How many feeders for 21 chickens?

[wordgirl]

We're getting chicks in about a week, and we're wondering how many feeders we need to provide them when they're adults. If we give them a fairly large hanging feeder in their coop, will one suffice 21 chickens? They won't be living solely on bagged feed – we're going to let them free range. Though, in the winter, I'm guessing they'll be getting most of their nutrition from the feed we give them. Will the lower ranking chickens be able to eat? Do we need two feeders? Three?

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[gritsar]

Two feeders is always a good idea. The lowest ranking members can get chased from the feeder and not get their fair share.

 

[wordgirl]

Thanks – I was thinking that would probably be best.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

chickens do eat by the "pecking order"
I always had two to three large long feeders for my chickens with oyster shell in one and mineralized granite grit in the other end of the oyster shell feeder
two for feeding
one feeder with whole horse oats
and one feeder with commercial 16-20% crumbles

they seem to lay good nd we never had any problems with several dzn chickens in same chicken house and pen