How much feed for free range flock of 35?

[FarmerChic]

Hi, my chickens free range all day but we still offer them pellets if they so choose. I was just wondering how much to offer them because I want to be sure Im not overfeeding. They do not look overweight and none of their crops are enlarged. We currently have 35 birds: 10 r.i.r.'s, 7 French BCMs, 12 partridge plymouth rocks, 3 delawares, 1 icelandic, and 2 o.e.'s.

 

[galanie]

They won't overeat. The answer depends on how much they really are getting by free ranging and can vary. Just look at how much is left at the end of the day. If none, they need more. Ideally, feed them enough that only a bit is left after they go to roost.

 

[FarmerChic]

Sounds reasonable, will do! Thank you very much

 

[Edwards24]

Do you feed them in the coop or is the feed outside.

 

[samanthajosling]

They won't overeat. The answer depends on how much they really are getting by free ranging and can vary. Just look at how much is left at the end of the day. If none, they need more. Ideally, feed them enough that only a bit is left after they go to roost.

Yepp

 

[centrarchid]

I apply feed in morning before going to work. Birds usually some some foraging and get water before feed applied to feeder. Birds then hit feeders and top off crop and spend bulk of day in cover. Sometime in afternoon they resume feeding and consume balance of what is in feeder, thereafter they begin foraging for real and move out well away from feeder to get at insects and suitable plant materials. If forage quality poor or volume in feeder low the birds range farther. I try strive to have birds get out there for eats but also to be able to get them to have full or nearly full crops when going to roost. I check foraging distance when getting back from work and "feel them up" as dog and I do lock down on roost / pens. If crops not nearly full or birds ranging too far then I up the volume of feed applied following morning. If I way under feed some birds will roost closer to where they foraged during day or go beyond effective predator free radius provided by dog. Most of my young birds are not confined in any manner during day so they can respond within limits to changes in the amount of feed applied. If birds confined or with poor foraging habits relative to avaible forage, you quickly get into a feedlot situation where >90% of their nutrition is supplied by you via feeder. I do same with smaller juveniles still vulnerable to hawks that fly away with live birds. With smaller birds I feed so most days all feed is consumed in feeders on most days. If they appear extremely hungry before going to roost then I hand broadcast some feed on ground well away from where they will roost for tonight. I say some; make certain they consume all. Next day feed amount is increased for them as well. I effort to have no feed left over in feeder by nightfall. Such overnight feed promotes increases in rodent abundance and attracts predators like raccoons and oppossums.

 

[FarmerChic]

I feed them inside their coop.

 

[FarmerChic]

They have 22 acres of watershed property to forage. The quality of food they can forage for is high in my opinion. Now that you mention it, they do wander further when pellets are low/out. Thank you very much for pointing that out I also never thought about feeling their crop at the end of the day. I may start doing that.

 

[Edwards24]

I feed them inside their coop.

Ive never had it happen but always been told to be careful with feed outside of the coop because if it gets wet the mold can cause some serious issues

 

[centrarchid]

They have 22 acres of watershed property to forage. The quality of food they can forage for is high in my opinion. Now that you mention it, they do wander further when pellets are low/out. Thank you very much for pointing that out

I also never thought about feeling their crop at the end of the day. I may start doing that.

You can promote better usage of available forage by placement of feeders (feeding stations). Move them in increments small enough for birds to adjust each day. Also consider feeder proximity to cover. My birds will not go out to feeder in middle of open feild. Cover is not only in respect to predators, it is also about sun, wind and even rain.