How much do you feed?

[CrazyFowlFreak]

I have 9 full sized chickens (11 months old), 5 ducks-around 8lbs each (10months old), three one year old peafowl. How much feed should they be getting in pounds, a day, please? I'm having a discussion with DH about it

 

[WoodChic]

We always just try to keep their feeder full. It's seems to work. That is what my neighbors do too.

 

[farmin'chick]

I dunno -- I have read in the experts' books that you should give them as much as they can clean up in 15 minutes, twice a day, once they are grown. Babies should have food in front of them all the time.

 

[hankus]

Mine have a feeder available all day. I jus keep it full.

 

[CrazyFowlFreak]

Okay, let me change that question to, I feed them 25lbs a day and they eat it all. Is that normal?

 

[vstoltzfus]

I have 11 hens and keep their feeders full, but top it off with about 4 lbs every day. So I'll say they eat about 4 lbs a day. The also get table scraps, and if we didn't have 14" of snow they'd be free-ranging part of the day.

 

[Slywoody]

I have a built in wall feeder that holds about 100# of laying mash and they have access to that 24-7 plus i give them treats and scratch every morning and fresh water. I have 9 BO's and get 9 eggs a day.

 

[sonew123]

I have 45 birds including 1 big fat duck and I go through 65-75 lbs a week. Plus many treats-warm mash and warm breakfasts every morning and anything we dont eat-no one in my family eats leftovers!!

In the summer I went through exactly 50#s a week--I miss free ranging-hate winter-but Im getting alot more eggs now

 

[cook_kaka_ook]

I fill up the feeder with about 1 lb of feeds a day. Fill the feeder just before sunset when there is still daylight. They will eat some before they roost. They will eat again at day break before letting them out to free range during the day. I keep the coop's door open so they still can access the feeder. When they are out free ranging they barely go back to the coop and eat. I have 11- 18 weeks old in the flock and they consume roughly about 50 lbs of feed a month.

 

[G Wiz Ranch]

farmin'chick :

I dunno -- I have read in the experts' books that you should give them as much as they can clean up in 15 minutes, twice a day, once they are grown. Babies should have food in front of them all the time.

That 15min rule is for ducks.

Chickens should have free choice (keep the feeder full). Any chance wild birds or mice are getting to the feed? I have 10 times the brids you have and I don't think I go through much more than 50lbs, but ALL of mine free range ALL day.​