Bird feed needs have increased 5x

[TSH16]

My Rhode Island Reds have started going through their feed 5x as fast since starting to lay, and I'm trying to determine if some of that isn't loss due to mice. I went through some posts here and it looks like mature layers go through about 8-10 pounds of feed a month? I use Kalmbach 17% protein layer pellets because it seems to include everything. Does 8-10lbs per bird per month seem generally accurate?

 

[PirateGirl]

LF generally eat approximately .25 lbs of feed per day (climate and access to forage vary) so 7.5 lbs per bird per month average

 

[springvalley123]

I had turkens, which were almost the size of a RIR, eat about 10 lbs/month. then some sexlink (amberlink and sapphire gem) eat half that. my andalusians also eat barely 4 lbs/month. I'd say you're pretty good with that size of bird at 7-8 lbs/month per bird. I haven't had mice, but have had other rodents in the past, and always wild birds. After you set up your chicken operation, it can take the wild birds a while to find the feeders so if you've had an upsurge and are just starting out, it could be that the wild birds just took a while to find you.

 

[TSH16]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to start weighing out their feed now that I have a range to go by. I built a gravity feeder into the coop so dont know how many pounds they eat, just that I now have to fill it every 4-5 days rather than once every 3-4 weeks.

 

[yakitori]

For rodent (read chipmunk) control I add cayenne pepper to the feed. Chickens aren't affected by capsaicin, but rodents are.
I think the general figure is .25lb a day which comes to about 7.5lbs - 8lbs sounds about right.

 

[Al Gerhart]

You can always weigh the feed before filling the feeder. And yes, 1/4 pound of feed per day per adult hen, ignore the roosters as they eat very little. Any more than that for laying hens and you are feeding vermin.