How much feed?

[Kaydencedad]

i have 10 hens and was wondering about how much feed to give them a day?

 

[chickmomma03]

I have 10 hens and a rooster. I check their hanging feeder twice a day and make sure it's never empty. I usually only have to refill (2/3 full) every other day, sometimes every day (most often though every other day, but I always check and never let it get too low). My feeder isn't a huge one though right now. I'm not sure how many pounds it holds because I had to take the stickers off (they tried to eat them haha).

 

[barneveldrerman]

They will eat what they want. I just keep the feeders 2/3 full( otherwise they try to reach into it and get the food.) They need their food to grow.

Hope this helped!

 

[junebuggena]

Let them have as much as they want. If you try to skimp on nutrition, you will regret it in the long run.

 

[Kaydencedad]

Ok thank you, I am not trying to skimp on there food , I am just wondering if I was feeding them enough

 

[junebuggena]

As long as they have access to feed all day long, they should be fine.

 

[junebuggena]

By the way, scratch grains and treats are extras and should not make up more than 10% of their daily diet.

 

[chickmomma03]

Quote: I just make sure it's never empty. Mine don't have the opportunity to waste anymore since I hung my feeder up. Before I hung it they were knocking out and wasting some of it.

 

[desertrocks]

By the way, scratch grains and treats are extras and should not make up more than 10% of their daily diet. 

I am curious about that 10% number. I guess it depends on what would be considered a treat. Are fresh fruits and veggies considered treats?.If so then I am definitely guilty. Those things I have been feeding daily in some quantity. I use hanging feeders 1-12# and 1-30# which I never put more than a couple inches of feed in at a time. I check it a couple times a day and usually put about 16 cups of food out in the morning and sometimes in the evening. The 2 feeders service 24 birds ranging from 18-22 weeks. I have never really seen it empty but I know their intake is increasing as they grow and the evenings are becoming cooler so they are happier in the morning.
I know this because I just got feed today. The bag they just finished lasted 2 weeks, the bag prior to that lasted 3 weeks.
That means that each bird is averaging 1/2 a pound of feed a week. Does that sound about right?
Everyone is well feathered and appear to be thriving and as I said I can see the effect the summer has had as far as perhaps a little slower to grow and lay. 110+.is stressful on me so I am sure it was slowing them some. I use the fresh stuff in quantities to help stimulate their appetites in the mornings and usually cold fruit to help them cool off in the late afternoon to again get them going before they bed down. Mornings are either greens or maybe corn on Tue coz if it is cheap. You break 4 ears of corn into 3 pieces each for 2 dozen birds and it is just enough to whet their appetites.
1 large head of lettuce or cabbage shredded or a couple heads of romaine shredded doesn't last long and after a short preen the next thing you see is everyone working the feeders.
Afternoons are usually fruit. Again 12oz of blueberries, or a pound or so of grapes doesn't last long either. The fruit and raw sunflower seeds enable me to do a good daily inspection and actually probably allows me to observe what the actual pecking order is within the group.
So are greens considered treats or a form of forage.

 

[junebuggena]

Treats are anything other than a nutritionally complete and balanced feed. Fruits and veggies are treats, they are very low in protein. Too many treats can upset the nutritional balance needed for healthy growth, development, and production. Too many treats can also cause protein deficiencies which can lead to egg eating and feather picking. It can also make them fat. Obese chickens can die from heart, kidney, or liver failure. My birds eat about 2 and half pounds of flock raiser feed per bird, each week. When they can range, they eat about half that, but it's always there if they want it. First thing in the morning, chickens shouldn't need any 'wetting' of the appetite. They spent the whole night digesting the contents of their crops and have been without anything for several hours. They should be hungry, and a hungry chicken will eat anything. Save the goodies for later in the day, after they've eaten a good portion of feed.