figured out how much my flock is eating a week

[blueseal]

my last 150 pounds of layer mash just ran out today and its been 3 and a half weeks since i bought it. my flock of 21 standard chickens and 1 rooster are eating 42.85 pounds of feed a week . i feed blueseal layer mash.

 

[HEChicken]

That seems like a lot. I now have 6 chooks but had 7 until I dispatched a rooster last weekend. Even with 7, it takes me 6-8 weeks to go through a 50lb bag when feeding free choice. Since you have 21 (3x as many chooks) and are buying in 150lb lots (3x as much food), it stands to reason that that quantity of food should be lasting you about the same amount of time as my 50lb bag lasts for 7.

 

[blueseal]

150 pound lasts me 4 weeks tops in the winter. in the summer i can get 5or 6 weeks out of it. there is some waste where i feed them mash and not pellets.

 

[HEChicken]

By mash, do you mean crumbles? I haven't used pellets yet either, though I plan to try them the next time I need to buy a bag. I make mash out of the crumbles by adding warm water and whatever kitchen scraps we have that day. But I also have a feeder with free choice crumbles available all the time. Mine do free-range all day but this time of year I can't imagine they're finding much.

 

[blueseal]

i feed them layer mash made by blueseal. its a powdery mash no crumbles in it.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
42.85 lb feed per week equates to .278 #/hd/day which is right at the expected feed intake for a backyard flock.

Jim

 

[Cats Critters]

Mine go through 100lbs a feed a month at the moment, I have 42 chickens.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
What else are you feeding? Feeding 100 lbs per month to 42 birds equals .079 #/hd/day which is quite low. Commercial hens in environmentall controlled buildings consume .22 to .24 #/hd/day.

 

[Cats Critters]

I'm feeding Dumor crumbles, they also free-range (not much out their right now though) and about once or twice a week some treats. Also I'm about to start feeding them scratch to help with the cold and to keep them busy.

 

[mstricer]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Quote:
What else are you feeding? Feeding 100 lbs per month to 42 birds equals .079 #/hd/day which is quite low. Commercial hens in environmentall controlled buildings consume .22 to .24 #/hd/day.

I'm with you that doesnt seem like alot. I have 37 birds and if my calculations are right I use that much a week and half. We have a 17 lb feeder I think we put maybe 12 lbs a day maybe more. (in the morning and take out at night) I give them greens and lots of other treats like mealworms and crickets. I use Laynea pellets.​