How much food will I need to buy?

[bruceha2000]

Same diet as my chickens, though they can't catch their own fish. But they will pick salmon skin clean.

 

[lazy gardener]

My flock of 30 adult chickens go through around 50#/week. That puts my winter time feed conversion at .24. During the summer, when they can free range, my rate is .18.

IMO, it's always wise to keep tabs on the amount of feed you are using. It helps you to plan your purchase, and it also clues you that there is a problem. If your consumption suddenly increases without just cause, you most likely have a rodent problem.

The published stats from my feed store say that an adult bird should consume .2 - .3#/bird/day.

 

[aart]

IMO, it's always wise to keep tabs on the amount of feed you are using. It helps you to plan your purchase, and it also clues you that there is a problem. If your consumption suddenly increases without just cause, you most likely have a rodent problem.

Definitely. I feed every morning, putting so many scoops out(I don't weigh it).
That way I can see if consumption changes, and sometimes it does, most often know just why.

 

[bruceha2000]

Looks like my 17 are running about .2#/day, the feed is ~$0.24/# or ~ $0.82/day.

 

[lazy gardener]

You're running a tight game, Bruce! What's your egg productivity? Mine is running 79%.

 

[K813ZRA]

Mine comes out to right around .27# per bird per day averaged over the year but again, that includes the ducks which eat a lot. I am sure there are some fringe eaters too. I know my OEGB can't eat near as much as my 10# Orpington. Or at lest I would think not!

 

[lazy gardener]

Ducks will change your feed ratio for sure. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges. I'll take one of each please.

 

[bruceha2000]

You're running a tight game, Bruce! What's your egg productivity? Mine is running 79%.

They eat what they eat! The layer pellets are available 24x7.

At the moment egg productivity is down. No light in the coop, some are starting back up. But I have 5 hens that are 5.5 years old so it would not be reasonable to expect them to be laying at your 79%. Or maybe not even at 50%. Of the 2017's - still waiting for Oreo to start back up, Mint has been laying for a couple of weeks (both are Exchequer Leghorns). The Welsummers are gearing up. Cassie (EE) has been laying for weeks and while Trill (Barnevelder) was the only bird laying until a few weeks ago, she seems to have decided she deserves a small vacation. All of the 2015s have finally started back up.

6 eggs today, 5 yesterday, 6 the day before.

 

[lazy gardener]

Bruce, I wasn't insinuating that you don't feed them all they want, cause I know your style. Your animals are well tended. Just noticing the fact that your conversion rate is better than mine right now, and surmising that it's b/c your girls may not be kicked up to full gear b/c of age factor, and not supplementing light. Your climate, being similar to mine, says they aren't finding much in way of free range, but, even there, you are a bit ahead of me in that regard.

Increased egg production will change the feed conversion rate. 2015's laying is a good thing. Bet those eggs are big! I wouldn't be surprised if you have a broody this season. I expect I will have one also, since I don't really need one.

 

[bruceha2000]

Zorra (BA), Clemence and Anais (Faverolles) WILL be broody this year ... at least twice each. Why would they change from the past 4 years? Angel (2015 White Rock) has gone broody once each of the last 2 years but she breaks in 2 days.

I'm sure some of my good conversion ratio is related to the types of birds. The 2 Exchequers are tiny, I bet Zorra is over twice their weight. And as you know EEs are more feather than body so they probably don't eat as much as the bigger birds.

They were VERY happy most of the snow melted and were out scratching in the leaves under the lilac hedgerow and eating grass yesterday. I was gone most of today so they were stuck behind the gate. I'll be home tomorrow though so they can be out all day.