How much layers pellet per free rangin hen?

[maggie1979]

Hi, I have 4 hens, now free ranging most days. They get layers pellets and corn - have been giving a large cupful of each.
Have now stopped corn but my bluebell hen is HUGE and heavy so need to adjust how much I am feeding them.
What would you recommend for free ranging hens as feed - layers pellets and how much?

 

[Cowgirl71]

Hi, I have 4 hens, now free ranging most days. They get layers pellets and corn - have been giving a large cupful of each.
Have now stopped corn but my bluebell hen is HUGE and heavy so need to adjust how much I am feeding them.
What would you recommend for free ranging hens as feed - layers pellets and how much?

Any chance Bluebell is a different breed, and is supposed to be bigger and heavier than the other 3?

The majority of people offer their birds layer feed free choice, all day every day. It is pretty rare for hens to overeat to the extent that they get too fat when it's free choice. Generally, a laying hen needs about 5 ounces (by weight) of 16-18% protein layer pellets/day. Less if she's free ranging.

If Bluebell is indeed becoming overweight, what is likely happening is she gets quite hungry between feedings, or very excited about "feeding time!," gorges, and it takes a few minutes to feel "full." By then she's eaten a bunch. You may try doing free choice for a week or so, and see what happens. Just make sure other critters can't get into it.

Also, don't feed plain corn, unless they're also getting extra protein elsewhere, such as bugs and worms. The corn is actually quite expensive for the marginal nutritional value it has.

 

[maggie1979]

All 4 hens are different breeds: speckledy, black rock and white star make up the group.
I have been throwing a cup full - about 300-400grams I guess onto the ground so they have to scratch around a bit and all get a chance to get at it. (Originally used a feeding thing but they would tip it up or it'd rain). They'd get the same in corn later in the day - have now cut this out.
They've been free ranging for the last month around a large garden.
So I'm not sure how much she eats of it but they all clear the ground of it pretty quickly.

 

[Folly's place]

Feed either layer or an all flock feed free choice in a feeder, and don't try to micromanage their main diet. Leave out the corn, or feed a very small amount of scratch as a treat, so they come when you call them. Mary

 

[maggie1979]

Why in a feeder?
By scattering it on the ground am I making them eat frantically before it runs out?

 

[Cowgirl71]

5 ounces is about 140 grams. So four birds should be receiving about 560 grams a day, or less, depending on how much they're finding to eat while free ranging.

I use a feeder similar to this: http://www.qcsupply.com/420213-galvanized-hanging-feeder-40-lb-feeder-tube.html

It hangs from the ceiling and holds a bunch of feed, I fill it up when it runs out or just before, about once a week. Hanging it in the coop keeps it dry, and having it suspended off the floor (about level with their backs) keeps the feed quite clean. It's also impossible for them to knock over, and there is zero waste when I hang it high enough and use pelleted feed.

Why in a feeder?
By scattering it on the ground am I making them eat frantically before it runs out?

Yes, exactly, that's very likely.

They are also more likely to get wormy when they're picking up feed off the ground than when eating out of a clean feeder.