Feeding enough?

[llnmaw]

I have 5 chickens ranging in age from 5 weeks to 14/15ish weeks and I'm wondering if I am feeding them enough.

They are still on the chick feed (50lb bag, had the chicks for 8 weeks now I think) and now that they are outside vs in brooder I wonder if they are getting enough. I feed them 1 large household drinking cup 2xday. I'd say it holds about 2 cups of feed. They have access to bugs, grit, weed/grasses all day. I was only feeding that amount 1x a day and just bumped them up to 2x day a day or so ago. They finish all the morning food. Never finish the evening food, but I throw the feeder in the coop at night and by 9am it is usually gone. They go nutty each time I dump the feed...act like they are starving. I doubt they are truly *that* hungry, but maybe I'm wrong?

So...how much feed should they be eating when given the chance to forage?

~L.

 

[CCourson05]

Anytime I give them more feed, they go crazy... Even if there is some still left, they act like they have never seen it. It is very pleasing to me. Like giving a wanted gift at Christmas... Lol.

I have an auto feeder, and when I top it off, they eat what was in the tray before I came in the coop like a baby eating candy!!

 

[catchthewind]

Mostly just subbing for the info. Mine are free-fed in their brooder but outside during the day when it's not raining and I was wondering the same, since I haven't been putting food out for them. I do find when I move them outside and fill up the outside water, they push each other around trying to be the first to get some. I used to go back in and check their water and test the nipple, worried they hadn't been getting any, now I don't worry about it.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

I have food available 24/7 for my chickens. They are outside but will run into the coop during the day to eat their layer feed. I did that with their chick feed as well. While they are eating whats in the yard, they do go back to eat their food because I believe it has some nutrients they arent getting from their natural diet. I dont worry if they are getting enough to eat as they have access to food when they want it. Since yours are still babies and growing, I would let them have access to feed at all times. This way the ones on the bottom of the pecking order can feed without being bullied by the older/higher ranking birds.

 

[Judy]

I think you'll find most on here feed free choice. I always have.

 

[krcote]

Free choice feeding takes the worry and thought out of the task

 

[schellie69]

Yep I free feed made my own feeder from an old cat litter bucket (cleaned with bleach and rinsed really well) then used a shallow cat litter pan and put holes in the bucket it works great I check it daily fill it up once a week works great and I don't worry about them getting enough to eat. I do just throw their scratch around since they would eat all that and not their layer feed.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I'll go the other direction and say some method of controlled feeding is growing in popularity, mainly for rodent control.

I've seen chickens act like they are starving even when there is still food in the feeders, so I tend to think it is merely an act of mild hysteria or excitement. If you feed them throughout the day, and there is still feed in the feeders at 4-5 pm when you pick them up for the night, they are getting plenty of feed.

 

[McCash40]

I agree with Fred. My chickens get all sorts of food and have laying pellets 24/7. If I go out to them with a couple of slices of bread, they go nuts. One RIR even flies up and tries to grab the bread out of my hand. I know they aren't that hungry.

 

[llnmaw]

Fred's Hens :

I'll go the other direction and say some method of controlled feeding is growing in popularity, mainly for rodent control.

.

This is my main reason for not wanting to offer free feed 24/7. I'm left with the question of how much feed is appropriate for ones so young who free range? If my girls were locked in a run only able to eat what I provide I do think I would just offer free feed during the day. Maybe that should be my course of action? I'm just of the mind that they don't *need* feed 24/7. Growing up, our chickens were fed 1x day and foraged the 10 acres the rest of the day. My girls only have a backyard, but still there is lots of food available - I'd like to encourage what nature has given them, but still be sure they have enough nutrition.

All that rambling aside, my original question still stands...is there a general feed amount for young pullets?​