Daily Schedule ?

[ChickenCanoe]

Chickens are voracious eaters and when their crop is empty, they'll eat something. Feed should be available all waking hours. Otherwise what they end up eating may not be the best thing. It could be bedding, feces, plants that they shouldn't etc..
Not just my opinion but from a poultry nutritionist.
You may be able to get away with limiting feed if they free range, foraging on pristine pasture. Many people don't have that type of pasture and it certainly isn't providing anything in winter.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Do they go crazy when you feed them? Or just act calmly?

Oh, they go crazy. They run around and try to eat before I even put the feeder on the hanging chain. It is funny though, because they act like they are starving, but then just eat a few minutes, then walk away. They nibble throughout the day. I leave the feeder in there until they go in the coop at night.

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

hello all.
i let my girls out when i wake up...workdays earlier, weekends later.
*in the morning i put a hand full of seeds, meal worms, and what not out. i grab some greens (grass, lavender, herbs, weeds) and sprinkle that around. i put fresh water & check the feeder. oh, and scoop the poop.
*in the afternoon i give an egg or a fruit and give them love.
*before sunset i supervise free range time.
*they usually go in at dark and i close up. i put a little night light for them (because in my house EVERYONE is spoiled).
*before going to my bed i check up on them, turn off the night light, and tell them i love them.

i like reading all the posts it gives me more examples. as i only have 2 hens, it's fun - not too much work. i love to read that others have 100 CHICKENS. that is amazing. i can see that the routine would definitely change! happy cluck-clucking!

 

[TheGoldenGirlz]

Oh, they go crazy. They run around and try to eat before I even put the feeder on the hanging chain. It is funny though, because they act like they are starving, but then just eat a few minutes, then walk away. They nibble throughout the day. I leave the feeder in there until they go in the coop at night.

Oh good! I felt awful because of how they acted like they were starving

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Oh good! I felt awful because of how they acted like they were starving

I used to leave the feeder in at night, because my run and coop are pretty secure, but after twice seeing a possum on the coop in early morning, I changed my mind. Since I don't leave it out at night, I have not run into a possum (or smelled one).

 

[Mrs. K]

A fellow poster on here, Centrachid whom I admire, has a very big set up, but he does pay attention to chicken behavior. And he once addressed the mobbing you as you come to feed them. People tend to like it, as one thinks they are being friendly and not afraid of you, but it can get pretty wild and hysterical.

He suggested, not feeding them when you first go in. Just wait until they calm down and start wandering off. I think he even turns his out, and puts the feed out when they are gone. I just fill the water's first...walk around a bit, do a head count and then feed. Much less wild behavior. They still come over, and they run from feed bowl to feed bowl... but it is much more calmer.

Mrs K

 

[TheGoldenGirlz]

A fellow poster on here, whom I admire, has a very big set up, but he does pay attention to chicken behavior. And he once addressed the mobbing you as you come to feed them. People tend to like it, as one thinks they are being friendly and not afraid of you, but it can get pretty wild and hysterical.

He suggested, not feeding them when you first go in. Just wait until they calm down and start wandering off. I think he even turns his out, and puts the feed out when they are gone. I just fill the water's first...walk around a bit, do a head count and then feed. Much less wild behavior. They still come over, and they run from feed bowl to feed bowl... but it is much more calmer.

Mrs K

That makes perfect sense, thank you!

 

[centrarchid]

0500 - feed and water birds
0700 - walk down then leave for work
1700 - return from work and release 30 to 45 birds for free-range time
2000 - get feed ready for next AM
Dark - close up pens for night
after dark periodically shine poultry area with spot light, usually 2 X

This varies greatly with season, especially when it comes to keeping birds in water.

 

[nerfworthy]

My chickens are free-fed from a gravity feeder, but I do go out to the coop every evening after work to socialize and check on their health.

 

[Rysktal]

Chicken chores start about 15 minutes after I wake up.

I fill up my kettle and go open up the chicken door, let my ducks out and wash out their coop. Then I go inside and make tea. While it's steeping I go double check everyone's food and water which is usually fine because apart of my routine is filling those things up before bed. Then I have a cup of tea. Around noon I check for eggs and maybe shovel a bit of the coop out. Throughout the day I do check on my youngest birds who are still in the coop. It'll be nice once they are fully integrated into the flock.

I'm outside a lot so if I notice anything needs tending to outside of my routine, I'll take care of it. This rarely happens though with the chickens. The ducks are another story, lol.