Feeding 50 chickens

[Piercefamily6]

Hi! I was wondering how much feed you go through for roughly 40-50 chickens a month? Right now I’m going through 3.5 50lb bags of an organic super mega layer mash! I’m starting to think it’s not enough but don’t want to feed more if it is enough!

 

[wamtazlady]

Chickens need about 1 1/2 pounds of feed per week. 50 chickens times 1.5 equals 75 pounds a week. 75 pounds a week times 4 weeks is 300 pounds or 6 50 pound bags of feed a month. Your chickens should have food available at all times. They will only eat what they need. They will not overeat.

 

[3KillerBs]

Make sure your feeders don't allow spillage and waste.

I like my traditional, metal feeder with the deep pan and the rolled edge.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do they have feed available at all times or are you giving it in a once or twice a day "meal" fashion.

Chickens need feed available throughout the day so if giving in "meals" switch to having feed available all daylight hours. They do not over eat so no worries about gorging.

 

[sanfordchickens]

I posted a spreadsheet on my log that helps calculate your food usage:

http://www.montie.com/2021/08/22/make-your-own-chicken-feed/

Please don't hesitate to drop me a PM with any suggestions for improving it.

 

[CaroleW]

I posted a spreadsheet on my log that helps calculate your food usage:

http://www.montie.com/2021/08/22/make-your-own-chicken-feed/

Please don't hesitate to drop me a PM with any suggestions for improving it.

Great tool! Thank you so much - I'm starting to feed some whole grains along with my purchased feed and next steps would be making own feed.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

You can see my flock in the Sig below, its accurate and updated with each hatching and culling. My birds free range, which helps with the feed bill (seasonally variable). I'm currently feeding a bit over 300# per month. This month was over 350# - because the goats (who shouldn't eat it - its bad for them - too easily diegsted, messes up their gut biome) think chicken food is candy. I have no CornishX, the only birds stupid enough to eat themselves to death, but notoriously big eaters. I do have most of a dozen adult ducks, who are messy and eat Cornish-like quantities. I also have a lot of young birds, who eat less than the 1/4#/bird day thumb rule.