How much feed / water for 5 chickens every 3 days?

[mshirk]

My son's school is raising 5 chickens (to be permanent residents at the school). I'm in charge because a) I volunteered because I love chickens and b) I've had chickens before.

Anyway, because the chickens will be in their all in one coop over the weekends, and having food / water refilled by adults about every 2-3 days, I'd like to know an estimate of water / food consumption for 5 FULL GROWN standard chickens would be for about 3 days.

I am assembling waterers (some sort of bucket with chicken nipples) and a feeder (some sort of bucket with the trigger thing that drops feed when they peck it). I'd like to know what size bucket to aim for. I don't want to go too big and take up too much precious coop space, or too small and have the chickens run out of either over the weekend.

 

[BunkyB]

Well for feed a chicken requires about 4 oz. daily so I would say over a 3 day period to leave out about 4 1/2 - 5 lbs for the weekends. Water I would say 2 1/2 gallons. They love their water. It will be a hit and miss for both but I would say this is a good start. Chickens are pretty flexible in their eating habits if they end up a day shy of feed and water but the amounts mentioned should be ok.

I am sure there are others willing to take a crack at it to. Awesome to see more schools getting the kids involved in such a good learning process. I supply fertile eggs here for the 4H Club here locally. Making arrangements now as to what breeds they want. Anything for kids education... Good going Volunteer Steve

 

[mshirk]

Thanks Steve, that helps a lot! I'm sure I'll need to tweak things, but it helps to have a starting point. I'll end up wasting less time / materials this way

The kids this year wanted to add gardens, chickens, and a swing set (it's a Montessori school with lots of student input). So at the school auction one of the kids spoke about how they wanted these things and the school got lots of $$ towards the projects. We got our coop (partially prefab, similar to one I own) on Friday, and the middle schoolers are going to assemble it in a month or two. The chicks will get moved around to each classroom after the first 10 days (I'll get them started right at my house), and once eggs come in the fall the kids will be gathering eggs and each child in the school will eventually get 6 eggs to take home.

The gardens are already going at the school, they were able to hire a once a week horticulturist to come in and teach about gardening, plan, clear beds, amend the soil, and planting will begin soon.

Chickens are so much fun, and I too am thrilled that the kids will get to have this learning experience. I grew up on a dairy farm myself, but so many kids have no contact with animals other than dogs / cats / fish.

 

[BunkyB]

Sounds like an awesome school. Finally kids get to be taught more than the standard school work. That is needed for sure. They way things are going I personally would love to see courses on this as a regular activity in school. Guaranteed we are going to have to resort to self sufficiency in the future the way things are going economically.

My hats off to the school program you are involved in. Something like that being exposed to is a good thing at a young age...Bravo!!
Steve

 

[Rich386]

Put your supply out side the coup and the tank could be any size without taking up space.