Amount of feed?

[llombardo]

How much feed should they go through? Mine are going through very little. I got a 2.5 pound feeder, filled it up 1/2 way 3 weeks ago and it's still got plenty of feed in there. I see them picking at it, but they are mostly pecking in the enclosure. There 4 chickens and they are now 4 months. They get some scratch in the morning--not a lot. Most days they get a healthy treat--watermelon, grapes, dandelions but also a very small amount. They are growing, happy and seem healthy. I guess I'm worried they are not getting all the key nutrients if they aren't eating the feed. I do give them fermented feed, but haven't for about a week now. I got a batch going. The ducks, same thing. They are about the same age and they have a small bucket that is I beliece 2 quarts and it lasts about 3 days. They get even less treats then the chickens. Again they are growing, happy and seem healthy.

Can they get all the nutrients to keep them healthy from the ground? I know there is plenty of crawly things in that enclosure--I saw plenty when I was putting it up.

 

[WhiteWyan]

Wow they really don't touch it. maybe the food is bad?? Does it smell mouldy?

A chicken should eat about 1/3 lb food per day. So they should be cleaning that 2.5 lb feeder out in 2 days.

My chickens get scratch, veggies, fruit, and free range grass and bugs and even then the lot of them (33 chickens of which 13 are 3 months old) eat about 8-10 lbs feed per day. I usually clean out a 50lb bag in a week.

Maybe the chickens are being fed more than you know. Is there anyone else who gives them food?

 

[rjohns39]

The calculation the pro's use for adult layers on pasture is 4.5 oz per bird per day. If you're worried about it, I'd cut out the scratch (aka candy) for a while.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My 3 27 month old Golden Comets consume 25# in 7-8 weeks during the summer, double that in the winter.
I had feed go bad last month, the tip off was a big drop in production, from 6-7 a week per hen to 4-5. And feed consumption dropped.
I smelled the feeder and it had a strong smell. I dumped out the feed and washed the feeder with soap and water.
I sniffed the bag of feed and it also had a strong smell. It looked good, was not moldy, damp, or clumps.
I bought a fresh bag of feed and filled the feeder and in 2 days egg production was back to 6-7 a week for each layer.
I keep chicken feed in my house. Keeping it in a shed or coop with fluctuating temps and humidity feed will not last as long.
I also only fill my 12# feeder half way once a week and clean monthly in damp or humid conditions. Feeder is in the coop. GC

 

[nessa.morg]

Is it hot where you live? Heat stress may be affecting them. Heat stress affects the egg production, feed intake, and lots of other stuff

 

[GC-Raptor]

This was the temp at my house at 2:21pm today. I'm currently 90F at 5pm. GC

 

[nessa.morg]

Yes. Your chickens might have heat stress. Are you doing anything to keep your chickens cool? Also are your chickens showing any of these signs?:
Some of the more common signs are walking around with their beak open and labored breathing or panting, the comb and/or wattles are paler than usual, diarrhea, eating less, and lying on the ground with there wings spread. Some other symptoms are lethargy, seizures, and unsteadiness.

 

[GC-Raptor]

My girls are good. They had their wings out and were panting.
I soaked all 500 square feet of my girls pen around 1:30 today. Most of its shaded. I fill all the holes they dug and I put out a shallow pan of water they can walk through.
They started splashing in the puddles, didn't have my phone. The panting stopped and wings settled back.
I am heading out to give another soaking and bringing my phone. GC

 

[nessa.morg]

Ok well its good that you noticed they were hot. Continue to keep them cool every day and maybe they will start eating and laying more again.

Edited by staff

 

[llombardo]

No panting. I have been freezing water with watermelon, blueberries etc--that would be the snack to help keep them cool. Very little in the ice, but refreshing I'm sure. They have two containers filled with water to stand in. I have soaked the area the last couple days, they now have a mister and 2 nights ago I put a fan out there at night.They are dust bathing. The feeder is brand new, I check it everyday. The bag of food is new and good. The feeder has no smell, still very clean. They don't lay around, always moving and pecking around. Poop is good. Combs are good, the girls are getting more red.

The heat only started here within the last 3 days. It's raining now and the temp dropped like 10 degrees.