Gluttonous pullets

[Ponte]

So you don't remember is this new feed was significantly fresher than the previous feed?
I record the mfg dates in my production/sales logs.

Do not have exact dates but both where fresh. I should start recording dates.

 

[Al Gerhart]

So using chicken math..... you have a fifty pound bag of feed lasting 7 weeks or 49 days, about a pound a day for five pullets, .2 pounds per bird per day. Considering they aren't mature and laying and have some free range I would say you are not wasting feed and it doesn't appear that you have an wild birds or rats eating the feed at that rate.

 

[Ponte]

Three are laying, two should begging laying very soon.
Am 99% sure that rats and birds are not eating the feed.
Not sure about the weight but I give them 2.5 of those round Quaker Oats containers.

 

[NatJ]

So using chicken math..... you have a fifty pound bag of feed lasting 7 weeks or 49 days, about a pound a day for five pullets, .2 pounds per bird per day. Considering they aren't mature and laying and have some free range I would say you are not wasting feed and it doesn't appear that you have an wild birds or rats eating the feed at that rate.

Yes, that's a reasonable rate, but the original question was why the feed consumption had DOUBLED on the first day with a new brand of feed.

Three are laying, two should begging laying very soon.
Am 99% sure that rats and birds are not eating the feed.
Not sure about the weight but I give them 2.5 of those round Quaker Oats containers.

Chickens do eat more when they're laying eggs--did they start right around the time you switched feeds?

I'm thinking this may just be one of those things that chickens do, that the people never really figure out. Maybe they do just like it better and therefore eat more

 

[Abriana]

I would check crops and the amount of food left every night and adjust as needed depending on the season or particular situation. Chickens need more corn during the colder months to stay warm for example. I offer my food free choice but am working on a feeder system which doesn’t waste as much food because they scoop it out with their beaks to find the best pieces—naughty chickens.

 

[Ponte]

Think I have it figured out.
The two young pullets began laying so maybe they where transitioning to egg laying appetite. Also did noticed that less fruit has been dropping so they have been eating less fruit.

 

[NatJ]

Think I have it figured out.
The two young pullets began laying so maybe they where transitioning to egg laying appetite. Also did noticed that less fruit has been dropping so they have been eating less fruit.

Thanks for updating! I'm glad there's a reasonable explanation

 

[aart]

Think I have it figured out.
The two young pullets began laying so maybe they where transitioning to egg laying appetite. Also did noticed that less fruit has been dropping so they have been eating less fruit.

Sounds reasonable.