How much feed?

[Iluveggers]

My flock of 10 goes through about 50lbs a feed per month. They are between 6 & 7 months old. Will this change, or stay pretty consistent? It’s been at this amount since I moved them out to their coop at 6-8 weeks old.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Are they all laying yet? What they eat when all laying is what I would think is maximum feed use

 

[Iluveggers]

Are they all laying yet? What they eat when all laying is what I would think is maximum feed use

Half are laying. Hasn’t been an increase in amount. Although there is no grass/bugs to forage, I give them veggie scraps from dinner the night before (we eat lots of plants so there is usually a small bowlful), plus a handful of scratch because it’s been cold. I give them veggie scraps in nice weather too, but usually not scratch unless I need to call them back into the run (they will come running from all over when they hear my container shake.)

 

[igorsMistress]

It will likely stay fairly consistent. Even if they don’t have grass and bugs right now, they surely find goodies out in the yard if you let them out.

 

[Iluveggers]

It will likely stay fairly consistent. Even if they don’t have grass and bugs right now, they surely find goodies out in the yard if you let them out.

They refuse to leave the run because everything is covered in snow! Supposed to hit 50 this week though, so I’m hoping some of the snow melts and they will come out. I left the door open for an hour yesterday and 3 explored about 4 feet next to the door, and went in after about 5 minutes.

 

[igorsMistress]

They refuse to leave the run because everything is covered in snow! Supposed to hit 50 this week though, so I’m hoping some of the snow melts and they will come out. I left the door open for an hour yesterday and 3 exploded about 4 feet next to the door, and went in after about 5 minutes.

I wouldn’t go out either, snow As long as there is still feed left at the end of the day they’re getting enough and if they’ve been eating this amount for this long I wouldn’t really expect anything to change.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

That sounds about right. I opened a new 50lb bag on November 25th, and my flock of 9 (ranging from 7mo-2 1/2yrs) has about a week left before the bag is done.

 

[nuthatched]

A chicken eats 3-4 Oz of feed a day, 10 x 4 is 40oz= 2 1/2 lbs of food a day, they should eat through a 50lb sack in 25 days. some birds eat less though, 3 of my hens have dainty crops, and the rest have crops fit for smuggling fruit.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Yeah, 1/4 pound per bird per day at that age assuming some are laying. 7.5 pounds per month or 75 pounds, so you are feeding less, likely because some aren't laying yet.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

My 10 eat about #50 in 3.5 weeks. Most are notorious piggy breeds (bielefelder) and most are laying. This winter I started to give sprouted barley, about 1/3 lb (175 g) daily or every other day as they can’t forage. They like the green but really go crazy for the seeds and root mat!
Cheap, healthy treat.