How much feed do my birds need?

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Burella

Burella

Chirping
8 Years
Oct 13, 2013
5
17
67
I have 3 chickens that are nearly 6 months old ( not laying yet). They have a 10x10 foot "caged" area to forge in, but escape daily. I move the tractor about every 2 weeks, but it is just lawn. I have been making (read crazy lady who bakes soy beans) and mixing feed for them, but have not keep track of how much I'm actually feeding them. We through the feed into the cage when we let them girls out every morning. Sometimes they leave some of the feed untouched. Could I be over feeding them? How much feed should I be giving the?
 
The feed should be in a container that eliminates waste. Throwing feed on the ground wastes a lot.

So you're making your own feed? Do you know if it is nutritionally complete? There isn't much food value in a 10X10 area of lawn.
 
I am rotating the plots, so uneaten feed sprouts or compost or eat by other animals when the tractor is moved.
I would like to buy ready mix, but don't know how much to buy. I thought someone here could give me an idea.
I'm not looking for opinions on how I care for our girls. I'm trying to figure out if I will regret buying the huge bag of feed from the feed store that doesn't cater to backyard Flocks.
 
A 10kg bag should last you a couple of weeks or so. Buy the smallest bag to begin with and then see how you get on.
 
25 Kg is the smallest the feed store here has and they aren't willing to order in anything special for me.
 
That is still fine - it will be used before its "use by date" and personally, i feel much more at ease giving a proprietary feeding as i am sure that they are getting a fully balanced diet.
 
You can prolong the life of the feed by keeping the bulk of it in a cool dry place. Most manufacturers us stabilized vitamins that they add to the feed which last much longer than unstabilized ones. The minerals won't go bad. The main ingredients like grains and legumes will be the first to degrade but they should still be able to provide adequate nutrition for up to 4 months or so.

As for your original question about how much do they need, this should answer most of your questions.

http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ASC/ASC191/ASC191.pdf
 
Last edited:

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