I have 58 hens (mixed veriety) and 5 roosters. How much feed shoud they be getting? I go through 150# of feed in 8 days right now. Is this too much?
Just put it out and let them decide. They should always have available all they want. Mine spend a lot of time ranging but the feeder is always in good shape with the feed so they can eat what they want.
You'll have to do the math as it is early yet. Adult Large fowl only need 4 oz. of good quality feed each day/ less if allowed to free-range. To stay healthy chickens should be kept on the hungry side.
If that's all they're eating and they're heavy weight breeds, that could be pretty close. I've always read 1/4 lb per day for a laying hen that's a light weight breed and a third more or up to 1/3 lb for a heavy weight breed. Mine don't go through that much feed. That's just an estimate. It depends on what else they eat, whether they free range, what breed they are, whether they're laying or molting, what the temperature is or how digestible the ingredients in their feed are. Some feed recipes are more balanced, have more micro-nutrients or have better quality ingredients than others. If any one nutrient is a little lacking, they can end up eating more food to compensate. If you think it's a little too high, you can also check to see if you have any wild birds or animals stealing feed, too.
Do they have access to feed all day or do you ration the feed? How much do they get each day? I had the same question when I started off many years ago with that many chickens.
I think that sounds about right. I have never had that many chickens, oh gosh good for you. The numbers I've seen alot are: 50 lbs 20 chickens 1 week Imp
ive found that a good maintance measurement of feed is 3 oz. for a 4-6 lb chicken. this will keep most body fat off them. esp. if they are hustling during the day for their feed. if fed in a self feeder you have no way of regulating their individual amount. some higher on pecking order will take 4-6 oz and lower ranking ones will get nil to none. for my free ranging fowl. during the warm months they eat very little. they are mainly eating natural things.
Did the math at 5 ounces and got 140 lbs a week, give or take. You're not far off, if they are full sized, adult birds. A little high if they are juveniles. I would absolutely ration feed with a flock that large. 10% waste from spillage, birds, mice, etc would add up too quickly for my wallet.
Quote:Not really... Auto feeders, as I use, Should always have plenty of food. Higher ranking birds eat first giving way to next in line and so forth. Mine actually have different eating schedules. RIRs eat at about 8AM, PRs at about 10 AM and araucanas about 1PM. They repeat this in the evening right after their pumkin seeds are served at 4PM.
