Are my chickens eating too much?

[someplumbcoop]

I have 19 chickens and we go through a 50lbs bag of feed every one and a half to two weeks. They have a big enclosure to graze in and we give them treats every once in a while. We fill their feeders up whenever they are empty. Are we feeding them too much? They aren't fat and seem healthy but they go through a ton of food. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Thefarmersmistress]

Have 20 doing the same thing.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

What size of chickens? And is it possible something else is getting in there eating their food?
My parents only buy feed once a month even when they had 30 hens. I buy feed once a month for 6 pullets. But I noticed I have a lot of small birds flying in the chainlink enclosure to eat the chicken feed, as well as chipmunks. So my chicken feed goes faster then it should.

 

[Cindy in PA]

19 LF chickens could be eating as much as 6 lbs. of feed a day. 1/3 of a pound per bird. 50 lbs. in 1 1/2 weeks doesn't sound like a lot.

 

[justinschkz]

I have 27 chickens and they go through a 50 pound sack of grower in a week and a half some times 2 weed depending on much table scraps they get. ive been throwing in some scratch daily as a treat and its helped out a little bit.

 

[someplumbcoop]

Thanks for all the replies. both of my feeders are under cover and hanging up so I don't think anything else is eating it. Should I keep filling their feeders, or only allow them a certain amount of food a day?

 

[donrae]

Layers as a rule don't over eat. I have around 2 dozen layers, 2 roos, 4 bantam hens, 4 growing pullets and 4 useless ducks. I buy 3 sacks of feed every 2 weeks. Sounds like your birds are right on track to me.

 

[justinschkz]

I have a hanging feeder that I made out of a 5 gallon bucket it hold about 30 lbs of feed i keep it filled up and let them eat a will. I have always the same thing donrae said that they wont over eat.