how much pellets per hen?

[MyFunChicks4]

I have 3 hens. How much pellets should I put out each day? they free range all day, but just a suburban small backyard. Is it best to give them a certain amount, or put in a feeder and let them eat as much as they want?

 

[HappyClucker7]

For chickens, it's best to just fill a feeder and let them take as much as they want.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I just keep the feed buckets full.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

I just keep the feed buckets full.

That is good. But sometimes they eat too much.

 

[Mamatomany123]

That is good. But sometimes they eat too much.

I've never had a hen overeat

 

[Huntmaster]

That is good. But sometimes they eat too much.

Only chickens I know off that may eat too much and need feed restricted are meat birds.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

I've never had a hen overeat

Me neither. But if they eat too much they get uncomfortable

 

[HappyClucker7]

Me neither. But if they eat too much they get uncomfortable

Only meat birds like CornishX tend to over eat.

 

[The-White-Elephant]

Only meat birds like CornishX tend to over eat.

Yeah, true. It’s just that when hens eat a lot, their crop kind of “sticks out”

 

[HappyClucker7]

Yeah, true. It’s just that when hens eat a lot, their crop kind of “sticks out”

That's normal. Chickens are prey animals, so they can't stay out in the open for long periods of time. They eat as much as they can while they're out, and that food goes into the crop. Then go back to where they're protected, where they'll digest the food. That's why their crops look really big sometimes. Especially in the evening, before they go in to roost.