Am I feeding my girls enough...

[JacinLarkwell]

I can’t imagine why we are told that each chicken should have “x” amount of feed per day. How are you supposed to regulate that. I have 5 feeders for my flock so no bully can stop a lower ranked hen from eating. I feed Nutrena Egg Producer pellets and throw out scratch feed twice a day. They also get whole pumpkins to work on during the winter. (I stock up at Hallloween). Also whole grain loaves of bread from a local bakery and lettuce and other veg. This gives them something to do all day because any bored critter gets into trouble eventually. Free range spring summer and fall until the time changes.

Some people keep birds individually penned. Obviously you're not going to have 3 lb feeders for each cage, so it's helpful to know what sized cups to get to keep your birds healthy

 

[spaceylocust]

I also ferment feed so the girls have to eat everything, although, they do pick out their favorites first, like peas.

My chicken mentor lady (beekissed) told me to feed so they clean the plate within 15 minutes. Adjust the amount you give them, up or down, until this happens. Mine also free range all day and get BOS if the weather is cold or just occasionally. They also get kitchen scraps, which varies from day to day.

 

[lisahamm1967]

I have food available for my birds all day long. If you only provide just the 1/4 pound per bird some of the birds won't get their ration because the higher ranking chickens will eat their ration plus some of the ration that the lower ranking birds should be getting. I also put feeders in multiple places so the lower ranking birds can get their feed at a different place. The bully birds can't be at all places at all times therefore allowing the others to eat and drink as well. Just my 2 cents.

 

[meeptastic]

You know they poop every few minutes, right? Not having anything to eat for half a day is really bad for an animal with high metabolism. They don't take 8hrs to process a meal like we do.

 

[cmom]

If the birds act like they are hungry, they probably are hungry. I don't know why you don't have free choice. Maybe because they waist the feed? Then I would use a different feeder. I raise usually from around 200 to 500 birds including chicks during hatching season. I grow them all out. I have 40# hanging feeders in my coops. I do have some birds that like to bill the feed out of the feeders so their feeders have deeper pans. That solved that problem. I give them grains and seeds as treats. They get vegies when in season otherwise I usually give them alfalfa to peck at. They like the little green leaves. During the summers when the grass is growing I have a mulching mower with a collector and I collect the grass and put some in all of the pens in piles and the birds love to scratch through it. I do raise my birds for exhibition/showing at poultry shows and I like for the birds to place well. I have had some champions. This is just how I do it and I know there are many different ways and everyone is different with different situations. Good luck...

 

[NatJ]

I don't know why you don't have free choice.

I feed them Scratch and Peck brand 18% layer feed.

They just pick out what they like and knock the rest on the ground. That is why I started fermenting the feed.

The "Scratch and Peck" brand of feed has whole grains and finely powdered supplements mixed together in the bag. That makes it very easy for the chickens to pick out favorite parts and waste the rest--which means they do not get the right nutrients, and it is also wasteful to buy feed that just gets thrown on the ground and lost. So fermenting the feed is a good way to make sure the chickens eat all the parts of the feed.

Several of us have already suggested that OP buy some kind of complete pelleted feed to leave available free choice, as an addition to the current feeding regime. That way the hens could have more feed if needed, while still eating mostly the Scratch & Peck feed OP prefers.

 

[Tashua]

TRUTH.

I have free feed whenever they want plus extras all the time & they always act like it’s their last supper !!!!!

 

[Aunt Angus]

The "Scratch and Peck" brand of feed has whole grains and finely powdered supplements mixed together in the bag. That makes it very easy for the chickens to pick out favorite parts and waste the rest--which means they do not get the right nutrients, and it is also wasteful to buy feed that just gets thrown on the ground and lost. So fermenting the feed is a good way to make sure the chickens eat all the parts of the feed.

Several of us have already suggested that OP buy some kind of complete pelleted feed to leave available free choice, as an addition to the current feeding regime. That way the hens could have more feed if needed, while still eating mostly the Scratch & Peck feed OP prefers.

Scratch & Peck makes pellets feed now, too. Imma keep saying it.

 

[olivigus]

It's interesting to read all the different scenarios. I have 18 hens and go through an average of two 50lb bags of Modesto Milling lay pellets in a month. That does seem to work out to just about 1/4 lb per bird per day. They have a hanging feeder that has pellets all the time during the day, and I also give them a lightly fermented wet mash made with that same food in the mornings. Anything still left in those trays when they go to bed gets gobbled up first thing in the morning before I've come out to feed them. (I put the feeder in the shed at night to discourage unwelcome visitors.) There's definitely less waste since I started making the mash and it allows me to use up all the powder in the bottom of the bag. They also get a scoop of scratch in the morning after I've cleaned the coop and they've had a chance to go at the wet and dry food for a bit. Some of mine really like the mash, while others seem to prefer eating the dry pellets. I'd echo that having the food available free choice lets everyone in the pecking order have a shot at it throughout the day. I'd also echo that they tend to be drama queens and play the "but we're STARVING" card whenever they see me in hope of treats.