How many times/day do you feed your chickens?

[Dwkuska]

We make sure both 5lb feeders(28 ladies and Roo) are full and let the chickens free range during the day. Though we dont let the ladies out till atleast noon so that we never again find a 29 egg pileup under the deck lol. I have a 5gal bucket full of oyster shells and only put in a few pinches ever week just to make sure they are getting enough calcium(though I practically need a hammer to crack the eggs now

). The birds get their grit from the yard as our soil has lots of rock(glacial run off I suspect). I agree with a previous poster that once they can forage they seem to leave the feeders alone until they go in for the night in which case they gorge themselves.

 

[CasadasHens]

Kleo - Aaaah, you are a lovely kind mom!

 

[hollymh]

I throw scraps and scratch grains every morning and evening and they have a bucket of layer feed in the coop, they kind on nibble all the time on the layer feed and spend the rest of the day foraging.

 

[Gldnrose]

I wish I could free range mine. Too many predators :-/
I do have a question off topic. We have been part of the deep freeze,
and I have kept my chickens in the coop during the day. Is ok to let them
out in the run with temps still in the single digits during the day? I have a new coop, and I
didn't want to open the door and let out the little bit of warmth in the coop.

We have had two instances with temps in the negatives, which it is right now. Mine have come out everyday. They want to. Every morning I look out and see all the little wild birds and I guess if they can do it my chickens can, lol. I don't have any heat in the coop either, so they are not "used" to it being all warm and cozy in there. This is my first winter with them and I worry about them but they seem to be doing just fine. I do give them a little bit of extra scratch before they go back into the coop. I don't have a little pop door either, its a big door that opens up into the run. My run is also covered on top and all around the sides so that really helps with blocking any wind. I will be glad when it warms up though )

 

[Gldnrose]

(though I practically need a hammer to crack the eggs now

).

I was just thinking the same thing when I was cracking some eggs yesterday. I have always only had store bought eggs and after my girls started to lay I was amazed at the strength of the shell. I have yet to not make a mess trying to crack one open, lol.

 

[bruceha2000]

We have been part of the deep freeze,
and I have kept my chickens in the coop during the day. Is ok to let them
out in the run with temps still in the single digits during the day? I have a new coop, and I
didn't want to open the door and let out the little bit of warmth in the coop.

You bet. Open the door. If they want to go out, they will. If they want to stay in, they will.
-11F yesterday, a whopping 0F today. The girls stayed in the barn, but as usual, NOT ONE was hanging near the waterer with the 250W red heat lamp over it to keep it from freezing.

Bruce

 

[Beekissed]

Mine have been out in -2 all day, lounging in an area that's about 15 yds from their coop. One did the distance from the coop this morning of 75 yds to the house and stood in the snow, waiting for me to come out to feed. I agree..let those birds out and let them decide if they will come or go.

 

[Rainbirds]

Mine free range plus I keep a feeder full at all times. I supplement with a little bread every morning. That's their treat, and if I forget they let me know. In the summer I grow extra lettuce and spinach just for them.Any leftovers or kitchen scraps they also love. It's fun to watch them eat noodles
I think we all watched too much Little house on the Prairie thinking we should just go out and throw down some scratch.

 

[4H gal]

Well at my home we have a very large feeder and whenever the feed gets low we just refill it.
I hope this helps a little

 

[TNchickies]

I keep a big container of feed in the cage with my eleven chickens in the morning, and (generally) by the night, it's empty. I go out in the morning to re-fill it. I also give them corn every few days, so they eat less of their pellets. I give them more pellets in the winter as they need energy to keep their body temperature up. I also give them more fruits, veggies, and scraps in the summer. Like a few people have said, feeding depends on how you want to feed them. I hope this was helpful!