Food quantity question

[tamraclovw]

Hey all! I have free range chickens, but it feels like they are eating me out of house and home!! Here are the details:

10 pullets, 22weeks old (getting 3-4 eggs a day now!)
11 older chicks, about 15 weeks old

So that's 21 nearly grown chickens. They can empty the 10lb feeder in less than 3 days. Is there some sort of average I could use to make sure they get enough without being so lazy they won't go forage?

They have 6 acres to free range in, although they only venture about 200ft from the coop. They have mown grass, tall field-type grasses with weeds, and there is a tree line. They are free from around 8am when I let them out, until 0'dark:30 when they go to roost, and I close the door.

They do forage all day, catch bugs, eat grass, clover etc, and they get any pasta/rice/bread/ peelings etc we have leftover. But I'm sure it's just easier to eat their fill of nice crumble. And my feeder is hanging, so there is no waste. I looked on the back of the feed bag for ideas - I was thinking there might be guidelines like for a dog, but no luck.

Thanks for any ideas or advice!!

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

Its a very good sign to know their actually eating their food! Since they are still growing in their feathers and growing meat on themselves, they eat more. I feed my chickens 1 to 2 times a day, and when they lay, or it's windy they eat more. I think you're feeding them well, just watch the water also now, it's summer.

 

[duckinnut]

On average you figure 4oz of feed per bird per day. So 21 birds @ 4oz =84oz divided by 16oz =5.25lbs a day. Again on average, where you are getting 3 days out of ten pounds with free range all day, think that is just about right.

Free range is great it save on feed but doesn't always give them what they need to make eggs efficiently so they are eating what they need to provide you with them.

 

[Chris09]

10 lbs / 3 days is 3.33 lbs a day
3.33 lbs / 22 birds is .15 lbs per bird per day or 2.24 oz of feed per bird per day.

Sounds right to me since they are still growing, what are you feeding and what breed are they?


Chris

 

[tamraclovw]

I've been feeding them grower, and just today got the first bag of layer. I have NH Red, Barred Rock, White Rock, Jersey Giant, Golden Buff. They also have free access to grit and calcium, and water, of course.

 

[Chris09]

The amount of feed sounds right for there age.


Chris