Ducks & Chickens question on egg production

[nao57]

Have had to solve lots of barnyard problems so far.

Finally thinking I might be getting somewhere.

But will you still get eggs if your ducks and chickens don't have a permanent feeder always full out in the open?

I feed them morning and at night with 2 small snacks in between.

I'm wondering if food 'always' being there, versus not (but still consistent) could be wildly different from each other in egg production?

 

[JC87]

You might have better luck in the chicken behavior/egglaying forum.

 

[Kiki]

What are you feeding them?
How many are you feeding?
How much are you putting out each time you feed?

How old are they?

 

[EarlJ]

Yes, at least if they're free ranging.

Until recently, I fed them in the morning and afternoon. Just one ~2 quart scoop straight on the ground each time. Then they'd be off to forage. Everyone laid an egg a day, about.

I've made a couple of 5 gallon bucket feeders, so they have "always there" options. They're laying the same, and they're less annoying when I go to feed everything else.

 

[nao57]

Yes, at least if they're free ranging.

Until recently, I fed them in the morning and afternoon. Just one ~2 quart scoop straight on the ground each time. Then they'd be off to forage. Everyone laid an egg a day, about.

I've made a couple of 5 gallon bucket feeders, so they have "always there" options. They're laying the same, and they're less annoying when I go to feed everything else.

If I may ask, 2 quarts is for how many birds again?

I'm also worried not only about egg production, but thinking...I haven't been doing this long enough to tell if I should be feeding more or less.

 

[nao57]

What are you feeding them?
How many are you feeding?
How much are you putting out each time you feed?

How old are they?

Well most of them are right at 6.25 months. (Several peking, 3 buff ducks, 2 chickens. All from around the same age.)

Feeding them about 1.9 pounds of BOSS sprouts, 1 lb lay mash in morning.

Mid day snacks include kitchen leftovers, forage, and 2 pounds lay mash.

Then the evening setup is also about 1.9 pounds of boss sprouts.

This is divided between 11 animals.

In theory that should be... let's see... close to about 10 ounces each.

Is that too much?

 

[Alaskan]

An easy way to tell, if you are over feeding or under feeding... is wait until they are roosting at night, then pick one up and feel the keel bone.

The keel shoul be about a 1 or 2.

 

[EarlJ]

If I may ask, 2 quarts is for how many birds again?

18 hens, all adults. I would guess that that was too much because they'd leave a bunch of it just sitting there... but when I'd go to feed pigs, they'd be trying to trip me because they know I have more food.

I'm thinking they're lazy things and just don't want to walk back to the coop for it when the food delivery man is going where they already are...

 

[Jennc-123]

Ours love pig feed. My husband was throwing some to them as scratch for a while and they got conditioned to coming to the pigs when we did. I don't, because they have free feed and free range and they no longer chase me to the pigs. They just go for bugs and dust bathing.

 

[nao57]

18 hens, all adults. I would guess that that was too much because they'd leave a bunch of it just sitting there... but when I'd go to feed pigs, they'd be trying to trip me because they know I have more food.

I'm thinking they're lazy things and just don't want to walk back to the coop for it when the food delivery man is going where they already are...

Wait a minute...

Are they doing the 'Let's trip the boss' thing on purpose?!

Mine DO THAT TOO!

:O Scandalous!