Food requirements for backyard chickens

[jon deal]

I am in the early planning stages of building a 4x8 pup tent style tractor pen which I would move around my lush organic Cincinnati yard each day. I plan on purchasing 3 hens for egg production. My purpose is to be green and educate the kids in my neighborhood. Will I have to spend a lot on food and water supplements? My yard is full of bugs and worms.

 

[Lesa]

With only 3 hens, I can't imagine you would spend much on food. Figure a 50 lb of layer pellets is around 10-12 dollars. I would think that would last more than a month. You won't need any supplements. A few table scraps are always appreciated... What are your winters like? Will that tractor style coop be warm enough?

 

[greenpeeps]

With three chickens with access to the yard and bugs and kitchen scraps, in my experience a 50lb bag of feed will last 1 - 2 months. Longer in the sping to fall. In the winter you'll go through a ton more feed.

As for a tractor in Ohio in the winter. I would place it closer to the house, because of the fridgid temps and the tons of snow. That would be less walking for you. I would also cover the open area of the tractor with some heavy duty clear plastic and add some straw for added warmth. You should be more then fine for the winter.

Oh and I think it's great what your doing. Bravo!!

 

[digitS']

Dual-purpose hens will eat about 1/3 pound of food each day. So, that translates to 30 pounds of commercial feed a month if that's all your 3 hens have to eat. They will probably eat more than this during the winter.

You can cut 10% to 15% off the feed consumption, easily, with forage and things from the kitchen and garden. Any more than that, and you risk cutting into egg production.

Doesn't look too expensive for 3 laying hens, does it?

Steve
Welcome to BYC

!

 

[elmo]

You probably didn't really mean to refer to water as a "supplement." Chickens need free access to fresh, clean water at all times, especially laying hens.