How much is enough?

[gritsar]

IMO, keep the feeder full. If you want to skimp on anything, skimp on the treats. They can live without those. Fed just their feed, they'll self regulate. It's only the treats they seem to have a hard time walking away from; like me and carbs. Just can't say no.

 

[bluetrain]

Quote:
LOL......I'm right there with you....especially the carbs in my "liquid bread" that I make......thanks for all the relies. You guys are the greatest.

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
What WoodlandWoman said... 1/4 to 1/3 pound per bird is the average consumption but also depends on treats, free-ranging, location, and time of year. More feed during cold weather (you could lower the protein %) and less food during hot weather (you could up the protein %). Colder weather requires more carbohydrates to "burn" for warmth, in warmer weather actually less is eaten but they still need protein (thus raising the protein % might be a good idea). Cracked corn is good in the winter for "warming them up" but might actually cause them to overheat in the summer...high in carbs but low in protein. They're more active in warm weather and usually lay more eggs and need more protein.

Most people recommend to free feed while others feed a specific amount. You'll have to decide on your own method and what works for your birds. As someone mentioned, if that was the only "overweight" bird that you had then probably it had a genetic/health issue.

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[HappyMo]

Hi Everyone,
Please IGNORE my earlier "two cents" about over feeding!!!
After crying for two days (after holding Patsy as she died) and reading threads on BYC I've come to the conclusion that I probably gave too much scratch.
I would give them scratch in the morning (couple handfuls) when I let them out of the coop (into the run) and a couple hours later I'd let them free range. When I brought them back to the coop (in the afternoon, eve, or if I needed to leave the farm) I'd give them scratch to get them into the run.
Essentially, I think they were "filling up on candy" and then not eating as much of their layer crumble/mash as they should have. For a month or two I was just giving them cracked corn as their "treat" (because that's what the feed store person sold me when I asked for scratch - at that point I didn't know there was 3 way and 5 way...), but for the last couple months their treat has been 5 way scratch (much less corn!).
I will continue to free feed (once I've slimmed some of them down a bit) with the local organic mash.
Patsy just looked so healthy and laid such great eggs I had NO CLUE her abdomen and liver were full of fat. What a yucky way for her to go. Lesson learned!!

I think for a while I'll just read posts and not "put my two cents in" since CLEARLY I'm not the one with the answers!!

You guys ROCK!!

= ) Molly

 

[wvgal61]

I was wondering the same things about the amount of feed to give. I love BYC!

 

[crazyhen]

If you want to treat them give them greens. In the winter when they are scarce I buy the cheapest largest bags I can and treat with that. They love them. they jump up to my hands to get them. Very healthy too. Sorry you lost your hen. Gloria Jean