in bulk or animal bedding, we have options for you.  We deliver stock animal feeds to about a 1.5-hour radius around our store (with some exceptions).  Contact us to see what options are available for your location!
815-923-4422
unionfeedinc@gmail.com

*PLEASE NOTE:  We are located in Northern Illinois and can only deliver to local surrounding areas.  For questions, feel free to contact us!

Question 2

What do you sell?

Accepted Answer

We have a range of animal feed brands, bulk feeds, animal bedding, pasture seeds and feed supplements.  Animals we feed include dogs, cats, horses, cattle, chickens, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, pot-bellied pigs, pigeons, turkeys, pheasants & more!

Some popular brands we carry are Alltech, American Natural Premium, DeLong Company, Fromm Family, Hubbard, Kalmbach, Kent, Nutrena, Prince, Smallbatch Pets, Redmond, Stella & Chewy's, Tribute, Triple Crown and Vital Essentials.

For bulk feeds, we sell either by the bag or by the pound.  You can choose from one of our balanced, complete-feed options or customize your own feed.

Question 3

What brands do you carry?

Accepted Answer

We try to carry options we can highly recommend with confidence.  Below are brands we normally keep in stock.  Some of these are only available in our store.  Click on any of the links to find out more about these amazing brands!

Pet Food Brands (dogs & cats) available in-store and online:
American Natural Premium 
Farmina 
Frankly Pet 
Fromm Family 
Kent Nutrition 
Nature's Logic 
Smallbatch Pets 
Smart Cookie Barkery 
Stella & Chewy's 
Vital Essentials

Feed Brands (Stock Animals) available in-store:
DeLong Company 
Kalmbach 
Kent Nutrition 
Finish Line Horse Products 
Hubbard Feeds  
Manna Pro 
Nutrena 
Prince Corporation 
Tribute Horse Feed 
Triple Crown

Bedding Brands available in-store:
Dejno's 
Healthi-Straw 
Marth / Lignetics 
Royal Wood Shavings 
Smith Creek

Question 4

How do I get bulk feed?

Accepted Answer

We offer two options:  Pickup and Delivery.

PICKUPS
Make an appointment.  Please call the day before or the morning of the time you prefer, and we will fit you right in.

Bring top-loading containers.  For example, garbage bins, barrels, and open-top wagons are all top-loading.  We can even fill your feed into the back of an open pickup truck, whatever works for you!  If you are bringing barrels, make sure you have enough for the amount of feed you want.
Just remember, you will need to unload the feed when you get home.  If you do not have a forklift or another way to unload your feed, you may want to have us bag it (for an extra charge) or deliver it.

DELIVERIES
Call in your order.  We schedule our bulk feed deliveries days ahead, so please give us between 4-7 days notice to get your feed ready to deliver.

Provide an appropriate place for us to bring your feed.  We will deliver your bulk feed in a Class-B Auger Truck, which needs space to operate.  Please make sure your location has the space, an appropriately reinforced driveway and a top-loading container for the auger arm to deposit your feed.

Requirements.  We require a minimum quantity for deliveries and flat delivery charges depending on your location.  Please contact us by PHONE or EMAIL regarding these details, and we can get your feed started!

Office phone:  815-923-4422
Email address:  unionfeedinc@gmail.com

Question 5

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, American Express, Debit cards and of course, good old cash and checks!

Our only hiccup is, if your Apple Pay or Google Pay is linked with a Debit card, it will sometimes not be accepted.  Please bring a backup plan just in case!

Question 6

Do you sell hay?

Accepted Answer

We do not sell bales of hay.  However, we do have some helpful options:

Chopped Forage Bags:  Either Stress-Free, Grass-Forage, Safe-Starch or Alfalfa options are available.

Hay Cubes or Pellets:  We have Timothy Pellets, Timothy Cubes, Alfalfa Pellets, Alfalfa Cubes, and Timothy/Alfalfa Cubes.

Hay Extender Pellets:  For those supplementing low-quality or low-quantity hay, Tribute offers a Hay Extender Pellet to round out your horses' diet needs.

Local Farmers:  Local farmers will usually place an ad on our business board if they have hay to sell.  Stop by and check it out if you are in need!

Question 7

When is your Shavings Sale?

Accepted Answer

On the second Friday and Saturday every month, we have an animal bedding sale.  For a list of sale dates, check out the bottom of our Animal Bedding page.

