How much feed??

[lonewolfluv3]

Hello I'm going to be taking on 12 one year old chickens and was wondering how long a 50 lb feed bag will last me? I'm brand new at chickens so any suggestions on feeders and waterers are most welcome! I'm going to Rural King tomorrow to purchase them. Also I live in Florida so do I need to be concerned with a water heater???

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Roughly 12 days, but I'd budget closer to 10 to be safe.

Rubber bowls work just fine, and you shouldn't need a heater

 

[lonewolfluv3]

Roughly 12 days, but I'd budget closer to 10 to be safe.

Rubber bowls work just fine, and you shouldn't need a heater

Ohhhh like a rubber dog bowl type thing??

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Ohhhh like a rubber dog bowl type thing??

Yep. Or cat food/waterers will work too.. basically anything bowl shape

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Are you getting chicks or adults?

I have about 25 adults and a dozen or so 8-week youngsters. 2 50# bags of all-flock type feed last me roughly 2 weeks.

Chicks, of course, eat much less.

Here's are some helpful articles about raising chicks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-ultimate-guide-to-setting-up-a-chick-brooder.77279/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-to-raise-chickens.47660/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...first-60-days-of-raising-baby-chickens.47691/

 

[Cindy in PA]

12 chickens will take 16 + days to eat 50 pounds. I go thru 100 in 4.5-5 weeks with 16 chickens, but I give a cup of scratch every day.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The "thumb rule" is 1/4# per bird, per day. For an average adult chicken in average conditions. None of us have that theoretically average chicken - its like having an average 2.3 kinds in your family... But it gives a good starting point.

If you have Cx or other "meaties", you expect they will eat (a lot) more. Small breeds may eat much less. and there's a whole spectrum in between. Similarly, low nutritional value low energy feeds will be consumed in greater quanitity, while high energy nutrient dense formulations will be consumed less... Time of year can have an impact, activity level, state of molt... Cage or contained run kept eat more than those who can suppliment by free ranging....

So your question doesn't have a clear answer - but the guideposts above are good estimates as a starting point for your expectations. My flock (see sig) eats 300# per month right now, but they free range 24/7, I'm in a forgiving climate, I've worked on my pasture quality, and my birds have most of 2 acres of pasture plus another three of underbrushed woodland. Come February when my pasture provides very little, I expect their consumption will have climbed closer to 375# per month.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Assuming all of the birds are hens, the already given number of a quarter pound of feed per day is spot on. 16 days for a full bag. If you are just starting out you can get by with cheap feeders like dog bowls or the standard hanging chicken feeders but from day one you begin paying for a good feeder with wasted feed and eventually the rats and wild birds and the predators that eat them will show up.

If you have the budget get a treadle feeder as all of your flock is adult sized birds. Find one with an inward swinging door, a narrow and distant treadle, and make sure the door is spring loaded or the vermin will quickly just push the door open. You are going to spend $80 to $100 plus shipping and avoid ALL the feeders on Amazon as ALL are made in China including the Grandpa feeder, AKA the Grandpa Xi feeder.