Am I over feeding?

[JayLyn07]

I have 25 chickens and 2 ducks. I have been feeding Flock Raiser to 20 of the chickens and the ducks, but I feel that I am waisting alot of food. A 50lb bag last those guys about 2 weeks. I do add in grass, fruits and veggies but am I offering to much feed. I dont want to be a bad mom and not offer enough feed but feel I am at the feed store all the time! Help would be appreciated!

 

[ButchGood]

Ive always fed as much as they want to eat. I never let the feeders go under half full. I have 16 chickens, 10 RIR 8 weeks old, and 4 BBB Turkeys 8 weeks old. 50 lb bag of flock raiser will last me 2 weeks when free ranging all day every day. If locked up they go through that in a week. Chickens are not like dogs and eat until they get sick. They just eat what they need. Keep those feeders full.

 

[TabbyG]

I agree with ButchGood, I keep my feeder full everyday. Our girls & guy spend most of the day in the run pecking around - but they probably eat half of their 7lb feeder a day, maybe a bit less depending on the heat.

 

[Den in Penn]

Yeah! Lets do some math. A chicken eats between 1/4 to 1/ 3 pounds of feed a day. You supplement their feed so will work with the lower number and count the count the ducks as chickens. 22 birds x .25 lbs = 5.5 lbs a day. 50 lbs divided by 5,5 lbs of feed per day = 9.09 days per bag. Your doing good with 12 days per bag. You didn't say but I assume they are chicks yet. The numbers are for full grown chickens. But growing bodies need a lot food.

 

[JayLyn07]

Thank you all for your advise!