How many times a day to feed a flock of 3 young chickens?

[Crow craftsman]

I have 3 birds, 1 rooster and 2 hens. Firstly, i have concers on whether this ratio is alright, incase of stress and overmating. Nextly, i generally feed once in the morning before starting my day, then keep the full feed dish in the coop after about 3:00, when i get back. My coop is far from ideal, as its small, i have to crouch to get in, the sleeping quarters are cramped and made of brick, the ground is bare of grass and i can't free range them because i have almost no lawn space, they'll ravage my crops, and cats, crows and dogs will ravage them. So in slightly small areas, how many times a day to feed them?

 

[nuthatched]

Is there a reason you don't free feed?
Yes, those ratios will have your hens rubbed bare.

 

[Crow craftsman]

Is there a reason you don't free feed?
Yes, those ratios will have your hens rubbed bare.

I dont free feed because my whole neighborhood has a mouse problem, and chickens being chickens they'll spill like anything, plus the bowl will be there for all to see. Plus, i have heard from our local vet that keeping them fed less in a small coop can help their digestion, not getting as much excersise and all.

Oh, gosh, i guess I'll need to do something about that rooster, but he's such a nice little fellow, cant bear to sell or cull him.....
Are you sure, though? I heard only when theyre young they go a bit bare, later they figure out how to do it more gracefully.

 

[WildNectarine]

I dont free feed because my whole neighborhood has a mouse problem, and chickens being chickens they'll spill like anything, plus the bowl will be there for all to see. Plus, i have heard from our local vet that keeping them fed less in a small coop can help their digestion, not getting as much excersise and all.

Oh, gosh, i guess I'll need to do something about that rooster, but he's such a nice little fellow, cant bear to sell or cull him.....
Are you sure, though? I heard only when theyre young they go a bit bare, later they figure out how to do it more gracefully.

Personally I don’t recommend keeping any male and female birds together unless you’re specifically breeding them, but I’m crazy, and a quail person, not a chicken. If you want an option to keep your rooster, look into plush chickens, you could separate him and just give him a plush as a friend, or keep him out and try to offer him plushes also, and see if it takes the stress off the real hens. There’s hope.

 

[nuthatched]

I dont free feed because my whole neighborhood has a mouse problem, and chickens being chickens they'll spill like anything, plus the bowl will be there for all to see. Plus, i have heard from our local vet that keeping them fed less in a small coop can help their digestion, not getting as much excersise and all.

Oh, gosh, i guess I'll need to do something about that rooster, but he's such a nice little fellow, cant bear to sell or cull him.....
Are you sure, though? I heard only when theyre young they go a bit bare, later they figure out how to do it more gracefully.

Invest or build a low waste feeder, or feed them a bigger portion in the morning. A single chicken eat roughly 3-4 ozs of food a day so give them about that x3.
A rooster can rub out the hens regardless of the age.
If your boy isn't particularly randy, it may work out.

 

[PhantomSlayer]

I have 3 birds, 1 rooster and 2 hens. Firstly, i have concers on whether this ratio is alright, incase of stress and overmating. Nextly, i generally feed once in the morning before starting my day, then keep the full feed dish in the coop after about 3:00, when i get back. My coop is far from ideal, as its small, i have to crouch to get in, the sleeping quarters are cramped and made of brick, the ground is bare of grass and i can't free range them because i have almost no lawn space, they'll ravage my crops, and cats, crows and dogs will ravage them. So in slightly small areas, how many times a day to feed them?

I go by 1/4 pound (4 ounces) of feed per chicken per day. I split it into two feedings. Morning and evening. Scraps are just extra.

Nothing wrong with not feeding free access. I personally can't afford the waste cost.

You can grow some fodder to give them since you can't free range them. There's a lot of ways people do it if you look into it.

I don't recommend the rooster personally. I say that because our rooster tore up our 8 girls till they were all barebacked last summer.

 

[Crow craftsman]

Personally I don’t recommend keeping any male and female birds together unless you’re specifically breeding them, but I’m crazy, and a quail person, not a chicken. If you want an option to keep your rooster, look into plush chickens, you could separate him and just give him a plush as a friend, or keep him out and try to offer him plushes also, and see if it takes the stress off the real hens. There’s hope.

Cool, what is a plush though?

 

[WildNectarine]

Cool, what is a plush though?

Like, a stuffed toy chicken.

 

[coach723]

Unless you intend to grow your flock size, I would recommend you not keep a rooster. You really need 10-12 hens for it to work and not have beat up or injured hens (actual numbers can vary some depending on the actual birds). I would try to rehome him to somewhere he will be happier, and your girls will be happier as well.