How often do you feed your chickens?

[CatWhisperer]

I have feeders placed all over the chicken yard during the day and put them up at night so bully’s can’t keep everyone from eating. Chickens eat what they need, they don’t overeat so rationing food is not a good plan, I have 2 feral cats that live with the chickens and have never had a rodent problem. If the squirrels became to much of a problem I would shoot them but they prefer cat food over chicken food.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Yup, squirrels are getting much of the feed and storing it for winter use. Your chickens ought not to eat more than a quarter pound a day if they are laying or growing out. Ignore the roosters, they don't eat that much. The goose, well maybe the same as six chickens? Get you a proper treadle feeder and research the reviews before you pay your hard earned money. Squirrels are a tough critter to lock out but it can be done if you have full sized birds and choose the correct feeder.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Yup, squirrels are getting much of the feed and storing it for winter use. Your chickens ought not to eat more than a quarter pound a day if they are laying or growing out. Ignore the roosters, they don't eat that much. The goose, well maybe the same as six chickens? Get you a proper treadle feeder and research the reviews before you pay your hard earned money. Squirrels are a tough critter to lock out but it can be done if you have full sized birds and choose the correct feeder.

Squirrels make a fine meal. Shoot or trap if you can't and make squirrel biscuits and gravy. Mmmmmmmmm.....
Also, not sure if it is breed specific or maybe I have territorial birds? But the adult Brahmas chase grey squirrels from the coop area and keep them away from feed (in coop) and water. If they are stealing feed, I haven't seen any sign of it. They also have killed and eaten mice in the yard.
Either way, squirrels and rodents are no one's friend.

 

[BYC Project Manager]

Was wondering how often do you feed your chickens? Mine are free range and up at night so I leave 2 buckets out of feed and water daily for them and 1 in chicken run. I also have a 30 pound goose that eats the same food. I feel like I’m going through sooo much food a bag every week and half and it’s little on the expensive side.. do I cut back on feeding? Or should I only feed mornings and evenings?

Very helpful comments! I hope our members' comments have helped you make a feeding schedule for your chickens! Congrats on getting featured on our homepage!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Also, do you have a dog? My Sheltie was getting quite porky and running up our feed bill until I made a no-waste feeder she couldn't get into. She still enjoys the cracked corn in the scratch I throw out twice a day, but I scatter it pretty good so it's not too easy for her to fill up on.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Oh... we keep the feeder in the hen house (coop) at all times. They have a large fenced run with forage most of the day (18 hens and a roo), and are allowed out about 3 in the afternoon to free-range on several acres until they put themselves to bed about dusk. They don't eat in the dark. I'm curious about yours, you say they are "up all night." Do they have lights on that keep them up? If so, may I ask why?

 

[FortCluck]

Mine have feed all day every day. They eat what they want.

 

[Eelantha]

Same as FortCluck. Mine have access to a 5 gallon bucket they eat from as they want. The bucket is in the coop year long, the chickens don't free range in my area because predators are abundant, but the rare times I've sprayed feed in the run for them to scratch at last year, any squirrel found nibbling on it was chased out by my ladies. So rodent-wise, I've got no problem for the chicken feed x3

I've got 7 hens plus 1 rooster right now, and together they go through a 25kg feed sac in 3-6-ish weeks, I've never kept a real count on how much feed they ate, but I know I can last a while with a single sac here. The tube feeder is excellent to ensure no feed is wasted, even the crumbles who end up ground into fine powder by the weight of the feed get eaten just fine. Other types of feeders might not 'help' chickens gulp down this fine powder though, and if they can see their food, they will definitely spill all the powdery feed to get at the bigger grains.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Twice a day. Once in the morning when I let them out, and once around 1:00 PM.

 

[RhodeIslandRedBreeder]

You don’t cut back on food for chickens. It’s not like an overweight human. LoL,They eat what they need. Mine have access to feeders day an night. Like @21hens-incharge said make sure other pests are eating your feed.

Not to say your 100% wrong but I’ve had hens whom will eat constantly for an hour or two then go out and free range then come back in the coop (with a visibly full crop) and eat even more. I eventually had to feed once a day. But to each their own.