How much is enough?

[bluetrain]

Scratch or extra goodies aside, how much "feed" is the right amount for egg layers? Mine will be in a coop all the time so they won't be out scratching in the yard or anything. So I don't want to over-feed and have them get too fat to create any laying issues. I have a hanging feeder that I can load any amount up to 3 gallons (dry). I will have 6 Golden Comets in May.

Thanks.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Full grown hens usually consume around 2 oz. of feed per day by my calculations. That's just an average though. There are variables such as size, health etc.

 

[blue fire]

I would think you would not need to restrict it, I would just leave some food in the feeder at all times.

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
My thoughts exactly.

 

[bluetrain]

Well I guess my fear is rooted in just raising some Cornish X (long story, didn't know what we had) and after slaughtering the last hen and seeing how fat she was and the eggs that were not laid, I didn't want to have anything near like that again with my new egg layers.

 

[canada-goose]

Quote:
Generally that doesn't happen with laying breeds. Just pick them up occasionally and check if they feel fat.

 

[bluetrain]

Quote:
Generally that doesn't happen with laying breeds. Just pick them up occasionally and check if they feel fat.

Now that I can do........thanks. It's funny, now that the coop is empty waiting on ours in May, I miss them. Part of my routine was feeding our dog and checking on the chickens each morning. Now it just sits there empty. Oh well, 7 weeks to go.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Cornish x are known for overeating. That's why a lot of people take their food away at night, to limit them a bit. Layers have a more normal appetite and growth rate. The general rule of thumb is 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound of feed per adult chicken while she's laying, with no other food. I just keep the feeder filled and they eat what they need, but don't over eat, even in the winter when they're inside a lot.

 

[HappyMo]

I've only read a few of the replies so I'm not sure if anyone else has said this yet, but I wouldn't suggest you free feed.
I just lost a 10 month old Black Sexlink (named Patsy Cline) to Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome (she bled to death internally).
I have (had) nine lovely girls that are in a run, but also free range a majority of the day and I was letting them free feed (organic crumble or mash whichever was available) and giving them some scratch in the morn and eve. Apparently, some don't know when to say when...
Being a new chicken mom I didn't realize that Patsy was fat. I just thought she was a "bigger breed".
I learned a hard lesson today and had come to the Forum to get suggestions for amounts of feed. I'm not going to free feed any longer...
Just my two cents.

= ) Mo

 

[Akane]

Chickens are designed to free feed and that's how they've been fed for years and years and years by many many people. If you have one die because of it then I would say there is another variable there. Lack of exercise or just bad genetics. Genetics or health issues are even more suspect if only one of your hens was overweight.

All of mine are fed free choice. I have some free ranging and some bantams currently confined to an 8x8 coop and none are fat. I even use 22% protein gamebird feed with more animal protein and fats most of the time and they still aren't suffering any health problems. My free rangers barely even eat poultry feed. They make off with enough bugs and bird seed that since about mid summer last year I've only been going through a 50lb bag every 2-3months for more than a dozen very large chickens and some guinea fowl. I just got 14 perfect eggs from the coop so they seem to be doing fine on their own diet.