Question 8

How do I sign up for Shavings Sale emails?

Accepted Answer

We have an animal bedding sale two days a month!  It's the second Friday & Saturday of every month, falling on either the 2nd or 3rd weekend monthly.

In our emails, you can receive reminders, special promotions, and helpful information appropriate to the season!

To sign up, go to the bottom of the webpage and type in your email address.  Or, you can email a request at unionfeedinc@gmail.com

Question 9

Is grain-free dog food unhealthy?

Accepted Answer

Studies show that poorly balanced dog foods do not have enough amino acids, such as taurine, an essential amino acid to strengthen the heart muscle.  On the surface, it appeared that grain-free dog foods led to enlarged hearts and heart failure.  What actually led to these problems were basically two factors:

1)  Too much plant protein in the diet.  Some recipes, even from large name-brands, were cutting costs by replacing meat protein with plant proteins.  Only meat proteins have amino acids like Taurine to help properly develop and maintain heart health.

2)  A High quantity of legumes in the recipe.  While this is still a matter of study, some have reached the conclusion that a diet rich in legumes (such as green peas) blocks the absorption of heart-healthy amino acids.

What Should You Do?  Some recommend getting a recipe that supplements with taurine (seen in the ingredient list).  You could also opt for a recipe that has less legumes or is legume-free.

Quality-made grain-free dog foods are not your enemy.  They can be incredibly helpful when you have a dog or cat with skin sensitivities, loose stools or allergies to certain ingredients.  We keep a variety of grain-free and grain-inclusive diets in stock for everyone's needs!

Question 10

My pet has diarrhea or is vomiting, is it the food?

Accepted Answer

Your dog or cat could have a protein or grain sensitivity or allergy.  Protein sensitivities and allergies are more likely to be seen as loose stools or diarrhea.  Common protein allergies are Chicken and Lamb.  There is also a chance that your pal is sensitive to another ingredient such as potatoes, grains, or other foods.

WHAT TO DO:  Try these options:

1)  See a Veterinarian if the situation is severe or prolonged.

2)  DO NOT FEED HUMAN FOOD.  Pets love cleaning up our scraps, but human foods are not designed for the gut of a dog or cat.  Human foods are usually higher in sugar, fats and spices that are not healthy for dogs and cats.

3)  Feed a LIMITED INGREDIENT DIET for a short time until the illness clears up.  One option is unseasoned rice and boiled chicken or turkey.

4)  Re-introduce the recommended food or an option that you feel will be a better fit for your pet.

5)  TALK to Us!  We are always happy to lend a listening ear or provide advice when it appears the issue can be resolved nutritionally.

Question 11

Are grains bad for my dog to eat?

Accepted Answer

In short, no!  Grains can be very beneficial in providing vitamins and minerals to your dogs' diet.  Some grains, like pearled barley, oatmeal, brown rice and white rice can help with digestions, bowel regularity, regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease.

It's good to be selective and control the amount of grain a dog eats.  Too much grain can cause vomiting, diarrhea or weight gain.  If your dog has sensitivities or allergies to grains, you should eliminate them from the diet.

SOME GRAINS TO AVOID:  Generally speaking, some grains provide little to no benefits, commonly referred to as "filler" ingredients.  Grains like corn, wheat and soy are known to be inflammatory to the gut and have little absorption, contributing only to gastrointestinal issues and larger stools.

If your dog is not allergic or sensitive to healthy grains, pick a recipe that includes them for optimal health.  The first ingredients should ideally be meats for a balanced diet.

Question 12

Do you have a parking lot?

Accepted Answer

Our lot is either gravel, concrete or blacktop, depending on where you drive in and out.  There are no parking spots, so just find a place that feels right!

Question 13

Can I bring my dog in the store?

Accepted Answer

We gladly welcome friendly dogs on leashes to our store!  If you stop by with your pet, we can offer one of our excellent treats for him to enjoy!

If you prefer to leave your dog in the car, let us know!  We will still offer a treat you can give your precious pup.

Question 14

Did I see a chicken?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you did!  Union Feeds' managers maintain a small happy flock on the property that eat Cashton organic layer feed and roam all day.  If they are in the driveway, please drive slowly so they have time to move :)

We also have 2 very well-cared for orange barn cats that roam around.  If you see Frannie or Peaches, say hello!

Our store is CLOSED Monday, September 7th for Labor Day