Free Range and supplimenting feed

[sgt pepper]

I have 18 buff orphingtons and have been allowing them to free range throughout the day. I live on 7 acres in missouri, there is plenty for them to find.. I also have been feeding them egg pellets. I am feeding about 200 lbs a month in addition to their free rangeing. I am wondering if i am feeding too much?

 

[trilyn]

Holy cow, are you sure nothing else is getting access to their feed? I've got 21 hens out in the coop and I only go through a hundred pounds a month, if that. Something smells fishy......ya might wanna check it out!! Oh, btw, mine have free access 24/7 to their feed also.

 

[sgt pepper]

I keep the food in a large lidded can... I give them 1 1/2 scoops a day.. i use an old bleach bottle(1 gal ) as a scoop.. I have filled their 30 lb feeder and they wil go thru it in a couple days with no problem.. I am thinking of cutting their ration i feed in half.. as it is i am feeding about 6.6 lbs per day or .37 lbs per day to each bird... along with what they range...

 

[terri9630]

Wow, that's a lot of feed. I have 10 RIR's and their 30lb feeder lasts a week. I have a 40lb feeder in with 16 5wk old meaties and it lasts about 4 1/2 days.

 

[Warthog]

I have 40 Production Reds who free range on 28 acres, but probably only range about 4/5 acres.

I feed them about 2lbs of food in the morning before I let them out, and about 2lbs of food when I bring them in, in the evening along with any kitchen scraps.

They are fit healthy and producing eggs really well.

I think you might just be overfeeding or that something else is getting into the food.

 

[Olive Hill]

What kind of feeder are you using? Where is it located, inside or outside? They're either wasting feed, are way over-eating or something else is getting into that feed.