Chicken feed

[Jazzimom]

New 2 this. Just wondering if chickens should have feed 24/7? I have 8 10 wk olds girls. I have a feeder in the coop,and was wondering if they will eat too much if they always have food.Do they only eat when hungry? Should I kick them out of the coop during the day and shut the door?

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, jazzimom, and

! Great to have you aboard! I don't think food 24/7 will be a problem with your hens. Certain meat chickens (Cornish X) will gorge themselves to their detriment but with egg laying hens it isn't usually an issue. Good luck to you!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I let my chickens have feed 24/7 - and it is very important to make sure they have access to water if they have access to feed.

After 6-8 weeks of age, they don't need food and water 24/7. It is OK to keep all that out of the coop. Make sure you aren't feeding rodents though! Close up the feed into a bin if it is going to be in the run. Also you don't want it to get damp. Wet moldy food can kill chickens.

Make sure that you let them outside very early in the morning if you are keeping the feed and water outside only- very important. They need water at all waking hours. I don't let my chickens out of the coop at daybreak anymore because the roos crow- which is why I keep the food and water in the coop now.

They will only eat when hungry generally- I don't worry about them overeating (now meat birds are different- those cornish crosses!).

I always let the chickens have access to the coop. They will need to go in there to lay eventually. I have done it both ways- food and water out of the coop and inside the coop. It is a LOT less work to have the food and water inside the coop. However, I recommend you put your waterer inside a tray to catch spills or up on castors (like a rolling plant stand- that is what I use) so the floor can breathe and doesn't get moldy. If you use a tray around your feeder (I set my 12 lb feeder inside a rubber feed pan) that will catch the feed spills also.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! Glad you joined us!

 

[Rich386]

New 2 this. Just wondering if chickens should have feed 24/7? I have 8 10 wk olds girls. I have a feeder in the coop,and was wondering if they will eat too much if they always have food.Do they only eat when hungry? Should I kick them out of the coop during the day and shut the door?

They should have access to food and water 24 / 7 they will like us eat when hungry. As far as access to the coop. The coop is home a safe place in times of danger. A place to get food / water and lay eggs. A place to sleep. If you don't want to have an egg hunt every day leave it open.
I let mine out to free range late in the day. They are constantly in and out of the coop. I rarely find an egg out of the nest. At dusk every one heads home. That is when I lock them down.
Nothing etched in stone. This is what works for me and has for several years.

 

[nellynelly]

i ration my feed.

 

[Jazzimom]

Thank you this is very helpful I am on the right track. I replaced the feed I bought at TSC. I stopped in a feed store in Shipsee,Indiana today. Much better and it wont turn to dust.I also bought some Apple cider vinegar. I have read pros and cons and from what I understand the pros out way the cons. My only concern at this point is should I gradually change the feed or is it ok to just switch?

 

[Jazzimom]

Thank you so much. I appreciate all the input.You are all very helpful.

 

[Rich386]

Thank you this is very helpful I am on the right track. I replaced the feed I bought at TSC. I stopped in a feed store in Shipsee,Indiana today. Much better and it wont turn to dust.I also bought some Apple cider vinegar. I have read pros and cons and from what I understand the pros out way the cons. My only concern at this point is should I gradually change the feed or is it ok to just switch?

When I get to the feed store and they have any brand on sale and I can save 2 or 3 bucks a bag! That is what I buy and have never had a problem. They may be on my regular brand for months before a sale comes up. Then three or four months later they are back to their regular feed.