how much feed per chicken per day??

[bkate]

Quote:
Crumble is essentially pellets, but ground up roughly. My chickens prefer crumble but a lot of people go with the pellets since it's easier to salvage when it spills or gets billed out of the feeder.

Thanks!

 

[crzychknluvr]

Thank everyone for the great feedback! Can anyone tell me the diff between egg maker and layers crumble? the guy at the feed store said it was higher in protien but did not elaborate. I haven't seen anybody else mention egg maker? what is this stuff?

 

[BioBob]

Egg Maker is made by Blue Seal. It is high in protein, and not available everywhere. Google Blue Seal -- they make feed for most critters.

Wal-Mart is beginning to sell Chicken feed, but be careful, it is NOT a bargain.

They also call theirs "Eggmaker", but it is only 15% protein, and it is in a 40 pound bag with a 50 pound price.

It is made for them by Manna Pro out of St. Louis.

Surprise, Surprise, it's not made in China.

 

[Fuffy]

Well I have had my little flock of 5 for almost a month now.
I was told to give each bird a handful of food every day. So I give 3 of layers pellets in the morning, mixed with the DE. And in the afternoon they get 2 handfuls of mixed corn. They have an area where I put the grit down so they can pick at it when they want.
I feed in a bowl on paving slabs to keep the toenails worn down, and I make sure I pick the bowl up when I shut the girls in at night.
They have a large pen - Big enough to call them free range with varied landscape: grass, soil, shrubs, trees and shade.
Although they haven't started laying yet, my birds seem healthy and happy.

BUT MY CAT LIKES CHICKEN PELLETS!!!

She isn't brave enough to take on the chooks yest, but if I put the dish down while I am doing my chores, she is right in there!!!

Anyway I would make sure you get the food out of there at night time!

 

[Tala]

Quote:
We used to have outdoor cats and my parents would only buy them Wal-Mart Special Kitty ---- really cheap cat food. They would eat anything weird, like rabbit pellets, and I suspect they would eat chicken pellets (essentially the same thing). One even ate lettuce once or twice, but I suspect that was more so the rabbit wouldn't get it.

Anyway, compare

My current cats are on very high quality kibble, a good store brand mixed with Wellness Core grain free (working on switching them over to the grain free) and they don't eat chicken pellets or weird junk. They will eat canned fish, tuna, raw ground beef, any cut of raw pork, - meaty things that cats are SUPPOSED to eat, not grains and veggies.

Just a thought. If your cat is eating chicken grains I would seriously consider switching to a higher quality cat food. You will actually save money in the long run because your cat will eat less of it. I was feeding the best store brand that I could find that I was happy with the ingredients and they quit making it, so even while mixing the Wellness Core in with the last of the old food they have already started to eat even less.

 

[Fuffy]

Hey Tala

My cat gets the best quality cat food I can get, so I'm sure it isn't that.

In the morning, I go out and put the chook food on a table while I go and pick up the remains of the hedgehog food (Which is cat food). This is when she tucks into the chicken pellets while waiting to clean up the hog food. She also supplements her diet with tasty wildlife... Wonder if they put milk or something non-vegetarian in the chook pellets? Will have to read the bag next time I have one...

 

[oldhen2345]

I have 7 chickens right now - all big girls - Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Marans, Welsummer. They get about 3/4 cup each per day of layer feed and free range throughout a 1/2 acre yard. Some days the feeder is empty, some days some is left- I guess it just depends on how hungry they are and what they ate in the yard. I generally give them a snack of BOSS and meal worms in the evening so they go to bed with something on their tummies. Just a quirk of mine. They all seem healthy and happy.

 

[Itty Biddy Barn]

Thanks for posting a measured amount. My 7 pullets get about the same in the morning, then free range in the afternoon, then I feed them again a little before bed. Have no idea what's the "right" amount, but they always act like they're starving to death! Not laying yet, I'm feeding crumble. PS- What is BOSS?

 

[Patinas]

I have a flock of 19 and mine go through 50lbs of crumble about every three weeks. I do not have rodents in my coop/run and I use a treadle type feeder so the chickens can't scratch the feed out, so virtually no waste. Before I switched to the treadle feeder, there was a lot of feed waste.

Feeder always has feed in it so they eat it when they want it. They also free range in the afternoon and they get a smorgasbord treat tray daily. This certainly helps the feed go much further since that's not the only think they eat.

@Itty Biddy Barn BOSS = Black Oil Sunflower Seed

 

[oldhen2345]

Thanks for posting a measured amount. My 7 pullets get about the same in the morning, then free range in the afternoon, then I feed them again a little before bed. Have no idea what's the "right" amount, but they always act like they're starving to death! Not laying yet, I'm feeding crumble. PS- What is BOSS?

Black Oil Sunflower Seeds- the chickens love it and it is an added source of protein, from what I understand. I buy bulk and keep in in a galvanized can with a lid, so no rodents can get to it. Every evening, I scoop out a handful of freeze dried meal worms and a handful of BOSS. They do all seem like they are starving to death when I get to the chicken yard. Sometimes, I give them strawberry tops or watermelon or cantaloupe. They devastated my garden this year- so they have had plenty of greens LOL. In the winter, I give them some warm cooked rice( I cook it and keep in in the ice box. Scoop out about 3/4 cup, add a little water and microwave for a few seconds- just to warm it, not make it hot.) they love that and I seem to get more eggs when it is cold when I do that as opposed to when it is cold and I don't. Counts are still down due to daylight issues in winter,though.