How much Feed is too much/to little?

[montanachicky]

I have a flock of 11 layers...They are able to free range about 5-6 hours a day and are in a large run the rest of the day. Right now I feel like I am burning through feed...like a 50# bag every week and a half. They really aren't too excited about free ranging so I have been giving them less and less food to encourage them to forge on their own but I don't want to starve them. How much is too little?

Also, I have a very mixed age flock with half of them laying and the other half still between 12-16 weeks. I have read not to give the young ones layer mix...but can I cut the layer mix down with a raiser mix to help this issue?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have a flock of 11 layers...They are able to free range about 5-6 hours a day and are in a large run the rest of the day. Right now I feel like I am burning through feed...like a 50# bag every week and a half. They really aren't too excited about free ranging so I have been giving them less and less food to encourage them to forge on their own but I don't want to starve them. How much is too little?

Also, I have a very mixed age flock with half of them laying and the other half still between 12-16 weeks. I have read not to give the young ones layer mix...but can I cut the layer mix down with a raiser mix to help this issue?

A dozen chickens should eat maybe 100 lb a month from my experience, more or less depending on whether they are free ranging, and whether the weather is cold. A lighter weight hen should eat about 4 oz a day of feed.

If you are using 50# every week and a half, that is just a little more than I would expect but if they aren't free ranging much that would definitely explain it.

In my opinion it is better to let them do what they want to do. If they need that much feed I would let them have it. Layers usually won't overeat. So one thing you can do is feed everyone grower feed or unmedicated starter/grower or Flock Raiser feed, with oyster shell on the side for the layers. I wouldn't feed layer feed at all for about another month, since it has too much calcium for nonlayers and can damage the kidneys.

If you keep your feed cool and dry it can last 3-4 months fine. If it will be hot and may spoil I'd put your layer feed in the freezer and remove it little by little so it doesn't spoil.

Cutting the layer mix down will still give them the opportunity to eat very very high calcium and thus isn't really recommended. If you feed the high protein feeds I mentioned you can also mix in a little scratch which cuts some costs but don't give them too much - also make sure you are offering greens such as grass if you cut the vitamins in the feed by offering scratch.

The feeds I mentioned should be about 20% protein and layer feed is usually 16% protein, to give you an idea of how far you can go with the scratch. Grower feed is usually about 17%.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

One thing that may encourage them to eat more grass and cut your feed bill is to mow the grass with your mower and offer them some grass clippings. My chickens LOVE grass clippings in a pile and will usually consume them ALL if the pile isn't too large.

Always keep the clippings short, say 2-3 inches for adult chickens and 1/2 to 1 inch for new chicks (They need access to free ranging or grit when they are eating grass of course).