I have 6 Marans and I have an 11 LB feeder and if I fill it it up my 6 chickens will eat it dry within 2 days. I'm in S Ga so there is no coop they have an open roost in there run,so should I just feed them in a pan in the morning and take the automatic feeder out,they eat like there starving and I give them veggies and bread ends and move there run once a week to fresh grass or leaves. Any advise would be great.
Do you have 'other' visitors to your feeder? Wild birds or varmints that are helping themselves to the feed? It seems like a lot to me… Limiting feed always gives me some concern however, if they are not at the present time 'fat' then they are consuming what they feel they need. Perhaps they have 'just' found a source for something they were 'missing' in the prior feed. I would just keep an eye on them and watch for waste and other critters before I decided to limit their intake, Best to you and your birds, RJ