Feeding twice a day

[Princess Lay- A]

Does Anyone just feed their hens twice a day and not leave out food? I've read that some people who ferment their food don't leave food out and just feed their hens twice a day. What's your opinion on this

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

I dont ferment my chickens food, but i do feed them twice a day. They're orpingtons and overate when i left the food out for them, so it works best for me. Its more time and effort though.

 

[CrazyForMyPeeps802]

Yep! I feed my flock twice a day! I also don't ferment their food. More work but less waste and lesser chance for rodents. I just split their pellets into two feedings!

 

[LaFleche]

Does Anyone just feed their hens twice a day and not leave out food? I've read that some people who ferment their food don't leave food out and just feed their hens twice a day. What's your opinion on this

Twice a day is more than enough for my flock.
And in the winter they get pumpkin, apples and carrots to keep themselves entertained.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Does Anyone just feed their hens twice a day and not leave out food? I've read that some people who ferment their food don't leave food out and just feed their hens twice a day. What's your opinion on this

Lots of different things can work but often details matter. How do you know how much to feed them? If you feed them a limited amount at limited times, you need to insure that all of them can eat at the same time, otherwise the bullies will eat their share and others' shares as well.

Do yours forage for a decent amount of their food? If they do then feeding them is less important.

My opinion is that this can be extremely efficient in cutting down on food waste if you do it right.

 

[Al Gerhart]

I want to echo what Ridgerunner mentioned.

Without knowing what they would eat on their own, how do you go about knowing how much to feed? Chickens are grazing animals so to speak. They do eat grass if available, but more important, then constantly forage and snack the entire day.

You could put out 1/8th of a pound of feed twice a day but like Ridgerunner wrote, how do you know they are all able to eat their share?

Your most likely outcome is to limit their calories and protein, limiting their egg production or weight gain if broilers. Chickens rarely overeat on a commercial ration so the best practice has always been to have food available 24/7 and monitor the intake to see it remains around a quarter pound per bird per day so you know your flock is healthy and you aren't losing feed to vermin.

 

[Sic]

In the winter when there isn't forage available, I feed mine twice a day, and at midday I just bring them fish which they go insane over - they turn into velociraptors with fish and fight over it - fun times
Spring, summer and fall they feed themselves though.

 

[Mrs. K]

I feed once a day, if there is feed left over, I feed a little less the next day. If it is completely gone, I feed a little more. Thing is, it is rather amazing how this fluctuates. Weather can influence it, but not the way you think. Often times in cold weather even behind a wind break, they will eat less … unless it stays cold for several days, then they go back to normal. Same thing in extreme heat. They don’t like change but get used to it.

When I first started I kept way too much feed out. It was tread into the dirt, they would not eat it, and it began to smell.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I'm not running a cafeteria, feed is always available, topped off when needed.

 

[Jen-the-Hen]

Twice a day is more than enough for my flock.
And in the winter they get pumpkin, apples and carrots to keep themselves entertained.

Do you cut up or grate the pumpkin and carrots? My hens can't be bothered pecking anything hard like that...maybe having layer pellets on tap all day most days means they're not hungry enough?