how much food

[vackman]

I am new at this and have bought 38 chickens. How much do I feed them?
Last week I used a 50lbs in 4 days and a couple loafs of wheat bread. The more I give them the more they eat. DO THE EVER GET FULL!

 

[fernandez0067]

nope they never get full. make sure you have feed available at all times.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Unless they are broilers I would just free feed them. They will eat what they want. As for how much to feed them I can't tell you that because I go through at least 50lbs a day. Maybe someone else will have better details for you.

 

[gritsar]

Welcome to BYC!
For my egg laying flock of 13 hens and one roo, I keep my 30 lb. feeder full at all times. This is in addition to them free ranging. I refill the feeder as needed, usually every third day.

 

[Davaroo]

Welcome. Pretty cool that you jumped in with grown birds right off.

Average feed consumption for laying chickens is 4 - 6 oz. per day.
This increases in cool weather and goes down somewhat in warmer. But it can be considered average.
With 38 birds x 6 ozs., that is 14.25 lbs per day. I'd say you are right on track.

I guess no one told you this?

(Just wait til they are laying in earnest. That'll be 19-30 eggs a day!)

 

[vackman]

Thanks to all.