How much should I feed?

[burkehd]

Is there a set amount of feed we should feed per hen? It seems our hens always act hungry. We feed twice a day and offer treats too.

 

[adbayer]

i leave feed out accessible to my ladies all day, and offer BOSS when i let them out in the morning, and scraps after dinner before nightly lockdown

 

[burkehd]

What do you feed? We feed a mixture of 5 grain scratch and opti-lay crumble. It seems that they opt to waste a lot of that if it gets too fine.

 

[burkehd]

What is BOSS

 

[Matt A NC]

My birds have laying pellets available all day. They also get some corn mixed in as the temps head down. They like the Sunflower seeds that I am tossing to them by the handfuls.

Matt

 

[fargosmom]

I find that my hens have differing needs on different days, depending on the weather etc. But I think they're going through about a cup each of layer pellets, plus a pan of broccoli, carrots, lettuce and "whatever" at breakfast. In any event, I leave the pellets out for them all day so they can get what they need.

p.s. BOSS is black oil sunflower seeds

 

[shortstaque]

On average I find my chickens eat just under 2lbs per bird a week. That number goes down significantly when they are on pasture. I let them out on pasture first thing in the morning. About and hour later I put out their food and they eat free choice all day.