How Often Should You Feed Your Flock?

[acid_chipmunk]

The only chickens that will overeat if food is left out all the time are meat birds. Your egg layers will not gorge themselves unless you don't give them access to food 24/7. They will eat until they are full, then find something else to do.

 

[peach2727]

I Hear What Everyone Is Saying And Have Been Given Mis Information Here Already Many Times, ( Such As Roosters Will Increase The Quality Of The Eggs, Guinea Pigs Do Not Need Water As They Receive Enough From Alfalfa, Lettuce)

Locals Here Have These Old Wives Tails That Are Passed Down From Generation To Generation. When I Try To Inform Them Of The Correct Facts, They Just Think I Am A Know It All American.


But This Dilemna About Free Feeding Raised 2 Questions.

1. Why Are 2 Vets ( Very Knowledgable Also) Saying Egg Layers Will Over Eat?

2. I Tried The Free Feeding Method And My Flock Ate 160 Grams A Day When I Am Supposed To Feed Them Closer To 100?

We Are Doing This As A Business And Obviously An Extra 50 Or 60 Grams Of Food Per Day Per Animal With 400 Now And Soon To Be 1000 Will Cost Me A Huge Increase In Food Costs.

So I Am Perplexed About This?????

 

[txchickie]

If you are running a commercial business and have to get the most out of your feed rations, then limiting feed and only feeding at certain times of the day should be fine. If your hens are doing well with what you are feeding, stick to it.

Most people here have backyard flocks that are pets and leave feed out constantly (I do). It is not harmful if you only feed at certain times per day. You are running a business and are concerned with a bottom line and a profit, I can only imagine things are done a little differently for you.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Maybe you can get your vet to come to the BYC page

My chickens also are free range and do not over eat. Sometimes my daughter will give them extra feed because she like to pet them when they come to eat. If I have recently fed them, they will not come and eat again.

Maybe we can find you some other vets who believe in free food access for laying chickens. I will check and I bet some others will too. Keep checking back

 

[Camelot Farms]

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PS/PS04700.PDF

Each of our states has an Agricultural division, the one above comes from Florida.

The one below is from Oregon.

Hope these help

http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/pnw/pnw477.pdf

 

[peach2727]

Thank You Camelot Farms.

Seems There Is No "correct" Way To Feed. Many People Prefer Free Feeding While Meals Are Done Also.

 

[gamaaysa]

My 53 barred rocks eat 12 pounds of feed a day, and they are in great shape and i leave a bale of coastal in the pen for them also which lasts for months...

 

[peach2727]

So That Is In Line With What I Have Been Told---- 100-110 Grams Per Animal Per Day.

Yours Comes To 102 Plus Your Extra Bale.

We Give Ours Alfalfa And Veggies As An Extra.

Thanks For The Info.

 

[rhodewarrior]

Quote:
Very well said! I couldn't agree more.
@ Peaches:Are the vets you working with experienced with chickens? Where I live we have none...

 

[peach2727]

Very Experienced With Chickens. These Are Not Dog Vets. Everyone In The Mountains Here Has Chickens, Pigs, Goats, Sheep. Vets I Am Using Only Deal With Those Animals.

Guinea Pigs Are Huge Here. They Raise Them To Eat. It Is The Most Expensive Thing In Restaurants Here ( About 12 Bucks For A Meal) Compare That To A Filet Mignon That Costs 6 Bucks!!! It Is Very Strange Here On Some Things.

Different Culture.