Feeding chickens

[Adil_Ali]

I was wondering as to wether or not I should give my chickens unlimited supply of feed, or keep it limited and feed them once a day and let them eat as much as they can in an hour; then I remove the feeder?

Cheers

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I can't tell you what to do, but I provide feed for my chickens and have it available all day. They don't eat or drink at night. They also have oyster shell and grit constantly available. Some people can't feed that way because wild birds would eat up all their feed, or for some other reason, but I have mine in a feeder the wild birds can't access.

As long as your chickens get an adequate amount of feed every day, I don't think it matters how they get it. Hopefully others will voice their views to help you decide. Good luck and welcome to BYC!

 

[saysfaa]

I don't think they can eat enough in an hour once a day to get enough food unless, maybe, they have very good grazing the rest of the day.

I feed free choice all the time so don't know how often is enough.

 

[3KillerBs]

What kind of chickens you have, what environment you live in, and what season of the year it is will make a difference, but chickens do not naturally eat only once a day. Rather, their natural pattern is to fill their crops then rest and digest repeatedly throughout the day -- "grazing" rather than "gorging".

Except for specialty meat breeds like the Cornish X, chickens are almost always very good about self-regulating their feed intake and can be safely free-fed without worrying about them over-eating.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

May I ask what is the reason you wish to feed only once a day?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Excepting the Cx, most backyard chicken owners with typical management practices find acceptable results with minimal effort by allowing their birds to eat all day long.

I happen to feed once daily to encourage my birds to free range the acres of pasture - a bigger back yard than most chicken owners enjoy. It's actually more effort ensuring they get enough feed while limiting waste than if I simply left food out for them.

 

[3KillerBs]

Excepting the Cx, most backyard chicken owners with typical management practices find acceptable results with minimal effort by allowing their birds to eat all day long.

I happen to feed once daily to encourage my birds to free range the acres of pasture - a bigger back yard than most chicken owners enjoy. It's actually more effort ensuring they get enough feed while limiting waste than if I simply left food out for them.

Additionally, you live in an unusually-favorable climate for year-round forage.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Additionally, you live in an unusually-favorable climate for year-round forage.

Without doubt, and it's key to my management methods.