Chicks in the winter, when can they go out side??

[ChickenCanoe]

Just remember that layer feed is formulated for layers. Layers are birds actively building egg shells. Just because they are female chickens doesn't mean they are layers.
Chicks are not layers regardless of sex, young non-laying pullets are not layers, cockerels and roosters are not layers, even molting hens taking their winter production break are not layers.
None of those birds should be eating layer feed.
Female chicken does not necessarily equate to layer.

 

[FortCluck]

Four 50# bags for 19 birds?!

I have 10 in my layer flock and 4 ducks. They're on their 3rd bag this month... I also have very large breeds like two Jersey Giants.

How much do you feed your flock and how many are in your flock?

 

[aart]

How much do you feed your flock and how many are in your flock?

Right now I have 15 birds, the last 50# bag of Flock Raiser lasted about 3 weeks plus a few days.
ETA: I do give about 2 cups of scratch per day, and feeder allows almost no waste.

 

[FortCluck]

Right now I have 15 birds, the last 50# bag of Flock Raiser lasted about 3 weeks plus a few days.

Must be the size of my birds and the ducks

 

[sylviethecochin]

Right now I have 15 birds, the last 50# bag of Flock Raiser lasted about 3 weeks plus a few days.

I dunno. I've got nineteen hens, and two roosters. I feed, remove the pans twenty minutes later, and I feed them again at night. It isn't being wasted. They eat a little more than five pounds a day. A little less in the summer, a little more in the winter. A few of my birds are pretty large, a few of them are Leghorns, and the majority are medium-sized.

EDT: After a basic google search, seems a hen is expected to eat .25-.33 pounds a day. A little more than five pounds for twenty-one birds is a little more than a quarter pound each. So your birds are the weirdos, not mine.

 

[aart]

So your birds are the weirdos, not mine.

Wonder if it's because I feed a higher protein?

 

[FortCluck]

I dunno. I've got nineteen hens, and two roosters. I feed, remove the pans twenty minutes later, and I feed them again at night. It isn't being wasted. They eat a little more than five pounds a day. A little less in the summer, a little more in the winter. A few of my birds are pretty large, a few of them are Leghorns, and the majority are medium-sized.

EDT: After a basic google search, seems a hen is expected to eat .25-.33 pounds a day. A little more than five pounds for twenty-one birds is a little more than a quarter pound each. So your birds are the weirdos, not mine.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Wonder if it's because I feed a higher protein?

Maybe. But I'm currently feeding an average of 19% feed (allflock and chick crumbles for molt), and while I've seen a decrease of about half a pound, I've attributed it to the fact that they're not laying. Do your birds free-range? (Mine do, but there's not much in the area besides grass, snails (which they refuse to eat) and the garden, from which they are supposed to be banned, so I don't think they get much.)

 

[aart]

But I'm currently feeding an average of 19% feed

That's about what I'm at too, FR and scratch...roughly proportioned. They have free feed.

Do your birds free-range?

Nope.

 

[sylviethecochin]

That's about what I'm at too, FR and scratch...roughly proportioned.

Nope.

Hunh. So I own pigs.